Figure 1.--Locarno was seen as a positive step in most countries which were intent on prevenbtuing another war. This German right wing poster attacked Locarno as a continmuation of vVersailles and because it had not vended the demilitarization of the Rhineland. The black soldier we believe refers to the French use of African soldiers for occupation duty. The Germans refred to it as 'the black shame'. The text reads, "Locarno? Wählt deutschnational!" which means some like "Locarno? Elect German nsationalists!." The intention being that Locarno does not protect Germamny, onmly German nations who rearem Germny will pritect the country. The artist was Erwin Reusch. poster was commissioned by German National People's Party (DNVP), a national-conservative party in Germany during the Weimar Republic. Before the rise of the NAZIs, it was the major conservative and nationalist party in Weimar Germany.

The Locarno Pact was signed by the major European powers except the Soviet Union: Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, and Italy (December 1, 1925). Belgium was included because it had played an important role in both World War I. German Foreign Minister Stresemann who dominated Weimar foreign policy played a key role. Unlike the Versailles Treaty which was impossed on Germany, this was a major European agreement in which Germany participated voluntarily. Stressman believed that it was important for Germany to rejoin the European family of nations. He was convinced that after World War I that a peace pact would help build confidence in Europe that Germany could be a trustworthy peaceful country that could be trusted not to start another war. Stresemann insisted that it muust mot be only Germany that made concessions. There were three elements to the Locarno Pact. First to eliminate potential conflicts by permaently settling the Franco-German border. Second to ensure the permanent demilitarisation of the Rhineland. This was a key issue on which France insisted on because Germany had invaded France twice from the Rhineland (1870 and 1914). Third to begin negotiations to prepare for German admission into the League of Nations. He also wanted the Allies to disarm as Germany had dome. Stresemann was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (1926). Extremist parties such as the Nazis and Communists wanted to destoy the Weimar Republic and saw it as a contiuation of the Versailles Treaty. Stressmn became a hated target. And the fact that he had a Jewish wife added to the the venom aimed at him. This was the case even though his goal was to schieve much of what the baztionlisrs wanted, an end of occuption of the Rhineland, renegotiation of the eastern border, easing of reparations, Abchluss with Austria, and other matters. Only Stressman wanted to achive these goals through negotiation, not another war. The NAZIs, who are not yet a consequential party, and other right-wing parties saw it as just a continuation of Versailles and despised Stresemann for it. Stresemann died of a heart attack (1929). Had he not, he would have been an eraly NAZI victim.

Created: 9:33 PM 11/21/2021
Last updated: 9:33 PM 11/21/2021