Changes

Now with an army he was in a position to go to Moscow in 1955 and secure the release—after a decade—of German soldiers from World War II held in Soviet POW camps.  In return Moscow and Bonn exchanged ambassadors. (The German capital was in Bonn, not in Berlin, for the wartime Allies controlled Berlin until 1991.)

Now with an army he was in a position to go to Moscow in 1955 and secure the release—after a decade—of German soldiers from World War II held in Soviet POW camps.  In return Moscow and Bonn exchanged ambassadors. (The German capital was in Bonn, not in Berlin, for the wartime Allies controlled Berlin until 1991.)

====European Unity====

====European Unity====

Adenauer realized the bonding of the French and German economies was the necessary precondition of western European economic integration. He moved for closer ties with French occupation officials. The French responded favorably,  producing an economic rapprochement that led to West German membership in the European Community. The steady growth of Franco-German trade promoted political understanding between the two states and enabled France to make fundamental structural changes in her economy. This could not be accomplished along exclusively bilateral lines, but the Rome Treaties negotiations led France to move toward multilateral negotiations. French interest in nuclear research and the Suez Canal debacle strengthened this movement. With the establishment of the European Economic Community, France and West Germany were able to deal with western European problems as partners.  

Adenauer realized the bonding of the French and German economies was the necessary precondition of western European economic integration. He moved for closer ties with French occupation officials. The French responded favorably,  producing an economic [[rapprochement]] that led to West German membership in the European Community. The steady growth of Franco-German trade promoted political understanding between the two states and enabled France to make fundamental structural changes in her economy. This could not be accomplished along exclusively bilateral lines, but the Rome Treaties negotiations led France to move toward multilateral negotiations. French interest in nuclear research and the Suez Canal debacle strengthened this movement. With the establishment of the European Economic Community, France and West Germany were able to deal with western European problems as partners.  

In negotiating the Schuman Plan to create the European Coal and Steel Community from 1950 to 1952, the key figures - [[Jean Monnet]], [[Robert Schuman]], and Adenauer- battled determinedly and effectively both for the ideal of a new era of Franco-German understanding and for pragmatic economic political interests of both countries. One serious stumbling block was the status of the [[Saar]] region, which France now controlled.  (1876-1967) over the status of the Saar. The French claimed that the economic union of the Saar with France was essential and that the Saar be neither French nor German politically but that it be Europeanized. The German position was that the Saar was German politically and culturally and therefore could not be French economically. France allowed a plebiscite and the Saar joined Germany in 1957.co

In negotiating the Schuman Plan to create the European Coal and Steel Community from 1950 to 1952, the key figures - [[Jean Monnet]], [[Robert Schuman]], and Adenauer- battled determinedly and effectively both for the ideal of a new era of Franco-German understanding and for pragmatic economic political interests of both countries. One serious stumbling block was the status of the [[Saar]] region, which France now controlled.  (1876-1967) over the status of the Saar. The French claimed that the economic union of the Saar with France was essential and that the Saar be neither French nor German politically but that it be Europeanized. The German position was that the Saar was German politically and culturally and therefore could not be French economically. France allowed a plebiscite and the Saar joined Germany in 1957.co