Changes

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

France and West Germany were brought together by common interests starting from 1955, but did not agree with regard to European union and relations with the United States. In 1955 France was pleased by the Geneva conferences that left Germany divided. Furthermore, the Rome treaties of 1957 established the predecessor organization to the [[European Union]], the [[Common market|European Common Market]] limited to six countries, a solution advocated by France against the larger union envisioned by Adenauer. [[Charles De Gaulle]] proposed establishing a European political organization anchored on a Franco-German alliance independent of the United States. Adenauer agreed to this project as preferable to a London-Paris-Washington alliance. However, Adenauer underestimated De Gaulle's intent to destroy the Atlantic alliance, and De Gaulle did not understand that West Germany would never substitute French support for that of the United States. [[John F. Kennedy]]'s policy toward the Soviets and the fear of American abandonment of Europe contributed to the agreements between De Gaulle and Adenauer that culminated in the Elysée treaty in 1963.  

France and West Germany were brought together by common interests starting from 1955, but did not agree with regard to European union and relations with the United States. In 1955 France was pleased by the Geneva conferences that left Germany divided. Furthermore, the Rome treaties of 1957 established the predecessor organization to the [[European Union]], the [[Common market|European Common Market]] limited to six countries, a solution advocated by France against the larger union envisioned by Adenauer. [[Charles De Gaulle]] proposed establishing a European political organization anchored on a Franco-German alliance independent of the United States. Adenauer agreed to this project as preferable to a London-Paris-Washington alliance. However, Adenauer underestimated De Gaulle's intent to destroy the Atlantic alliance, and De Gaulle did not understand that West Germany would never substitute French support for that of the United States. [[John F. Kennedy]]'s policy toward the Soviets and the fear of American abandonment of Europe contributed to the agreements between De Gaulle and Adenauer that culminated in the Elysée treaty in 1963.