Posted on May 14, 2017
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The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) becomes a sovereign state when the United States, France, and Great Britain end their military occupation, which had begun in 1945. With this action, West Germany was given the right to rearm and become a full-fledged member of the western alliance against the Soviet Union.
In 1945, the United States, Great Britain, and France had assumed the occupation of the western portion of Germany (as well as the western half of Berlin, situated in eastern Germany). The Soviet Union occupied eastern Germany, as well as the eastern half of Berlin. As Cold War animosities began to harden between the western powers and Russia, it became increasingly obvious that Germany would not be reunified. By the late-1940s, the United States acted to formalize the split and establish western Germany as an independent republic, and in May 1949, the Federal Republic of Germany was formally announced. In 1954, West Germany joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the mutual defense alliance between the United States and several European nations. All that remained was for the Americans, British, and French to end their nearly 10-year occupation. This was accomplished on May 5, 1955, when those nations issued a proclamation declaring an end to the military occupation of West Germany. Under the terms of an agreement reached earlier, West Germany would now be allowed to establish a military force of up to a half-million men and resume the manufacture of arms, though it was forbidden from producing any chemical or atomic weapons.
The end of the Allied occupation of West Germany meant a full recognition of the republic as a member of the western alliance against the Soviet Union. While the Russians were less than thrilled by the prospect of a rearmed West Germany, they were nonetheless pleased that German reunification had officially become a dead issue. Shortly after the May 5 proclamation was issued, the Soviet Union formally recognized the Federal Republic of Germany. The two Germany’s remained separated until 1990, when they were formally reunited and once again became a single democratic country.
In 1945, the United States, Great Britain, and France had assumed the occupation of the western portion of Germany (as well as the western half of Berlin, situated in eastern Germany). The Soviet Union occupied eastern Germany, as well as the eastern half of Berlin. As Cold War animosities began to harden between the western powers and Russia, it became increasingly obvious that Germany would not be reunified. By the late-1940s, the United States acted to formalize the split and establish western Germany as an independent republic, and in May 1949, the Federal Republic of Germany was formally announced. In 1954, West Germany joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the mutual defense alliance between the United States and several European nations. All that remained was for the Americans, British, and French to end their nearly 10-year occupation. This was accomplished on May 5, 1955, when those nations issued a proclamation declaring an end to the military occupation of West Germany. Under the terms of an agreement reached earlier, West Germany would now be allowed to establish a military force of up to a half-million men and resume the manufacture of arms, though it was forbidden from producing any chemical or atomic weapons.
The end of the Allied occupation of West Germany meant a full recognition of the republic as a member of the western alliance against the Soviet Union. While the Russians were less than thrilled by the prospect of a rearmed West Germany, they were nonetheless pleased that German reunification had officially become a dead issue. Shortly after the May 5 proclamation was issued, the Soviet Union formally recognized the Federal Republic of Germany. The two Germany’s remained separated until 1990, when they were formally reunited and once again became a single democratic country.
Allies end occupation of West Germany - May 05, 1955 - HISTORY.com
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Cold War
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Thanks SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL for reminding us that on May 05, 1955 the WWII allied powers ended their "occupation" of West Germany. However the occupation did not end our involvement in West Germany during the Cold War.
While the end of the Allied occupation of West Germany meant a full recognition of the republic as a member of the western alliance against the Soviet Union it also meant that the USA and UK would continue to defend western Europe against the potential assault of the USSR and Warsaw Pact.
Therefore our forces were stationed in western Europe and Germany where we set up General Defensive Positions (GDP) in the event of the outbreak of war.
While the end of the Allied occupation of West Germany meant a full recognition of the republic as a member of the western alliance against the Soviet Union it also meant that the USA and UK would continue to defend western Europe against the potential assault of the USSR and Warsaw Pact.
Therefore our forces were stationed in western Europe and Germany where we set up General Defensive Positions (GDP) in the event of the outbreak of war.
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Although the official end of the allied occupation of the western part of Germany came on this
date the allied military forces remained in Germany and U.S. forces are still there today. Once allies
in the war with Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany the Soviet Union joined by their eastern European occupied nations formed the Warsaw Pact to oppose the U.S., Great Britain and France who had formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The Russian leaders in Moscow became more belligerent in their actions against the west and closed off ground access to West Berlin the divided city located in East Germany. The western allies broke the Russian ground blockade with the Berlin air lift delivering supplies to West Berlin. The East German government with the approval of Moscow
built the Berlin Wall to stop their citizens from crossing over into West Germany. These actions all became part of the "Cold War" with the Soviet Union and their Warsaw Pact allies which went on for over forty years. Although there was no engagement on the battlefield between the military forces of NATO and the Warsaw Pact this "Cold War" ended in defeat for the Soviet Union. The very real threat of a nuclear war and the continued military pressure placed against the Soviet Union caused the leaders in Moscow to remove their military from East Germany and all of the eastern European nations they had occupied since the end of World War II. The republics in the old United Soviet Socialist Republics broke away from Moscow's rule and formed their own governments. This "Cold War" victory has never been officially recognized by the U.S. Government. There is no "Cold War" victory medal or ribbon for the thousands of military veterans that served and won this confrontation
with the Soviet Union. For the U.S. Congress and anyone else who still today believes this was not a
victory over the Soviet Union look at a united Germany and the millions of German and eastern European people who are free from Russia's communist occupation. Kriegsfeld, Federal Republic of Germany 1969-1971.
date the allied military forces remained in Germany and U.S. forces are still there today. Once allies
in the war with Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany the Soviet Union joined by their eastern European occupied nations formed the Warsaw Pact to oppose the U.S., Great Britain and France who had formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The Russian leaders in Moscow became more belligerent in their actions against the west and closed off ground access to West Berlin the divided city located in East Germany. The western allies broke the Russian ground blockade with the Berlin air lift delivering supplies to West Berlin. The East German government with the approval of Moscow
built the Berlin Wall to stop their citizens from crossing over into West Germany. These actions all became part of the "Cold War" with the Soviet Union and their Warsaw Pact allies which went on for over forty years. Although there was no engagement on the battlefield between the military forces of NATO and the Warsaw Pact this "Cold War" ended in defeat for the Soviet Union. The very real threat of a nuclear war and the continued military pressure placed against the Soviet Union caused the leaders in Moscow to remove their military from East Germany and all of the eastern European nations they had occupied since the end of World War II. The republics in the old United Soviet Socialist Republics broke away from Moscow's rule and formed their own governments. This "Cold War" victory has never been officially recognized by the U.S. Government. There is no "Cold War" victory medal or ribbon for the thousands of military veterans that served and won this confrontation
with the Soviet Union. For the U.S. Congress and anyone else who still today believes this was not a
victory over the Soviet Union look at a united Germany and the millions of German and eastern European people who are free from Russia's communist occupation. Kriegsfeld, Federal Republic of Germany 1969-1971.
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