1-WWI+Locarno

__What were the causes for and the objectives of the Locarno Conference of 1925? __ In efforts to design a mutually benefiting peace contract that would build permanent peace and discuss political borders in Western Europe between Germany, France, Belgium, Great Britain, and Italy, the respective countries came together in Locarno, Switzerland to relieve some of the tensions between the countries as a result of the Versailles Treaty of 1919. The objectives of the conference revolved mostly around an unsatisfied Germany in the ways of their unresolved issues and demands. Objectives concerning Germany consisted of the evacuation of Allied troops in Rhineland, arbitration treaties with Germany and France, Germany and Belgium, Germany and Czechoslovakia, and Germany and Poland. The Locarno treaties even strived to help bring about security and guarantee treaties between France and Poland and France and Czechoslovakia. The last and most important objective of the Locarno Conference of 1925 was to remove tensions between Germany and the rest of Europe to avoid another total war. __To what extent were the Locarno Treaties consistent with the Versailles Treaty of 1919? To what extent were they a departure from the Versailles agreements? __ The Locarno Treaties stayed consistent with the Versailles Treaty of 1919 as it guaranteed that the German-Belgian and the Franco-German frontiers would be kept secure and would maintain its structure as determined by the Versailles Treaty of 1919. This also included that Germany, France, and Belgium would not engage in any form of war that would go against the terms of the Versailles Treaty or the forms established by the League of Nations unless it was a form of legitimate defense. The part of the Locarno treaties that seemed to depart from the Versailles Treaties was the extent to which Germany took advantage of the Locarno treaties as it used the demilitarization of Rhineland through the Versailles Treaty and the evacuation of Allied troops five years early as a result of the Locarno Treaties to send troops into Rhineland in March 1936. This was a direct downfall of the hopes of peace from the Locarno Treaties and was a representation of the extent to which the Locarno Treaties could not fully keep revengeful Germany from retaking territories as was the hopes of the Versailles Treaty of 1919. __How are we best to understand the “Spirit of Locarno”? To what extent did it represent a European effort toward reconciliation? __ The “Spirit of Locarno” was a hope for international peace between the European countries as it allowed for Germany to peacefully coexist in the midst of post-World War I countries in need of reconstruction. The initial effect of the “Spirit of Locarno” was seen when Germany was allowed to join the League of Nations designed to promote the peace and cooperation not only throughout a broken Europe, but also throughout the world. Allied powers followed in this quest to show the general public their acceptance of the “Spirit of Locarno” by withdrawing their troops from Rhineland in an attempt to ease tensions with Germany. While the “Spirit of Locarno” seemed to be working its way to improve relations between a deprived German empire and the rest of Europe many polish representatives seemed to think the phrase and what came with it only did them harm. Poland was left with worse relations with France and seemed to be struggling with relations with the rest of Western Europe as a result of the dealings at Locarno. Overall the “Spirit of Locarno” developed itself as a positive light only in the eyes of the German’s as they manipulated the true under workings of the “Spirit of Locarno” to justify their rise to power and secure the territories around them while using anything that was against these movements as against the “spirit.” __Video and Images __ Attached is a video of the delegates of France, Great Britain, Germany, Belgium, and Italy meeting together in Locarno, Switzerland to address a security arrangement. [] This is a picture of Gustav Stresemann, Sir Austen Chamberlain, and Aristide Briand at the Locarno negotiations meeting together in October of 1925. [] Work Cited "Pact of Locarno (European History)." //Encyclopedia Britannica Online//. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 07 Oct. 2013. Roberts, Priscilla M. "World War I: Treaty of Versailles: Treaty of Versailles: Victim of Exaggerated Expectations."//World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society//. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 7 Oct. 2013. Tucker, Spencer C. "World War I: Paris 1919 and the Origins of World War II: The Paris Peace Settlement and the Perils of Miscalculation and Inaction." //World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society//. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 7 Oct. 2013. Willmott, Hedley P., and Michael Barrett. "World War II (Causes)." //World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society//.ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 7 Oct. 2013.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Spirit of Locarno **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Locarno Treaties of 1925 **

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