Sample Answer for 1924 to 1928, Germany’s international position

Overall, the view that Germany's international position was greatly strengthened 1914-28 is largely valid. Although the Treaty of Versailles, a constant bane on Germany's global standing, was not fully revised, Stresemann, the foreign minister in this period, predominantly elicited an improvement of Germany's international position in this time, from an economic, diplomatic and military view and in this he was 'astonishingly successful' (Kolb). Therefore, since there was a clear advancement in Germany's international position, it is largely valid to state that it was greatly strengthened in this period.

In terms of Germany's position in the global economy and in regards to the reparations lifted upon the country by the Allies in the country by the Allies in the treaty of Versailles, the view that the nation's international position was strengthened between 1924-28 is largely valid. This is most clearly exemplified by the Dawes Plan in Aug 1924, elicited by Stresemann. Predominantly successful in improving Germany's international economic position, the plan was the first time the Allies had addressed Germany's crippling reparation problem, which had led to hyperinflation in 1923. Although the reparations figure remained at £6.6 bn, leading Stresemann to dub the arrangement an 'economic armistice' and potentially implying that Germany's international position was not greatly strengthened, payments up until 1929 were reduced while Stresemann garnered an 800m mark loan from the USA to reinvigorate the economy and reingratiate Germany in global trade. This had largely positive implications for Germany's international economic position, given that the country received two times more capital from abroad than it paid in reparations, hence showing the view to be largely valid as this aid provided to the German economy by the Dawes Plan allowed the country to play a more fruitful role in global economic relations, due to this influx of foreign investment.

Moreover, Germany's economic international position was also strengthened by increased trade with the USSR, this portraying the view as largely valid, For instance, the treaty of Berlin (1926), which renewed economic relations between the two countries, saw trade rise to 433m RM by 1927. Therefore, although the issue of reparations was not completely quashed, it remains compelling to assert that the view that Germany's international position was greatly strengthened between 1924-28 is largely valid as Stresemann's foreign policy manoeuvrings enacted an influx of foreign investment and an improvement in Germany's position in world trade.

In a diplomatic sense, the view that Germany's international position 1924-28 was greatly strengthened remains largely valid, given that Germany was able to quash the pariah status that it had endured since WWI by cultivating relations with the major powers. This is most notably exhibited by the Locarno Pact (1925), where significant European countries met at Stresemann's invitation. This agreement was crucial in soothing Allied fears over Germany's a continued threat since WWI, with Stresemann, as part of his pragmatic conformity with the TOV to make its revision more likely (the policy of fulfilment), accepting the Western border set out in the TOV, while also entering into a mutual guarantee agreement with Britain, France, Belgium and Italy in order to appease the Allies. Though this did not result in a complete repudiation of the Tov, it is largely valid to suggest that this strengthened Germany as it was able to regain the trust of the Allies. This is exemplified by Locarno catalysing the departure if Allied Forces from Zone 1 and the departure of the Inter Allied Control Commission in 1926, clearly conveying that Germany was no longer a pariah, hence greatly advancing its international position. Therefore, Locarno led to Germany being accepted into the League of Nations in Sept 1926, further testament to the country's improved diplomatic position as it was now treated like an equal partner. Therefore, although the ToV was not completely revised in a diplomatic sense in this period, conveyed by its Western border being cemented, the view that Germany's international position 1924-28 was greatly strengthened remains largely valid as this policy of fulfilment was necessary to regain the trust of the Allies and allow Germany to act as an equal player in foreign affairs again.

Military, it is also largely valid to suggest that Germany's international position was greatly strengthened 1924-28. Although the punitive military restrictions of the TOV remained, enforced by the IMCC until 1926, Stresemann was adept at circumventing these regulations through cultivating relations with other counties. For instance, he made covert arrangements with Spain and Sweden to develop submarines, tanks and artillery in these areas, clearly breaching the TOV and hence greatly ameliorating Germany's international position as its military force was bolstered. This notion can be further substantiated given that Stresemann also elicited arrangements with the USSR to improve Germany's military position, renewing the Treaty of Rapallo (1922) with the Treaty of Berlin (1926), enabling Germany to train pilots and develop weapons in the Soviet Union.

Therefore, given that Germany's international position was strengthened through relations with other countries to enable improved military capacity, it is largely valid to state that its international position had been bolstered 1924-28, though it would be an exaggeration to opine that it was 'greatly strengthened' as TOV restrictions remained.

In conclusion, it is largely valid to view that Germany's international position has been strengthened 1924-28, thanks to improvements in an economic, diplomatic and military sense in relation to global affairs, with the validity of this view being slightly limited given that several constraints from the TOV remained, though this should not significantly detract from Stresemann's successful efforts to re-cement Germany in the international stage.