A Troubled Europe

1
A Troubled Europe

• 1923 to 1928

2
Aims of the lesson

• By the end of the lesson you will
• Understand why international relations
  deteriorated in 1923
• Evaluate the importance of the Kellogg-Briand and
  Locarno pacts

3
Background

• 1921 to 1923 Germany suffered huge economic
  problems
• In debt from the war lost industry
• Reparations July 1922 Germany said she could
  not afford to pay in 1923 and 24
• Amount had been reduced twice
• Germany was having problems paying but she was
  really trying it on.

4
The occupation of the Ruhr

• In January 1923 Belgium and France lost patience
  and invaded the Ruhr
• Ruhr heart of German industry
• Would take over the industries and use the
  profits to pay off reparations
• Germans passive resistance going on strike
  and working slowly
• The German economy collapsed

5
The collapse of the German economy

• Printed more money to pay reparations lost its
  value
• Bread 4 marks in 1921 1.5m marks in 1923
• 1924 Dawes Plan reduced reparations and gave
  Germany US loans
• Last French and Belgian troops left the Ruhr in
  August 1925

6
Gustav Stresemann

• August 1923 Stresemann became Chancellor of
  Germany
• Determined to rebuild the reputation of Germany
• Had persuaded the USA to set up the Dawes Plan
• Wanted to make Germany a normal country as
  opposed to a defeated enemy

7
The Locarno Pact

• Let Germany join the League of Nations
• Seven countries signed the pact France, Italy,
  Germany, Britain, Czechoslovakia Belgium and
  Poland
• Countries agreed to respect their common borders
  and to go the League of Nations if there were any
  disputes

8
The Kellogg Briand Pact

• Signed by 61 countries said that war was wrong
  and they would find peaceful ways of solving
  their problems
• Signed 27th August 1928 in Paris
• USA did not sign it but it was drawn up by their
  foreign minister (Frank Kellogg) and the French
  foreign minister (Briand)
• Nice idea but after 1929 put own national
  interests first