Hello, welcome to History here at Oak National Academy.

My name's Mr. Newton and I'll be your teacher today guiding you through the entire lesson.

Right, let's get started.

In this topic, we will uncover the story of a Germany which seemed to stabilise between 1924 and 1929.

The economy improved, daily life became easier, and Germany regained some international respect.

Some historians called this period the Golden Age of the Weimar Republic, but was it really? Did these years bring real lasting stability, or was Germany simply papering over deeper problems? In the lessons ahead, we will explore what was achieved and how strong this recovery really was.

To guide our investigation, we will focus on our big inquiry question.

Was 1924 to 29 a golden age for the Weimar Republic? This is the question we will use to investigate whether this so-called golden age was built to last or doomed to crumble.

Today we'll explore how Stresemann worked to rebuild Germany's reputation on the world stage.

How did he convince former enemies to trust Germany again? How did his efforts lead to international cooperation? By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to describe Stresemann's international achievements.

Before we begin, there are a few keywords that we need to understand.

A pariah is a person or country who is not accepted by society, especially because they're not liked, respected, or trusted.

Diplomacy is the management of relationships between countries, or the skill in dealing with people without offending or upsetting them.

And domestic relates to a person's own country or home.

Today's lesson splits up into two parts.

We'll first look at Germany's status in the world and how this status could be rebuilt through diplomacy.

And in the second part of the lesson, we'll look at how Germany built peace abroad and stability at home.

Right, let's begin today's lesson with "Rebuilding Germany's standing through diplomacy." By the mid 1920s, the Weimar Republic stood at a crossroads.

Germany, once a dominant great power in Europe, had been brought to its knees by the humiliating defeat in the First World War and the punishing terms of the Treaty of Versailles.

After the war, Germany was a pariah on the world stage.

Blamed for the outbreak of war, stripped of significant territory, and burdened with crippling reparations.

Germany was cast out of the international community.

Let's take a closer look at the image on the left.

It's a British propaganda poster.

The bold title at the top immediately catches our attention.

"Once a German, always a German." This phrase suggests deep distrust towards Germany, even after the end of the First World War.

Now notice how the poster is divided into two halves.

On the left, we see brutal imagery of German soldiers during the war, waving weapons and committing violence.

There is barbed wire, explosions, and a clear sense of destruction.

In the centre, we see the grave of a British nurse executed by the Germans, further reinforcing the idea of German cruelty.

On the right side of the poster, the tone changes but the message remains the same.

A modern-looking German businessman dressed in a suit smiles as he carries a briefcase, perhaps of money, as he stands in front of his profitable factories.

Above him, a man in German military uniform toasts with champagne.

These images suggest that Germany is still living a profitable and comfortable lifestyle despite its supposed defeat in the First World War.

This reinforces the idea that Germany has not truly suffered or paid for its actions during the war.

So this poster plays on the fear and resentment after the First World War, using exaggerated imagery to convince the public that Germany remains a danger, a pariah.

As foreign minister, Gustav Stresemann faced the enormous challenge of trying to reshape how the world's leaders saw Germany.

Stresemann believed Germany's salvation laid not in fiery rhetoric or radical change, but in measured compromise, steady reconstruction, and careful diplomacy.

In other words, he believed Germany could recover not through angry speeches or drastic actions, but by making compromises and avoiding conflict, both with world leaders and the German people at home.

Stresemann's mission was to soften the hostility that many countries felt towards Germany after the First World War.

Okay, let's have a check for understanding.

How was Germany generally perceived by many nations at the end of the First World War? A, as a neutral country focused on rebuilding global relations.

B, as an international pariah excluded from the global community.

C, as a trusted ally of Britain and France focused on global support.

Pause the video, have a think, and then come right back.

Okay, welcome back.

And well done if you knew the answer was B, that Germany was generally perceived by many nations as an international pariah excluded from the global community.

Okay, let's continue.

In 1925, Stresemann took a bold step by convening negotiations in the Swiss town of Locarno.

Germany, France, Belgium, Britain, and Italy meant to discuss a contentious issue, borders.

Have a look at the image on the left.

We can see a photo of the Locarno Conference with Gustav Stresemann highlighted in the circle.

Each country at the Locarno Conference had its own ideas about how the borders should be drawn, leading to tense negotiations and difficult compromises.

For the French, the memory of German troops marching through their countryside in 1914 still loomed large.

The French were seeking reassurance that their newly claimed land would not be taken back by Germany.

