Why did Germany receive a permanent seat on the League of Nations Council?

Germany received a permanent seat on the League of Nations Council in September 1926 as a result of its commitment to international reconciliation, most notably demonstrated through the Locarno Pact of 1925.12

Under the leadership of Foreign Minister Gustav Stresemann, Germany sought admission to the League as a symbol of its restoration to equality with other great powers. The Locarno treaties, which included Germany's pledge to respect its western frontiers and arbitrate disputes, were explicitly conditioned upon Germany’s entry into the League.231

While the admission process faced initial complications when other nations like Spain, Brazil, and Poland demanded similar permanent status, a compromise was eventually reached. The League Assembly created one new permanent seat specifically for Germany and increased the number of elected, nonpermanent seats to accommodate other nations' claims. This move allowed Germany to participate in the management of international affairs and was a cornerstone of Stresemann’s policy to regain Germany's standing in Europe.31