"In 1945, few would have predicted that Germany would reestablish an army just a decade later. Following the end of World War II which Nazi Germany had unleashed the country was occupied and the Wehrmacht was dissolved. The victorious powers, namely the Soviet Union, the USA, Great Britain and France, undertook a comprehensive demilitarization; war was never to emanate from German soil again. Tensions among the victorious powers escalated soon after the war, leading to Germany's division."
"This concern also weighed heavily on Konrad Adenauer, the first chancellor of the fledgling Federal Republic. "In the event of Russian aggression, we would be the victim, the first victim," warned the conservative in October 1950. "The Cold War is being waged against us with full force." Confronted with this threat, Adenauer called for reinforcements from the Western occupation forces. In response, they insisted that West Germany take responsibility for its own defense."
In 1945 Germany was occupied, the Wehrmacht dissolved, and the victorious powers imposed comprehensive demilitarization to prevent future war from German soil. Early Cold War tensions led to Germany's division. The Korean War's outbreak in 1950 prompted Western allies to intensify preparations against a potential Soviet offensive, focusing on the East-West German border. Konrad Adenauer feared immediate vulnerability and demanded reinforcements, warning that Russian aggression would make Germany the first victim. Western occupiers pressed West Germany to assume its own defense responsibility. A contentious national debate over rearmament began, driven by Adenauer's pursuit of sovereignty and integration into the Western community.
Read at www.dw.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]