For Germany, the Treaty of Versailles had redrawn their borders with France and Belgium and left a deep wound of resentment.

They had lost their territory, which was humiliating to them and causing deep anger amongst their citizens.

At Locarno, Stresemann demonstrated great diplomacy.

Stresemann agreed to respect its western borders with France and Belgium.

Let's take a look at this map.

It highlights the western borders of Germany that were discussed at the Locarno Conference.

You can see Germany in the centre with France to the southwest and Belgium to the west.

The French highlighted area is Alsace-Lorraine, and this was a contested region that had changed hands multiple times between France and Germany, until the Treaty of Versailles forced Germany to return it to France.

The Belgian region had also belonged to Germany before the war, but was given to Belgium as part of an effort to weaken Germany's power.

Unlike the Treaty of Versailles, which had been imposed on Germany, Locarno was an opportunity for Germany to make a mutual agreement with its neighbours through diplomacy rather than force.

Stresemann agreed that Germany would respect these new borders, effectively giving up any territorial ambitions in those areas.

In return, Germany was promised that its independence would be respected and that any disputes would be settled through diplomacy instead of violence.

Britain and Italy added to the strength of the pact by promising to support it and step in if any country broke the agreement.

Stresemann had achieved a monumental step toward reintegrating Germany into the international community.

Locarno was a significant moment because it showed that Germany was willing to cooperate peacefully rather than use force.

This would help to battle against the image of Germany as a pariah.

Okay, let's have a check for understanding.

What I want you to do here is complete this sentence with the correct missing word.

Pause the video, have a go, and then come right back.

Okay, welcome back.

Let's see how that sentence should have read.

"In the Locarno Pact, Germany agreed to respect its western borders with France and Belgium." Okay, let's continue.

While the Locarno Pact addressed Germany's western borders, Stresemann avoided addressing Germany's lost eastern territories to prevent strong domestic opposition at home.

Let's take a look at the map again, but instead look towards the eastern borders of Germany.

Notice the territories which the Treaty of Versailles had forced Germany to give to Poland and to Czechoslovakia.

At Locarno, no agreements were made about these territories.

Stresemann deliberately avoided making commitments about the territory Germany had lost to Poland and Czechoslovakia because many ethnic Germans lived there, meaning that after the Treaty of Versailles these Germans now lived under Polish and Czechoslovak rule.

Stresemann knew that any such agreement on these lands would provoke fierce domestic opposition at home and potentially reopen unresolved disputes in the region.

Many Germans on both sides of the border felt they should be united under German rule.

By carefully balancing the demands of foreign powers and domestic opinion, Stresemann reassured Britain and France about Germany's intentions on its western borders while avoiding angering Germans along the contentious eastern border.

Okay, let's have a check for understanding.

What strategy did Stresemann use regarding Germany's eastern borders? A, he agreed to respect the eastern borders to maintain peace with Poland and Czechoslovakia.

B, he avoided commitments about the eastern borders to prevent domestic opposition.

C, he relied on military force to secure eastern territories for Germany.

Pause the video, have a think, and then come right back.

Okay, welcome back, and well done if you knew the correct answer was B.

Stresemann avoided commitments about the eastern borders to prevent domestic opposition.

The goodwill built after Locarno paved the way for Germany to join the League of Nations in 1926.

The Locarno spirit, as it came to be known, represented a significant improvement in relations between Germany and its neighbours, marked by a renewed sense of trust and cooperation.

For the first time since the war, Germany was seen as a willing partner in maintaining peace rather than a disruptive force.

This spirit of collaboration paved the way for Germany to join the League of Nations.

Have a look at the map on the left.

This world map shows the member states of the League of Nations, and we can see that the League aimed to include countries from across the globe, encouraging widespread international cooperation.

The League, established after the First World War, was an international organisation aimed at promoting peace and resolving conflicts through diplomacy rather than war.

By joining, Germany gained a seat at the table of global diplomacy, allowing it to contribute to international decision-making and policies.

Stresemann's skillful negotiation not only enhanced Germany's international reputation, but also fostered a sense of optimism and stability back home where many saw this as a step toward reclaiming their nation's rightful place among the world's leading powers.

Okay, let's have another check.

What significant event marks Germany's return to global diplomacy in 1926? A, Germany's hosting of the Locarno Conference.

B, joining the League of Nations.

C, the signing of the Dawes Plan.

Pause the video, have a think, and then come right back.

Okay, welcome back and well done if you knew the correct answer was B, Germany joining the League of Nations.

Okay, great, let's move on to Task A.

