Changes

====German rearmament====

====German rearmament====

Germany was disarmed until 1955, when Adenauer finally convinced his NATO allies that a German Army was both trustworthy and essential. The 1954 Treaties of Paris established the participation of the FRG in NATO and its rearmament. The new army made West Germany the strongest Central European power. After President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] adopted the New Look policy aimed at reducing conventional forces and making nuclear arms the central element both of deterrence and defense in case of war, the German military remained bound to the old system, which envisioned fighting off a Soviet invasion through the "Fulda Gap" in central Germany. In 1956 the United States planned to drastically reduce its armed forces and strengthen American nuclear superiority. Adenauer then understood that without nuclear weapons his country would be less powerful than Britain or France.  He learned that nuclear arms for Germany was politically unacceptable in Europe. Hoping that the availability of nuclear weapons would increase deterrence, he supported the assignment of nuclear warheads to West Germany by the United States.

Germany was disarmed until 1955, when Adenauer finally convinced his NATO allies that a German Army was both trustworthy and essential. The 1954 Treaties of Paris established the participation of the FRG in NATO and its rearmament. The new army made West Germany the strongest Central European power. After President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] adopted the New Look policy aimed at reducing conventional forces and making [[nuclear arms]] the central element both of deterrence and defense in case of war, the German military remained bound to the old system, which envisioned fighting off a Soviet invasion through the "Fulda Gap" in central Germany. In 1956 the United States planned to drastically reduce its armed forces and strengthen American nuclear superiority. Adenauer then understood that without nuclear weapons his country would be less powerful than Britain or France.  He learned that nuclear arms for Germany was politically unacceptable in Europe. Hoping that the availability of nuclear weapons would increase deterrence, he supported the assignment of nuclear warheads to West Germany by the United States.

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.