Schubert did not only possess foresight and the “political sagacity of an old Roman” but he was probably the most ardent proponent of a new German foreign policy in the Weimar Republic, which pursued a modern understanding of diplomacy based on multilateralism and balancing of interest among the concert of European powers. Schubert was the incarnation of German “republican foreign policy” in the 1920s, which had abandoned power politics and stressed the importance of economics and trade, negotiations and cooperation instead. He was the distinguished person in the Auswärtiges Amt, which from the beginning called and pursued a coherent and steady policy of understanding and accommodation with the Western powers (United States, Great Britain, and France). Schubert knew that Germany would only be able to regain its former great power status if it succeeded to gain the trust and acceptance of the other powers through its cooperation and reliability. In this regard, he put all his strength and efforts in the service of an operational and professional Foreign Office to direct its policy towards this end.
However, German “republican foreign policy” and the emphasis of cooperation with the Western countries is highly connected with the person of Gustav Stresemann, Chancellor and Foreign Minister of the Weimar Republic from 1923-1929. Throughout the historiography on Weimar foreign policy, he receives all credit for a policy of modus vivendi with the Western powers and the special relationship that Germany established with the United States in particular after 1924. It is also well known that the Secretary of State, Carl von Schubert, was his right hand and that both complemented each other in the endeavour to bring Germany out of its international isolation and make it a respectable and reliable member of the concert of Europe. If Stresemann was the public face of this new policy, then Schubert was probably the backroom engineer of this strategy. As a duumvirate among the German foreign policy elite, they were responsible for the policies that led to the Dawes-Plan in 1924, Treaty of Locarno in 1925, and Germany’s admission to the League of Nations in 1926, and finally Germany’s accession to the Kellogg-Briand Pact in 1928.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Historiography on Weimar Foreign Policy
Carl von Schubert and the Evolution of Weimar Westpolitik, 1920-1924
Conclusion
Research Objectives & Themes
This study investigates the role of Carl von Schubert and the Auswärtiges Amt in shaping Germany's foreign policy towards the Western powers during the turbulent years of 1920-1924, seeking to determine whether a coherent "Westpolitik" strategy existed prior to Gustav Stresemann's accession to power.
- The evolution of "republican foreign policy" and its divergence from Wilhelmine power politics.
- The institutional reorganization of the German Foreign Office and its impact on diplomacy.
- The strategic relationship between Schubert and the Western powers, particularly Great Britain.
- The influence of economic factors and international cooperation on German foreign policy-making.
- Analysis of Schubert's role as a backroom engineer of strategies that predated the Locarno-era.
Excerpt from the Book
Carl von Schubert and the Evolution of Weimar Westpolitik, 1920-1924
For a better understanding of Schubert’s career it is helpful to know his background and development. Carl von Schubert (1882-1947) belonged to the ascending German middle classes. His father was a gentled general (1899), who had married into the leading industrial family of the Stumms from the Saar region. He was a nephew of Richard von Kühlmann, Secretary of State of foreign affairs (1917-18), and was married with the countess Harrach, a divorced Bethmann Hollweg. His association with the industrial enterprise of the Stumms in the Saar, enabled him to develop a better understanding of economic issues, which he furthered throughout his education – he studied law – at the commercial college in Cologne. This component of his development was also very important for his future career in dealing with France after 1918.
Schubert entered the German Foreign Office in 1906. As his first deployment as a young attaché he was sent to Washington D.C. in 1907. Beside his manifold assignments - which he fulfilled with great satisfaction of his superiors - he researched the industrial development of the American South, which was of great interest and that was circulated among government ministries. Furthermore, he had written his final thesis at the diplomatic school about the American iron and steel industry. His first important diplomatic assignment was that of the Second Secretary at the German Embassy in London in November 1912. In London he worked with Richard von Kühlmann as the Counselor of Embassy, and the later ambassador to France Leopold von Hoesch (1921-32), who was Secretary of Embassy too. The time at the London embassy had a lasting impact on Schubert. He was impressed by Britain’s influence and its worldwide connections. Moreover, he admired the British political-diplomatic style. During the First World War he served at the German mission in Bern and was assigned the organization of a widely ramified information and intelligence office. He was also involved in Lenin’s secret transfer to Russia in 1917. After the war, because of these activities, he was first persona non grata for the British as well as the French. Nevertheless, in February 1920, he was sent to London again to organize the embassy for the new German ambassador Sthamer (1920-30), former mayor of Hamburg and one of the new “outsiders”, who had entered the Auswärtiges Amt as a result of the reorganization of the Foreign Office during 1918-20.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides a biographical introduction to Carl von Schubert and establishes his significance as a key architect of Germany's "republican foreign policy" in the 1920s.
Historiography on Weimar Foreign Policy: Reviews existing scholarship on Weimar foreign policy, assessing the roles of key actors and the evolution of historical interpretations regarding the era.
Carl von Schubert and the Evolution of Weimar Westpolitik, 1920-1924: Examines Schubert's professional background, his early diplomatic activities, and the strategic development of his policy towards Western powers prior to 1924.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, highlighting the difficulty of researching backroom figures and suggesting a continuity between Schubert’s early policies and the later foreign policy of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Keywords
Carl von Schubert, Auswärtiges Amt, Weimar Republic, Westpolitik, Gustav Stresemann, foreign policy, diplomacy, reparations, Locarno, Great Britain, United States, international relations, republican foreign policy, interwar period, economic cooperation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic work?
This work explores the diplomatic efforts and strategic contributions of Carl von Schubert within the German Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) during the early Weimar Republic, specifically between 1920 and 1924.
What are the central themes discussed in the paper?
Central themes include the transition of German foreign policy towards multilateralism, the role of administrative reform within the Foreign Office, and the efforts to gain international trust through economic and political cooperation.
What is the core research question?
The study asks whether a coherent strategy of Westpolitik existed within the Foreign Office prior to Gustav Stresemann's leadership, and to what extent Schubert acted as the architect of these policies.
Which methodologies are employed by the author?
The author utilizes historical analysis, drawing upon diplomatic records, primary sources like the Schubert Politisches Tagebuch, and an extensive review of existing historiography to interpret the actions of key political figures.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body covers Schubert's career trajectory, his involvement in the reorganization of the Foreign Office, his strategic memoranda on relations with England and the United States, and the internal politics leading up to the Treaty of Rapallo and beyond.
How would you describe the key terms of this study?
The key terms revolve around the shift toward "republican foreign policy," the importance of economic stabilization, the complex relationship with the Allies, and the necessity of professionalism in diplomacy.
How does the author evaluate the "Rapallo" incident?
The author views the Treaty of Rapallo as a major disruption that severely undermined Schubert's efforts to foster closer cooperation with the Western powers and damaged Germany's reputation for reliability.
What specific legacy does the author attribute to Schubert?
The author suggests a strong continuity between the foreign policy patterns established by Schubert and Stresemann in the 1920s and the foreign policy of the post-1945 Federal Republic of Germany, particularly regarding peaceful negotiation and economic integration.
- Quote paper
- M.A. Pouyan Shekarloo (Author), 2011, Carl von Schubert, Auswärtiges Amt, and the Evolution of Weimar Westpolitik, 1920-1924, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/177309
