Germany–India relations
Encyclopedia
The bilateral relations between the Republic of India and the Federal Republic of Germany
have been traditionally strong due to strong commercial, cultural and strategic cooperation.
India and Germany have enjoyed long-standing historic and cultural ties. Nazi Germany
supported Indian political leader Subhash Chandra Bose
's bid for armed struggle against British colonial rule
and helped organize the Indian National Army
along with Japan
. India was the first nation to end the state of war with Germany after the Second World War.
After a spell in Argentina
, aircraft designer Kurt Tank
, who worked for Focke-Wulf
during World War II, moved to India. First he worked as Director of the Madras Institute of Technology
, and later joined Hindustan Aeronautics, where he designed the Hindustan Marut
fighter-bomber, the first military aircraft constructed in India. Tank left Hindustan Aeronautics in 1967 and by the 1970s had returned to live in Berlin, basing himself in Germany for the rest of his life. He died in Munich
in 1983.
India maintained diplomatic relations with both West Germany
and East Germany but supported their reunification in 1990. In 2008, German Chancellor Angela Merkel
made a high-profile official visit to India that led to the signing of several agreements expanding bilateral cooperation in commerce, science, technology and defence.
after both governments signed an agreement in 1956 and increased its cooperation and supply of technology and resources over the decades to help expand the institution.
In 2008, both nations established the Indo-German Science and Technology Centre in New Delhi
to promote joint research and development in energy, environment, coal and water technologies. Germany is India's largest European trading partner and the 5th largest trade partner. Current trade volume stands at € 10.5 billion in 2006, € 12.7 billion in 2007-08 and both nations see it increasing to € 30 billion by 2010. India and Germany enjoy strong commerce and cooperation in telecommunications, engineering, environmental technology, food processing, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
, but has since expanded its cooperation with India in fighting terrorism and conducting joint military exercises. Germany has also supported India's waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group
to trade nuclear materials and energy. In 2008, the Indian navy
and the German navy
conducted joint exercises for the first time, following a defense cooperation agreement between the two nations signed in 2006.
In 2011, Chancellor Merkel met with Prime Minister Singh on terrorism, Afghanistan, trade and a possible sale of Eurofighter Typhoon
s.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
have been traditionally strong due to strong commercial, cultural and strategic cooperation.
History
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
supported Indian political leader Subhash Chandra Bose
Subhash Chandra Bose
Subhas Chandra Bose known by name Netaji was an Indian revolutionary who led an Indian national political and military force against Britain and the Western powers during World War II. Bose was one of the most prominent leaders in the Indian independence movement and is a legendary figure in...
's bid for armed struggle against British colonial rule
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
and helped organize the Indian National Army
Indian National Army
The Indian National Army or Azad Hind Fauj was an armed force formed by Indian nationalists in 1942 in Southeast Asia during World War II. The aim of the army was to overthrow the British Raj in colonial India, with Japanese assistance...
along with Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. India was the first nation to end the state of war with Germany after the Second World War.
After a spell in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, aircraft designer Kurt Tank
Kurt Tank
Kurt Waldemar Tank was a German aeronautical engineer and test pilot, heading the design department at Focke-Wulf from 1931-45. He designed several important aircraft of World War II, including the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter aircraft.-Early life:Tank was born in Bromberg , Province of Posen...
, who worked for Focke-Wulf
Focke-Wulf
Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau AG was a German manufacturer of civil and military aircraft before and during World War II. Many of the company's successful fighter aircraft designs were slight modifications of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190.-History:...
during World War II, moved to India. First he worked as Director of the Madras Institute of Technology
Madras Institute of Technology
The Madras Institute of Technology is an engineering institute located in Chromepet, Chennai , India. It is one of the four autonomous constituent colleges of Anna University. It was started in 1949 by Mr. C. Rajam as the first self-financing engineering institute in the country, and later it...
, and later joined Hindustan Aeronautics, where he designed the Hindustan Marut
HAL HF-24 Marut
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography*Donald, David . The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London:Aerospace, 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.*Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1969-70. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1969....
fighter-bomber, the first military aircraft constructed in India. Tank left Hindustan Aeronautics in 1967 and by the 1970s had returned to live in Berlin, basing himself in Germany for the rest of his life. He died in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
in 1983.
India maintained diplomatic relations with both West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
and East Germany but supported their reunification in 1990. In 2008, German Chancellor Angela Merkel
Angela Merkel
Angela Dorothea Merkel is the current Chancellor of Germany . Merkel, elected to the Bundestag from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, has been the chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union since 2000, and chairwoman of the CDU-CSU parliamentary coalition from 2002 to 2005.From 2005 to 2009 she led a...
made a high-profile official visit to India that led to the signing of several agreements expanding bilateral cooperation in commerce, science, technology and defence.
Development of bilateral ties
Germany has extensively supported education and cultural development in India. Germany helped establish the Indian Institute of Technology MadrasIndian Institute of Technology Madras
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras is an engineering and technology school in Chennai in southern India. It is recognized as an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India...
after both governments signed an agreement in 1956 and increased its cooperation and supply of technology and resources over the decades to help expand the institution.
In 2008, both nations established the Indo-German Science and Technology Centre in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
to promote joint research and development in energy, environment, coal and water technologies. Germany is India's largest European trading partner and the 5th largest trade partner. Current trade volume stands at € 10.5 billion in 2006, € 12.7 billion in 2007-08 and both nations see it increasing to € 30 billion by 2010. India and Germany enjoy strong commerce and cooperation in telecommunications, engineering, environmental technology, food processing, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
Strategic ties
In the 1990s, Germany condemned India's 1998 nuclear testsPokhran-II
Pokharan-II refers to test explosions of five nuclear devices, three on 11 May and two on 13 May 1998, conducted by India at the Pokhran test range. These nuclear tests resulted in a variety of sanctions against India by a number of major states....
, but has since expanded its cooperation with India in fighting terrorism and conducting joint military exercises. Germany has also supported India's waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group
Nuclear Suppliers Group
Nuclear Suppliers Group is a multinational body concerned with reducing nuclear proliferation by controlling the export and re-transfer of materials that may be applicable to nuclear weapon development and by improving safeguards and protection on existing materials.- History :It was founded in...
to trade nuclear materials and energy. In 2008, the Indian navy
Indian Navy
The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff , usually a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral, commands the Navy...
and the German navy
German Navy
The German Navy is the navy of Germany and is part of the unified Bundeswehr .The German Navy traces its roots back to the Imperial Fleet of the revolutionary era of 1848 – 52 and more directly to the Prussian Navy, which later evolved into the Northern German Federal Navy...
conducted joint exercises for the first time, following a defense cooperation agreement between the two nations signed in 2006.
In 2011, Chancellor Merkel met with Prime Minister Singh on terrorism, Afghanistan, trade and a possible sale of Eurofighter Typhoon
Eurofighter Typhoon
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine, canard-delta wing, multirole combat aircraft, designed and built by a consortium of three companies: EADS, Alenia Aeronautica and BAE Systems; working through a holding company, Eurofighter GmbH, which was formed in 1986...
s.
See also
- Hindu–German ConspiracyHindu–German ConspiracyThe Hindu–German Conspiracy was a series of plans formulated between 1914 and 1917 to initiate a Pan-Indian rebellion against the British Raj during World War I. The conspirators included radical nationalists in India, the Ghadar Party in the United States and the Indian independence committee in...