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Why did Germany join the League of Nations in 1926?

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Birth of the Weimar Republic — Weimar Republic Learn about Germany's fledgling Weimar Republic and the challenges it faced.

Germany joined the League of Nations in September 1926 primarily as a symbol of its restoration to equality with other great powers. By securing a permanent seat on the Council, Germany gained the ability to participate in the management of international affairs, including issues arising from the peace treaties.1

This entry was a critical component of the Locarno Pact, a series of treaties negotiated by German foreign minister Gustav Stresemann to reconcile relations with Western powers. The pact’s entry into force was explicitly made conditional on Germany’s admission to the League. Through these diplomatic efforts, Stresemann sought to move Germany toward stabilization and regain a position in Europe corresponding to its size and importance following the devastation of World War I.213