How successful was Adenauer's Foreign Policy? Flashcards
What were Adenauer’s Foreign Policy aims?
Main aim was to maintain peace and the freedom of FRG which involved:
-securing sovereignty for FRG
-exploiting the economic, political and military strength of the West through integration
-opposing attempts at reunification if FRG left neutral as could be prayed on by Communism (doesn’t want to unify with the DDR while the Soviets were still wanting to take control)
What events led to the fulfilment of Adenauer’s aim for sovereignty for the FRG?
-1949: Petersberg Agreement signed with the Allied High Commission) allowed FRG to join the International Ruhr Authority (controlled the distribution of resources e.g. coal).
-Occupation Statute ended May 1955 - became a fully sovereign state. Western powers kept their rights and responsibilities over West Berlin. 1957 Saar region returned to FRG (2.3rds parliament wanted to reunite.)
How successfully did Adenauer achieve his aim for sovereignty for the FRG?
-FRG gained the right to establish diplomatic relations with other states. And joined the European Council->promoted co-operation between European countries on legal standards.
-Gained full sovereignty
-FRG was very successful at securing sovereignty due to achieving full sovereignty by 1955 and gaining increased powers to make its own decisions
What was evidence against Adenauer’s success with making the FRG a sovereign state?
-it is likely that despite being more involved in cooperation with other European countries the FRG would take time to fully restore international respect
-it took until 1955 to achieve sovereignty meaning that there were 6 years of less stability and occupation
What events led to the fulfilment of Adenauer’s aim to Exploit the economic, political and military strength of the West through integration?
-the ECSC
-the EEC->the Treaty of Rome
-the GATT
-the OEEC->Marshall Plan/Aid
-the EDC
-the WEU
-the Bundeswehr->NATO
How successful did Adenauer achieve his aim to exploit the economic, political and military strength of the West through integration?
-by mid 1950’s fully integrated, restored trust with France and had access to western markets and a military
What was evidence for Adenauer’s success of his aim exploit the economic, political and military strength of the West through integration?
-FRG financially benefits as they no longer had to pay import taxes
Significant enemy relations improved->showed that FRG could integrate fully
-allowed foreign labour to enter FRG without a permit/visa
-FRG was the largest member of the EEC so Adenauer could exert political and economic influence
-rehabilitated Germany’s international reputation
-SPD and CDU against economic rearmament of EDC
What was evidence against Adenauer’s success with his aim exploit the economic, political and military strength of the West through integration?
-the Western powers were keen to take a hard line stance on containing communism and therefore were very keen to welcome the FRG into building trade and diplomatic links to safeguard against communist expansion
What events led to the fulfilment of Adenauer’s aim to Oppose attempts at reunification if FRG left neutral as could be preyed on by Communism?
-Stalin Notes
-the Hallstein Doctrine
-the Warsaw Pact
-Magnet Theory
-Soviet Occupation Zone
What was evidence for Adenauer’s success of his aim to oppose attempts at reunification if FRG left neutral as could be preyed on by Communism?
-Adenauer avoided reunification with the East->fear that if remained neutral it would be unprotected to communist spread
-Adenauer received criticism for this
Socially, Adenauer brought stability to the FRG by…
-the introduction of the Welfare state because it helped people with things such as giving them an unemployment benefit and sickness insurance which helped people feel stable
Despite achieving some success in social change…
-the education system was still at fault due to the aftermath of the Nazis and teachers were usually unqualified and training was limited
