Assessment: good European, good

German or both?

Stresemann’s actions were debated not simply in Germany,

but also across Europe.

Many people were divided on what his goals were: did he

want to contribute to building a strong Europe, was he simply

a traditional German nationalist or was he in fact

both?

Good European

Many of Stresemann’s actions left him open to attacks from

German nationalists, yet still he pursued these policies.

This includes Erfullungspolitik [fulfilment], meaning Stresemann

was prepared to accept the implementation of all Treaty of

Versailles clauses.

He also only pushed for minimal reforms related to Versailles, in order to keep

European peace.

The Locarno Treaty ensured that Germany would not gain back Western land, and had

only the possibility of making gains in the east. Payment of reparations caused German

right-wing outrage too.

Stresemann helped global relations by Germany gaining a permanent seat on the League of Nations Council, which he thought was needed to make

the League work.

Stresemann also did not make demands about strengthening Germany’s military, another

key demand of German nationalists.

German nationalist

However others argue that Stresemann’s apparent pro-

European actions were a ploy to regain German power.

Stresemann did not genuinely support Versailles

erfullungspolitik but feared war if Germany did not comply (shown in Ruhr occupation).

Fulfilment was German policy before Stresemann (started by Walther Rathenau) and it also

saw Germany gain a better deal.

The Dawes Plan increased the amount of time Germany had to pay reparations; the Young Plan

reduced the amount that they owed. Both actions hugely helped

Germany.

The Locarno Pact also helped Germany, securing its Western

borders (preventing attack from France) and gave them the chance to win back territory in

Eastern Europe.

Stresemann also agreed deals which removed Allied troops

from the Rhineland initially, and then all of Germany (by 1930).

Stresemann negotiated the removal of the Inter-Allied Military Commission from

Germany, which checked that Germany was complying with

Versailles’ military commitments.

However Germany was secretly rebuilding its military forces by training in Russia. This gained

him Reichswehr backing.

The actions that Stresemann took in international relations

also helped Germany.

He said that Germany would join the League of Nations, but only with a permanent

seat on the council. This gave Germany global influence and

a chance to raise issues of concern.

Good German and European?

Some historians argue that Stresemann was in fact a good

German and European, balancing demands of competing groups.

As a statesman, Stresemann inevitably played different groups against each other, something not unusual in international diplomacy.

Stresemann helped Germany:

• Foreign policy led to reparation changes (benefitting economy) and Allied troop withdrawal

• Decline in support for extremist parties up to 1929

Stresemann helped Europe:

• German membership boosted the League; Locarno stabilised European geography

Historians’ views

• Sally Marks Takes the view that Stresemann was a superlative liar, dispensing total untruths.

• Jonathan Wright: Stresemann hoped for a stable and peaceful international order because he understood Germany’s dependence on its great power partners. From his pragmatism there developed a strong commitment to European peace.

• Stephen Lee: Stresemann was neither a covert nationalist nor a Good European but a pragmatist who adapted to changed circumstances and, where he could, created new opportunities.