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'''Konrad Adenauer''' (1876- 1967), was the first chancellor (top official) of the Federal Republic of Germany ('''FRG'''), 1949-63. He was the founder and leader of the [[Christian Democratic Union]] ('''CDU'''), a coalition of Catholics and Protestants that since 1946 has generally dominated German politics. A devout Catholic, he belied his age as one of the oldest national leaders in world history by a vigorous commitment to democracy, capitalism, and anti-Communism. A stern patriarch and shrewd politician, Adenauer was deeply committed to the traditional values of Christianity and pursued a single-mindedly Western-oriented foreign policy. He restored the West Germany economy to dominance in Europe, rebuilt its army, came to terms with France, helped establish European unity, fought relentlessly against the Communists in rival [[East Germany]], and made his nation a pillar of [[NATO]] and a form ally of the United States. To a large extent Adenauer's policies still dominate Germany.[[File:Adenauer1.jpg|thumb|250px]]
'''Konrad Adenauer''' (1876- 1967), was the first chancellor (top official) of the Federal Republic of Germany ('''FRG'''), 1949-63. He was the founder and leader of the [[Christian Democratic Union]] ('''CDU'''), a coalition of Catholics and Protestants that since 1946 has generally dominated German politics. A devout Catholic, he belied his age as one of the oldest national leaders in world history by a vigorous commitment to democracy, capitalism, and anti-Communism. A stern patriarch and shrewd politician, Adenauer was deeply committed to the traditional values of Christianity and pursued a single-mindedly Western-oriented foreign policy. He restored the West Germany economy to dominance in Europe, rebuilt its army, came to terms with France, helped establish European unity, fought relentlessly against the Communists in rival [[East Germany]], and made his nation a pillar of [[NATO]] and a form ally of the United States. To a large extent Adenauer's policies still dominate Germany.[[File:Adenauer1.jpg|thumb|230px]]
==Career==
==Career==
In foreign policy Adenauer regarded as essential the conclusive settlement of Germany's see-saw policy between East and West, which in his opinion brought to the German people the disasters of the two world wars. He bound Germany firmly to the democratic West. His uncompromising hostility toward the Soviet Union was major element in the [[Cold War]], as it led to rearmament and the creation of a strong German army.
In foreign policy Adenauer regarded as essential the conclusive settlement of Germany's see-saw policy between East and West, which in his opinion brought to the German people the disasters of the two world wars. He bound Germany firmly to the democratic West. His uncompromising hostility toward the Soviet Union was major element in the [[Cold War]], as it led to rearmament and the creation of a strong German army.
====Resolving fears of germany===
Adenauer traded West German renunciation of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons (ABC weapons) for Western Allied approval of near-sovereignty for West Germany at the London Nine-Power (United States, Canada, Britain, France, Italy, the Benelux countries, and West Germany) Conference in 1954, thereby meeting French security demands and recognizing the special status of the United States, Britain, and France as nuclear powers. West Germans were quite ready to accept a last-recourse Allied right of intervention because this right also preserved German reunification claims.
Adenauer's diplomats quelled the fears and anger of American Jewish groups and worked to convince them of Germany's reforms on a personal as well as a national level. These efforts included the
Adenauer's support of the state of [[Israel]] and its agreement to pay compensation to that country as well as to individual victims of the Nazi [[Holocaust]], which made it difficult to doubt West Germany's good intentions.
====Germany rearmament====
The 1954 Treaties of Paris established the participation of the FRG in NATO and its rearmament. The new army that would make West Germany the strongest Central European power was formed according to traditional concepts. 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 his country would be in a position of disparity in the Atlantic alliance as a member without nuclear arms. Hoping that the availability of nuclear weapons would increase deterrence, he supported the assignment of nuclear warheads to West Germany by the United States.
The 1954 Treaties of Paris established the participation of the FRG in NATO and its rearmament. The new army that would make West Germany the strongest Central European power was formed according to traditional concepts. 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 his country would be in a position of disparity in the Atlantic alliance as a member without nuclear arms. Hoping that the availability of nuclear weapons would increase deterrence, he supported the assignment of nuclear warheads to West Germany by the United States.
====European Unity====
====European Unity====
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.
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 [[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.
=====Labor unions=====
To achieve European unity, Adenauer needed the cooperation of the labor union, which mostly supported the opposition SDP. The German Federation of Trade Unions (DGB) saw itself in a political role, and largely favored the idea of European integration. A key test of its European credentials was its attitude toward the [[Schuman Plan]], proposed by France, for a common market for coal, iron, and steel. The DGB accepted the plan following its entry in 1949 into the International Federation of Free Trade Unions, though it was aware of the risk of internal tensions and friction with SPD politicians. The issue also became interwoven with the Pleven Plan to create a European defense community. The agreement that was finally reached between Adenauer and the DGB involved some compromise on the issue of equal union participation in the coal and steel industry, but was not a "deal" based on prior concessions. Adenauer's dealings with the DGB leadership showed cool calculation, and their close cooperation reflected the DGB's sense of political responsibility and general enthusiasm for Europe.
To achieve European unity, Adenauer needed the cooperation of the labor union, which mostly supported the opposition SDP. The German Federation of Trade Unions (DGB) saw itself in a political role, and largely favored the idea of European integration. A key test of its European credentials was its attitude toward the [[Schuman Plan]], proposed by France, for a common market for coal, iron, and steel. The DGB accepted the plan following its entry in 1949 into the International Federation of Free Trade Unions, though it was aware of the risk of internal tensions and friction with SPD politicians. The issue also became interwoven with the Pleven Plan to create a European defense community. The agreement that was finally reached between Adenauer and the DGB involved some compromise on the issue of equal union participation in the coal and steel industry, but was not a "deal" based on prior concessions. Adenauer's dealings with the DGB leadership showed cool calculation, and their close cooperation reflected the DGB's sense of political responsibility and general enthusiasm for Europe.