What I want you to do here is describe two achievements of Gustav Stresemann's diplomacy between 1924 and 1929.

So what you need to do here is identify an achievement and then just write a few sentences to describe the achievement.

Pause the video, have a go at the task, and then come right back.

Okay, welcome back.

So there's many ways that you might have described those achievements, and you might have identified different achievements to the ones I have here.

Nonetheless, your answers might look something like this.

So, for the first achievement, the Locarno Pact in 1925, and you could have described that achievement as follows.

"Stresemann used skilled diplomacy to negotiate an agreement where Germany agreed to respect its western borders with France and Belgium.

This helped to rebuild trust and reduced Germany's image as a pariah state in Europe." Or you could have had the League of Nations.

"By joining this international organisation in 1926, Stresemann secured a role for Germany in global decision-making.

Domestically, this boosted optimism and national pride." Okay, great, so now we've established the initial background and context of Stresemann's use of diplomacy to rebuild Germany's standing in the world, let's now look at some further international achievements and the impact this made within Germany.

So let's look at "Building peace abroad and stability at home." The next significant international agreement for Germany was the Kellogg-Briand Pact.

The Kellogg-Briand Pact was a global agreement signed by more than 60 nations in which they agreed not to use war to solve conflicts.

And we can see a photo on the left of the Kellogg-Briand Pact with multiple signatures and their associated seals.

While Locarno was a practical agreement, the Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928 was an idealistic one, more focused on hopeful goals for a better future.

However, critics dismissed it as overly optimistic and a worthless piece of paper.

The reason for this was that the pact did not include any mechanisms for ensuring that countries followed its terms or punishing those who broke them, leaving it reliant on goodwill rather than concrete action.

Still, the pact's symbolic value was immense.

For Germans weary of war and international hostility, it offered a glimmer of hope for a peaceful future, symbolising a shared desire among nations to avoid the horrors of another global conflict.

Stresemann likely understood the limitations of the pact, yet he also recognised its potential to build goodwill and further reduce the image of Germany as a pariah state.

By participating in such agreements, Germany was seen not as a warmonger, but as a responsible member of the international community.

Okay, let's have a check for understanding.

What I want you to do here is complete this sentence with the correct missing word.

Pause the video, have a go, and then come right back.

Okay, welcome back.

So let's see how that sentence should have read.

"Germany's agreement to the Kellogg-Briand Pact in 1928 symbolised its willingness to avoid conflict in the future." Okay, let's continue.

The effects of Stresemann's diplomatic achievements were profound within Germany itself.

The Weimar Republic, often seen as weak and lacking support, gained a measure of credibility.

The reduction in international tensions helped Stresemann to negotiate the Young Plan, which reduced the burden of reparations payments and began to repair Germany's shattered economy.

The political climate also shifted during this period.

Extremist parties on both the left and right began to lose support as economic conditions improved and national pride was partially restored.

Look at the diagram.

It shows the 1928 German election results showing a loss of support for extremist parties and a boost for moderate parties.

The Nazi Party, which had gained attention after Adolf Hitler's failed Munich Putsch in 1923, saw its share of votes in national elections drop significantly, receiving only 3% in the 1928 Reichstag elections.

And we can see that the Communist Party also had a small percentage of seats.

Meanwhile, moderate and pro-democratic parties such as the Social Democrats, SPD, and the German People's Party, DVP, gained ground.

These results reflected a growing sense among Germans that the Weimar system could offer stability and a path forward.

By his untimely death in 1929, Gustav Stresemann had become a symbol of the Weimar Republic's most stable years.

However, his achievements were fragile.

His achievements relied on the cooperation of other nations and the volatile support of the German people.

The Nazis accused him of betraying German interests by cooperating with former enemies.

They argued that Locarno locked Germany into a weaker position and did nothing to address the injustices of Versailles.

Yet Stresemann was convinced that his path of diplomacy and negotiation was Germany's best hope for recovery.

Okay, let's have a check for understanding.

How did Stresemann's diplomacy affect the domestic situation in Germany? Select two correct answers.

A, it caused a surge in support for the communist and Nazi parties.

B, it led to a collapse of moderate pro-democratic parties in the Reichstag.

C, it reduced reparations payments and began to repair the economy.

D, it weakened extremist parties on both the left and right.

Pause the video, select your two correct answers, and then come right back.

Okay, welcome back and well done if you knew the correct answers were C, it reduced reparations payments and began to repair the economy, and D, it weakened extremist parties on both the left and right.

