Source; chancellor Kohl and Bush's attitudes towards unification and the process of the two men to the process of bringing about unification Flashcards
Kohls attitude to unification facts
- Alliance for Germany- perhaps his attitude towards unification was encouraged because he recognised how he could use it to his political advantage; advertising CDU votes in the GDR as votes for Germany. This gained the CDU coalition with SPD and free democrats 192 out of 400 votes
- he wanted to support the revival of the GDR and slowly transition into a confederate state within 10 years, rather than rush head on into unification to begin with. also stop the migration and economic crisis in the GDR
Bush’ attitude towards unification facts
- perhaps the most sympathetic of the foreign powers towards unification, however only because of a desire for European influence which he recognised would be lost if the GDR didn’t join NATO, as SPD leader Lafontaine in the FRG could withdraw the west from NATO if Kohl lost the elections
- legacy of WW2 also threatened USA; another German superpower was a threat
- when the 4 powers met (excluded the FRG) the USA voiced their concerns and that they would not support unification if it was not to be a member of NATO
Kohl approach to unification
short term- 10 point plan- aimed to stabilise the situation by moving towards a confederate state linking the two Germanys writing 5-10 years. He became the first German chancellor in 30 years to call for unification. Wanted to regain ‘Germanys national unity’
Long term- put pressure on Gorbachev through ensuring economic unity between east and west. After his 10 point plan, he ensured a one to one conversion rate between the east and west to encourage integration (up to 4000DM). It also meant Gorbachev couldn’t stall negotiations any more after July 1990 when the two states unified economically.
KOHL KNEW THE IMPORTANCE OF FOREIGN ACCEPTANCE IN GAINING UNIFICATION,
Bush’s approach to unification
-made demands for NATO membership to allow unification
