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Friendship Treaty between Germany and the Soviet Union (Berlin Treaty) (April 24, 1926)


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The German Government and the Government of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics, being desirous of doing all in their power to promote the maintenance of general peace, and being convinced that the interests of the German people and the peoples of the Government of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics demand constant and trustful cooperation, having agreed to strengthen the friendly relations existing between them by means of a special treaty [ . . . ] have agreed upon the following provisions:

Article 1

The relations between Germany and the Government of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics shall continue to be based on the Treaty of Rapallo.

The German Government and the Government of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics will maintain friendly contact in order to promote an understanding with regard to all political and economic questions jointly affecting their two countries.

Article 2

Should one of the Contracting Parties, despite its peaceful attitude, be attacked by one or more third Powers, the other Contracting Party shall observe neutrality for the whole of the duration of the conflict.

Article 3

If on the occasion of a conflict of the nature mentioned in Article 2, or at a time when neither of the Contracting Parties is engaged in warlike operations, a coalition is formed between third Powers with a view to the economic or financial boycott of either of the Contracting Parties, the other Contracting Party undertakes not to adhere to such coalition.

Article 4

The present treaty shall be ratified and the instruments of ratification shall be exchanged at Berlin.

It shall enter into force on the date of the exchange of the instruments of ratification and shall remain in force for five years. The two Contracting Parties shall confer in good time before the expiration of this period with regard to the future development of their political relations.

In faith whereof the plenipotentiaries have signed the present treaty.

Original text done in duplicate at Berlin on April 24, 1926.


Signed: Herr Stresemann
Signed: M Krestinski



Source of English translation: Treaty of Berlin between the Soviet Union and Germany (April 24, 1926), in the Avalon Project, Documents in Law, History, and Diplomacy, http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/berlin_001.asp.

Source of German version: Politisches Archiv des Auswärtigen Amtes, Bilaterale Verträge des Deutschen Reiches, Sowjetunion [Political Archive of the Foreign Office. Bilateral Treaties between the German Reich and the Soviet Union], Lagernr. 41. Original.

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