Foreign Relationships

Adenauer's foreign policy aims

• By 1949 the Soviets had developed the atomic bomb and in 1950 the oubreak of the Korean War seemed to confirm all the fears of the "free Western world" about Communism aggression.
• Germany was at the frontline of the Cold War and Adenauer was very much aware that maintaining the peace and freedom of the BRD was vital.
• In the early 1950'sthe BRD remained politically impotent.
• The country was under the control of the Allied High Commission and it did not enjoy real sovereignty, as the Western Allies had ultimate authority.
• Adenauer's foreign policy was geared to establish sovereignty for the new state and to exploit the economic, political and military strength of the Western World by fully integrating the BRD.
• Adenauer's aims and visions therefore went far beyond his own state. His aim was a united west Europe led and protected by the USA and to each this ideal, Adenauer saw it as essential for the BRD to put to one side national interests and create a close network  of political, economic and military multinational institutions.
• The BRD was to play an active part in the stability, reliability and close co-operation were to be the principles with which he hoped to win the the trust of partners in the West.
• Adenauer had a strong antipathy to communism. He mistrusted the Soviets and felt that only a policy of strength could really deter communist aggression. 
• He was opposed to attempt at reunifying Germany if it left the BRD neutralised, as it would be left largely defenceless and prey to communist influence.
• To him reunification could only be considered under Western conditions. 

Eyes to the West: economic integration

• The major hurdle overcoming Adenauer's aims was winning the trust of western European states, especially that of France.
• New state constarined by significant economic conditions, as well political, such as
• -The Occupation Statute of April 1949, gave the occupying powers the right to supervise the country's trade.
• -France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg to control the distribution of the area's resources, especially coal and steel.
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