Stresemann's international achievements
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe Stresemann's international achievements.
Key learning points
- At the end of the First World War, Germany was an international pariah.
- In the Locarno Pact, Stresemann secured peace by agreeing to respect its western borders with France and Belgium.
- Germany joined the League of Nations, restoring its role in global diplomacy and improving relations with prior enemies.
- Germany's agreement to the Kellogg-Briand Pact in 1928 signalled their willingness to avoid conflict in the future.
- Stresemann’s diplomacy rebuilt Germany’s reputation abroad, boosting stability and weakening extremism at home.
Keywords
Pariah - a person or country who is not accepted by society, especially because they are not liked, respected, or trusted
Diplomacy - the management of relationships between countries or the skill in dealing with people without offending or upsetting them
Domestic - relating to a person's own country or home
Common misconception
The Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928 was a legally binding agreement that could prevent all future wars.
The pact lacked enforcement mechanisms and relied on goodwill, making it more symbolic than practical.
Teacher tip
On a set of scales (drawn or physical), pupils place labelled weights (e.g., diplomacy, reparations relief, global trust). Counterbalance with 'fragility' factors like reliance on foreign loans or unresolved tensions. Discuss how Stresemann’s success was remarkable yet precarious.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What steps did Gustav Stresemann take to stabilise Germany in 1923?
Q2.What was the outcome of the Dawes Plan?
Q3.What is the correct definition of loans?
Q4.What impact did American loans have on Germany?
Q5.A key feature of the __________ Plan was that it reduced reparations by 20%.
Q6.What was a weakness of Germany’s recovery under Stresemann?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In what way was Germany treated like a pariah after the First World War?
Q2.Germany’s return to global diplomacy was marked in 1926 by its admission to the of Nations.
Q3.What does the term diplomacy refer to?
Q4.Starting with the earliest, place these events in the correct chronological order
Q5.Which statement about the Locarno Pact is correct?
Q6.Why was the Kellogg-Briand Pact considered a weak agreement?
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: Stresemann's international achievements, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: Stresemann's international achievements, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the Germany 1890–1945, Democracy and dictatorship unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.