Peacemaking, Peacekeeping
–
International Relations
1918 - 1936
Mr. Kuzmich
IB Global Studies
The Ruhr Crisis - 1923
German Weimar Republic
vs.
Reparations Commission
• 1922 – Germany defaulted on coal and
timber deliveries.
• Reparations Commission ordered the
occupation of the Ruhr by French and
Belgian troops.
The Ruhr Crisis - 1923
• French Premier Raymond Poincare
reluctant to occupy.
• Reasons to oppose:
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Excessive
Antagonistic
Opposed military action
Focus on rebuilding
The Ruhr Crisis - 1923
• Reasons for occupation:
• Frustrated by British inaction
• Frustrated by Germany’s
unwillingness to pay
reparations
• Bad precedent!
The Ruhr Crisis - 1924
• Poincare orders the occupation in
January, 1924
• To protect the sanctity of the Treaty of
Versailles
The Ruhr Crisis - 1924
• Called the “Ruhrkampf” by the Germans
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Passive resistance
Sabotage
Hyper-inflation
Unemployment
Strikes
State of Emergency
Riots and civil unrest
Coup d’etat attempts
Dawes Plan
• Charles Dawes – Vice
President of the US
• Substantially lowered the
German reparations
• French troops leave
Germany by 1925
• Dawes wins Nobel Peace
Prize in 1925
Locarno
• Locarno treaties (1925)
• Seven separate agreements
• Allowed for normalizing of European
relations
• Franco-German reconciliation
• Recognized all post-war borders
• German invitation to join League of
Nations
The Locarno Spring - 1925
• Gustav Stresemann
• German Chancellor and
Foreign Minister
• Reconciliation w/France
• Nobel Peace Prize
with Aristide Briand
of France in 1926
• Died in October, 1929
Realized or Obstructed?
Stresemann – Austen Chamberlain - Briand
Locarno Source Readings
• Course Companion - Pages 60-65
• Kissinger, Henry. Diplomacy. NY, 1994.
Pages 271-279
• Howarth – Page 50
• Fifty Major Documents of the 20th Century:
• Locarno Pact – Pages 61-64