The Locarno Treaties of 1925 addressed French security concerns regarding Germany's eastern borders by agreeing that any changes to borders with Poland and Czechoslovakia would be made through discussion and arbitration, not force. However, Germany's eastern borders themselves were not internationally guaranteed. The treaties helped establish a "Spirit of Locarno" where Germany joined the League of Nations and allied troops withdrew from Germany by 1930, though prosperity and peace depended on continued economic growth and cooperation with the United States.

1. Locarno treaties

2. Agreements
• After Ruhr Crisis – Germany accept W
boundaries
• Locarno Treaty – 1925
• Breakthrough! Addressed French security
concerns
• E borders – changes by discussion, agreement
and arbitration with Poland and Czechoslovakia
• E borders not fixed by international guarantee
• Germany presumed Allies not against change

3. Spirit of Locarno
• Sense of euphoria – great optimism
• Germany joined League
• Disarmament commission left in 1927
• Allied troops left Germany – 1930
• Kellogg Briand Pact – 65 countries

4. New era of peace?
• Economic prosperity, failure of communism to
spread, Germany accepted Versailles
• But
• Germany had not accepted E borders
• Cooperation with USSR – Treaty of Rapallo
• Evaded disarmament clauses
• Spirit closely tied to economic health
• …and the US