Foreign Policy

Question 1

FRG in International organisations

Answer 1

• Council of Europe: FRG joined in 1948
• Organisation for Europeans Economic Co-operation: FRG joined 1949
• European Coal and Steel Community: FRG joined in 1951
• NATO: FRG joined in 1955
• European Economic Community: FRG joined in 1957
• European Atomic Energy Community: FRG joined in 1957

Question 2

Military integration

Answer 2

• most contentious issue
• Adenauer tried to regain the trust of Western Europe, but many countries were reluctant to allow rearmament
• it was feared that the west would try to reunify with the east
• in 1955 military rearmament was allowed, out of necessity
• it needed to be militarily strong since it was the buffer between the Soviet Bloc and Western Europe

Question 3

Reconciliation with France

Answer 3

• France was prepared to have a harmonious relationship with West Germany in the 1950s
• the main condition of this rapprochement was that West Germany accept the division of Germany and not seeking reunification
• the FRG becoming part of a number of international organisations cemented this condition
• the Élysée Treaty of 1963 sealed the co-operation between the 2 countries

Question 4

Economic integration

Answer 4

• West Germany was seen to be a key member in the reconstruction of Western Europe’s economy
• this is demonstrated by the FRG getting back control of its steel and coal industry in 1951, and being formally recognised as an equal of France

Question 5

Political integration

Answer 5

• the FRG became a key player in West European politics
• Adenauer demonstrated his and the FRGs commitment to the West and rejection of the East by joining international organisations such as NATO, the Council of Europe and the EEC

Question 6

Impact of FRG development on East Germany

Answer 6

• a capitalist West Germany was seen as a major threat to the Soviet Bloc
• Stalin feared that the rise of the FRG was strengthening his Cold War opponents

Question 7

Stalin’s proposal of reunification

Answer 7

• Stalin suggested that Germany should be unified in 1952
• he stated that the united Germany should be neutral
• however, the West rejected his offer

Question 8

Hallstein Doctrine

Answer 8

• Adenauer initially refused to recognise East Germany as an official state
• the 1953 risings in East Germany were purposefully ignored by Adenauer
• besides the Soviet Union, the FRG refused to have diplomatic relations with any states in the Soviet Bloc, as per the doctrine
• however in 1969 this policy ended

Question 9

POWs

Answer 9

• Adenauer visited Moscow in 1955
• he was able to negotiate the release of German prisoners of war
• in West Germany this was incredibly popular