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 27 th 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