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In October 1925, representatives of Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy, and Belgium met in the Swiss city of Locarno. During the 12-day affair, the nations negotiated seven agreements to ensure peace in Western Europe. The Locarno Treaties – signed on 1 December 1925 – reasserted Germany's post-war Western border, confirmed the permanent demilitarisation of the Rhineland, and propagated peaceful methods of resolving international conflict. The agreements made at Locarno were significant, ushering in a period of cordial relations between the European powers while admitting Germany back into the international fold.
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Here is a brief overview outlining the Locarno Treaties:
Before we dive into the Locarno Treaties, let's look at the background of these agreements.
The early 1920s was a tumultuous time for Germany. As well as suffering a defeat in the First World War, Germany was forced to sign the oppressive Treaty of Versailles. The terms of the Treaty crippled German finances, territory, and military. The country had to pay severe reparations, cede territory, give up its colonies, reduce its army, and take complete responsibility for the First World War.
Fig. 1 The Treaty of Versailles.
In 1923, German statesman Gustav Stresemann became the Foreign Chancellor of the Weimar Republic. During his 6-year term, Stresemann sought to rebuild Germany and restore the country's place on the international stage.
The Weimar Republic
The post-war government of Germany between 1918 and 1933.
Stresemann understood that Germany was in no state to contest the Treaty of Versailles. He believed that collaboration with Germany's European compatriots was the only way to improve the country's international standing. Stresemann's policy of cooperation with Britain and France was known as Erfüllungspolitik.
Erfüllungspolitik
Meaning "fulfilment", Erfüllungspolitik was Gustav Stresemann's policy of fully complying with the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.
Stresemann's policy of Erfüllungspolitik meant he met with Great Britain, France, Italy, and Belgium in the Swiss city of Locarno in October 1925. The series of agreements between the nations – the Locarno Treaties – was an unprecedented step forward for Germany's international ambitions.
Let's look at the three main terms agreed upon at Locarno.
The Treaty of Versailles saw Germany lose approximately 10% of its territory. Germany ceded Alsace-Lorraine to France, Eupen-Malmedy to Belgium, West Prussia to Poland, and the Sudetenland to Czechoslovakia. Unsurprisingly, the German people viewed these terms as humiliating, with many groups refusing to accept such territorial losses.
The Locarno Treaties meant Gustav Stresemann recognised Germany's Western border as stipulated in the Treaty of Versailles. Germany, France, and Belgium agreed that their shared border was unalterable. Furthermore, Great Britain and Italy agreed to use military force if this frontier was attacked.
Despite confirming Germany's Western border, the Locarno Treaties failed to address Germany's Eastern border. This led many Germans to believe that their Eastern border with Poland and Czechoslovakia was negotiable.
One of the critical terms of the Treaty of Versailles was the permanent demilitarisation of the Rhineland – a strip of mineral-rich land between Germany and Belgium. The Locarno Treaty reiterated that the Rhineland would remain permanently demilitarised.
Also agreed at Locarno was the withdrawal of Allied troops from the Rhineland. British, American, Belgium, and French soldiers had occupied the Rhineland since 1918 to ensure French security against Germany. It was agreed that these troops would withdraw in 1930, five years earlier than planned.
Germany's Western border with France and Belgium was confirmed as unchangeable, with Great Britain and Italy guaranteeing to protect the frontier through military means if necessary. While Germany's Eastern boundary was not affirmed at Locarno, Germany signed arbitration treaties with Czechoslovakia and Poland.
It was agreed that future disagreements would be resolved peacefully through an arbitration tribunal such as the Permanent Court of International Justice. France also made agreements with Czechoslovakia and Poland, pledging to support the countries if Germany invaded them.
Fig 3. The Permanent Court of International Justice
The Locarno Treaties had a significant impact on Germany:
An international organisation founded in 1920 that sought to maintain peace.
The Locarno Treaties marked a significant improvement in relations between Germany and its First World War rivals. United by the so-called 'spirit of Locarno', the treaties transformed European politics and ushered in a period of peace that would last until 1930.
The agreements made at Locarno were deemed so significant that Austin Chamberlain, Aristide Briand, and Gustav Stresemann – three of the lead negotiators of the pact – were awarded Nobel Peace Prizes in 1926.
On 7 March 1936, Hitler deployed 22,000 German troops into the Rhineland. This directly violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Locarno Treaties. Hitler's aggressive foreign policy didn't end there. He annexed Austria in March 1938, occupied Czechoslovakia in March 1939, and invaded Poland in September 1939. The 'spirit of Locarno' had officially ended, and the Second World War began.
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What were the Locarno treaties?
The Locarno Treaties were a series of agreements made between Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy, and Belgium which confirmed Western Europe's post-war borders.
Why was the Locarno Pact made?
The Locarno Pact was a post-World War One pact that agreed to bring about lasting peace in Europe.
What did the Locarno treaties achieve?
The Locarno Treaties confirmed nations' post-war borders in Western Europe and agreed to the permanent demilitarisation of the Rhineland.
Was the Locarno Treaty successful?
The Locarno Treaty was successful in defining Germany's Western borders, however, ignored Germany's Eastern borders with Poland and Czechoslovakia.
Why did the Locarno Treaty Fail?
The Locarno Treaty failed in January 1936 when Hitler remilitarised the Rhineland – an act prohibited at Locarno.
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