Back to the video list: German History

 

Four years after the Second World War the Federal Republic of Germany was founded. This was a significant date in German history because it was the first step to regain full sovereignty and become a full-valued member of the international community.

 

Video

 

 

Overview

  • Date: 23 May 1949 / 20 Sep 1949
  • Location: Deutschland
  • Event: The constitution (Grundgesetz) comes into effect / Inauguration of the first government under Adenauer

 

Parties & Persons Involved

  • Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesrepublik Deutschland)
  • United States of America
  • United Kingdom
  • France
  • Soviet Union
  • Konrad Adenauer (1876 – 1967), 1st Chancellor (Bundeskanzler)
  • Theodor Heuss (1884 – 1963), 1st President (Bundespräsident)

 

Background

  • After World War II Germany & Berlin are divided into 4 occupation zones
  • Soviet Union establishes satellite states in eastern Europe / eastern bloc
  • Growing tension between the former allies: USA, UK & France vs. Soviet Union
  • Financial pressure on the western allies because of the occupation of Germany
  • First attempts to create a (West-) German state integrated in the West

 

History

Events Leading to the Foundation of the Federal Republic of Germany

  • 1946/47: First German self-government through the foundation of the states
  • Dec 1947: The foreign ministers of the victors of World War II fail to agree on a pan-German solution & the division between the West & the Soviet Union becomes obvious
  • 23 Feb – 02 Jun 1948: London 6-Power Conference with the results:
    • Foundation of a democratic & federal state in (West-) Germany
    • Integration in the west of the new state
  • 21 Jun 1948: Currency reform & introduction of the Deutsche Mark in West Germany
  • 24 Jun 1948 – 12 Ma 1949: Berlin-Blockade & Airlift
  • 01 Jul 1948: Military governors hand the Frankfurt Documents to the minister-presidents of the German states
  • 01 Sep 1948: Parliamentary council convenes & formulates the constitution
  • 08 May 1949: Parliamentary council presents the constitution
  • Parliaments of the states ratify the constitution (Bavaria only accepts the constitution)
  • 12 May 1949: Western Allies approve the constitution
  • 10 May 1949: Bonn is proclaimed capital
  • 23 May 1949 – 24:00 hrs: German constitution takes effect
  • 14 Aug 1949: Election of the 1st Bundestag (Parliament)
  • 07 Sep 1949: Parliament convenes
  • 12 Sep 1949: Federal convention elects Theodor Heuss as 1st President
  • 15 Sep 1949: Parliament elects Adenauer as 1st Bundeskanzler (Chancellor)
  • 20 Sep 1949: Inauguration of the Adenauer government
  • 21 Sep 1949: New Occupation Statute comes into effect & secures rights of the allies to intervene in German foreign, economic & security policy

 

Further Developments

  • 07 Oct 1949: Foundation of the German Democratic Republic
  • 05 May 1955: Treaties of Paris which extend the German sovereignty
  • 30 May 1968: Parliament adopts the emergency laws & realises the full internal sovereignty
  • 03 Oct 1990: The Reunification & the Two Plus Four Agreement give the whole of Germany full sovereignty under international law

 

Consequences & Impact

  • Basis for the development to become a fully sovereign country
  • Precondition for the integration in the west & the membership of NATO
  • Precondition for the foundation of the European Community (1957) & European Union (1993)
  • Foundation of the GDR as a Soviet satellite
  • German division for 40 years
  • Precondition for the German re-unification