Okay, great, let's move on to the first part of Task B.

And what I want you to do here is provide examples to support each of the following statements.

And you can see that I've provided you with three statements.

So let's have a look at the first statement.

"The Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928 was criticised for being overly optimistic." And so what you need to do here is provide a few sentences of detailed knowledge from the lesson to support this statement, offer some additional information to explain the statement.

And you'll do the same for the other two statements.

Pause the video, have a go at the task, and then come right back.

Okay, welcome back and well done for having a go at that task.

So there's a few ways that you might have answered those questions, but compare your answer with what I have here.

So for the first statement, "The Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928 was criticised for being overly optimistic," you might have said something like, "The Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928 was criticised for being overly optimistic because it lacked mechanisms to ensure that countries followed its terms or to punish those who broke them.

Critics dismissed it as a worthless piece of paper." And for the second statement.

"The symbolic value of the Kellogg-Briand Pact was significant for Germany." And you might have said that "the symbolic value of the Kellogg-Briand Pact was significant for Germany because it offered a glimmer of hope for a peaceful future.

It symbolised a shared desire among nations to avoid another global conflict, which was appreciated by Germans weary of war and international hostility." And the final statement, "Stresemann's diplomatic achievements helped improve domestic support for the Weimar Republic." You could have said that "Stresemann's diplomacy improved domestic support for the Weimar Republic by reducing international tensions and securing the Young Plan, which eased reparations and boosted the economy.

This weakened extremist parties like the Nazis and strengthened pro-democratic parties, restoring some faith in the Weimar system." Okay, let's move on to the second part of Task B.

And you can see I've provided you here with a statement.

"By 1929, Stresemann had used diplomacy to successfully stabilise Germany." And what I'm asking you here is, how far do you agree with this statement? And usually when you see that question, how far that you agree with something, it's inviting you to say how far you agree with it and how far you disagree with it.

So what I want you to do is write one paragraph which agrees with this statement and one paragraph which disagrees.

So use all the knowledge you've gained from today's lesson to write two detailed paragraphs explaining why you agree and disagree with the statement.

Pause the video, have a go at the task, and then come right back.

Okay, great, welcome back.

Well done for having a go at that task.

So there's many ways that you could have answered that question, and compare your answer with what I have here.

So your answer may include, for your agree paragraph, "Stresemann's diplomacy was successful in improving Germany's international standing and reducing tensions with other countries.

Key achievements like the Locarno Pact of 1925, where Germany agreed to respect its western borders with France and Belgium, reassured its neighbours and helped to end Germany's status as a pariah state.

Similarly, Germany's entry into the League of Nations in 1926 gave it a voice in global diplomacy, marking its reintegration into the international community.

Domestically, these successes fostered optimism, boosted national pride and weakened extremist parties, contributing to greater political stability." And for your disagree paragraph, you might have written something like, "However, Stresemann's diplomacy had its weaknesses.

Agreements like the Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928 were criticised for being unrealistic because they lacked any way to enforce their terms. Stresemann's refusal to address Germany's eastern borders also revealed ongoing domestic tensions, as many Germans resented living under Polish or Czechoslovak rule.

Stresemann's successes were also fragile, relying on the cooperation of other nations and the unstable support of the German people.

The Nazis accused Stresemann of betraying Germany by working with former enemies and argued that the Locarno Pact left Germany in a weaker position, while failing to challenge the injustices of the Treaty of Versailles." Okay, great, let's summarise today's lesson, "Stresemann's international achievements." Stresemann's skilled diplomacy in the Locarno Pact of 1925 helped Germany rebuild trust with France and Belgium, reducing its image as a pariah state in Europe.

Joining the League of Nations in 1926 marked Germany's reintegration into global diplomacy, boosting domestic optimism and national pride.

The Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928 symbolised a shared desire for peace and provided Germans hope for a future free of war.

However, it was criticised for being unrealistic and the Nazis accused Stresemann of weakening Germany by cooperating with former enemies.

Stresemann's diplomacy eased international tensions, secured economic relief through the Young Plan, and strengthened pro-democratic support, weakening extremist parties like the Nazis.

Well done on a brilliant lesson.

Today we've explored how Stresemann's diplomacy helped rebuild Germany's international reputation and his efforts brought stability and hope, but not everyone in Germany supported his approach.

So did this international recovery truly fix the issues in Weimar Germany? As we move forward, we will question whether this period really deserves to be called a golden age.

I'll see you in the next time when we continue our inquiry.

See you in the next lesson.