100 Years of Locarno: Peace for Europe - A look back at history

100 Years of Locarno: Peace for Europe - A look back at history

On October 14, 2025, a special event will take place in the Berlin exhibition space “The Romanische Café” in the Europa Center that will commemorate an important historical moment: the 100th anniversary of the Treaty of Locarno. berlin.de reports that the celebratory events will begin on September 25th and 30th, 2025. The aim of the celebrations is to reflect the “Spirit of Locarno”, which led to hope for a lasting peace order in Europe.

In October 1925, representatives of seven European states met in Locarno to sign agreements to stabilize peace, which would ease the tensions of the period after the First World War. bpb.de adds that German, French and Belgian delegates refrained from violent border changes and Germany recognized its western border with France and Belgium. This was a crucial step after the devastating consequences of the Treaty of Versailles, which held Germany accountable in 1919 and established its sole responsibility for the First World War, as Wikipedia explains.

Events and topics

The two events include lectures by well-known speakers. On September 25th at 7:30 p.m., journalist Armin Fuhrer and historian Arne Krasting will speak about the title “100 years ago in Locarno. The dream of Europe awakens”. The topics cover not only the conference itself, but also its political implications and the key actors. On September 30th, also at 7:30 p.m., the title is “Europe, Fatherland of Reason”. Here, Michael Bienert and Arne Krasting will examine the European pleas of writers in the 1920s. Works by well-known intellectuals such as Stefan Zweig and Heinrich Mann are examined.

Participation in the events is free of charge and can be booked via the Romanisches Café website. Accompanying the evenings there will be a podcast episode that captures important highlights of the discussions. The project is supported by the District European Fund of the State of Berlin, which underlines the importance of returning to European history and cooperation.

Historical backgrounds

The Locarno Treaties were negotiated in a context of significant international tensions. In 1923 the Ruhr area was occupied by French and Belgian troops, which dramatically increased diplomatic efforts. The Dawes Plan of 1924, which was intended to reorganize Germany's reparation payments, represented another important development. These negotiations ultimately culminated in the Locarno Conference, which began on October 5, 1925 and ended on October 16. The contracts were not concluded until December 1, 1925 in London, where they were finally signed.

The effects of these agreements were far-reaching, especially with regard to the international recognition of Germany and its accession to the League of Nations in 1926. Nevertheless, the agreements were not without controversy; many national conservative and left-wing radical forces criticized them. The rise of National Socialism in the 1930s and the breach of the treaties through the occupation of the demilitarized Rhineland in 1936 show how fragile the peace structures established at that time were.

The occasions to celebrate the Treaty of Locarno are not only a look back at history, but also a reminder for future unity and peace in Europe.