France-Germany relations (1919-33)

France's Pursuit of a Punitive Treaty

France, during the Versailles talks, advocated for a punitive treaty towards Germany and employed various measures to ensure Germany's future military and economic weakness. The key elements of these measures included:

1. Full Burden of Reparations on Germany

• France insisted that Germany should bear the complete burden of war reparations, seeking to extract significant compensation for the damages caused during World War I.

2. Occupation of the Ruhr (1923)

• To compel Germany to pay reparations, France led the occupation of the Ruhr region. This move, however, faced opposition from Britain, which preferred a more lenient approach, believing that a successful and stable Germany would benefit all of Europe.
• The coal from the Saar region was earmarked for a period of 15 years.

3. Emphasis on Germany's Disarmament and Demilitarization

• France emphasized the necessity of Germany's disarmament and the demilitarization of the Rhineland region during the Treaty of Versailles negotiations.

4. Concerns Over Allies' Commitment

• France was disappointed when the United Kingdom withdrew from the Geneva Protocol, as the United States adopted a policy of isolation and refused to guarantee prior assistance to France in case of war.

5. Forming Alliances

• Between 1921 and 1927, France established treaties with Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Romania to deter potential future German aggression.
• These agreements collectively became known as the "Little Entente." However, these alliances proved ineffective, and France desired a stronger ally like Russia to confront Germany on multiple fronts.
• The dominance of Communists in Russia was perceived as a greater threat by many in France.

6. Pursuit of Reconciliation and Friendship

• Several diplomatic efforts aimed at reconciliation occurred, including the Dawes Plan (1924), the Locarno Treaties (1925), the Young Plan (1929), and the Lausanne Conference (1932).
• Gustav Stresemann, who served as Germany's foreign minister from 1923 to 1929, played a significant role in improving relations between France and Germany.
• The relationship between the two nations improved notably following the Dawes Plan, contributing to economic recovery in Germany.
• Despite reconciliation efforts, Stresemann and Germany still sought territorial changes, including the Polish Corridor, Danzig port, union with Austria, Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia, and revisions to the Treaty of Versailles, such as reducing reparations and amending disarmament clauses.
• The rise of the Nazis and strong German nationalism after the 1929 crisis complicated the situation.

French Response and Shifting Alliances

As tensions rose, France adjusted its stance towards Germany and explored potential new alliances, including with the Soviet Union:

1. Austria-Germany Customs Union (1931)

• In 1931, Germany proposed a customs union with Austria, which seemed economically advantageous. However, France's objections led to the rejection of this proposal by the Permanent Court of International Justice in The Hague.

2. World Disarmament Conference (1932–1933)

• Germany, under Hitler's leadership, demanded equality of arms with France at the World Disarmament Conference. France opposed this demand, and as a result, Germany withdrew from the conference and the League of Nations.

This organization categorizes the information regarding France-Germany relations from 1919 to 1933 into clear sections.