Wiederbewaffnung
Encyclopedia
Wiederbewaffnung refers to the United States of America plan to help build up West Germany after World War II. They could not function outside an alliance framework . These events lead to the establishment of the Bundeswehr
, the West German army, in 1955.
Heinz Guderian
stated that the fight was mainly between the Soviet Union
and the United States. “People resent the fact that while the United States followed a policy of German disarmament and of friendship with Russia after the war, it now advocates rearmament they could just as easily argue that it was for cooperation with the Soviet Union and to change its policy”..
During the NATO meeting in September 1950 France
decided to become isolated for the operation because they did not want Germany
to join NATO. The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany)
wanted to join NATO because the then German chancellor Konrad Adenauer
decided that it would appease the fears of its neighbors and it would gain Germany's trust and show willingness to cooperate. At first the US was skeptical about the whole operation, but after Dwight D Eisenhower agreed to endorse the deal then the US was for the operation. The Federal Republic of Germany in Paris
, France, agreed to support the operation. In 1955 West Germany joined NATO.
East and West Germany were still then unarmed but had defense systems (western Bundesgrenzschutz
and eastern Kasernierte Volkspolizei
). Slowly, West German sailors were put on US navy ships and also West Germany helped to supply the navy. This whole operation was West Germany to possess an effective military force. The US supplied the potential sailors with intensive training to help build up the navy for the future as West Germany set a goal to have up to 50,000 men. Theodor Blank
wanted to have a bigger military than Italy
because he wanted to project German power and make bigger contributions. To get his point across he used this chart:
To reach that goal they took the West German border security force (Bundesgrenzschutz) and changed them into military personal, they used young men having “difficulty” finding something useful to do, and then there were men who volunteered. West Germany issued a draft. At first West Germany was skeptical of that because they did not want to have people think about the Hitler army (Wehrmacht
). There was enough favor for the new army the state then became a more right sided party. The social democrats
still argued that even though the numbers were high and there was enough positive reaction, it would still not be enough to revive German militarism.
To build the military's strength the US established the Naval Historical Team (NHT) to help with the British-American World War II navy historical project. Both countries recruited naval veterans and naval activists to help build up the navy by gaining a better perspective of the war in the water. NHT was not there for long studying the history and tactics for fighting at sea. They were then told to get information about the Soviet naval forces. The first thing they tried to study was the landing and targets of the Soviet navy. Eventually this agency became the coordinating staff of Bundesmarine, the West German navy. Another group of veterans were called the labor service units to do similar tasks. The veterans that were hired were from former Kriegsmarine
and they did a lot of converting of surveillance. Eventually the operations were set to the ground as well. Chancellor Adenauer created the Blank Office (Amt Blank) to gain sovereignty through the defense contribution. He also hired Kriegsmarine veterans to work with him. With the different organizations working together a naval proposal referred to as the Wagner Paper was adopted to use as a negotiation tool at the conference of the European Defence Community
(ECD). The ECD was held in Paris and it became a dead lock for all the navel issues in 1951. France did not approve of West Germany having its own navy for defense. They did not want them to have submarines or destroyers as a part of their navy because it was a threat to France and the weapons were perceived as Nazi regime. The resolve the issue the Wagner Paper was sent to the SHAPE
organization. SHAPE wanted the navy to have weapons and have a big navy. Eventually France came to a conclusion, they offered some escorts and they got their desired size on the navy. The West German military was under the supreme allied NATO control. This hurt the militaries command positions.
The growth of the German Bundeswehr proved a key element in the growth of West German influence in central Europe. This, along with the Treaty of Paris
which cemented the elements of Western European economic cooperation
helped to integrate post-war West Germany into European life. At the same time, the Soviet Union used this as foundational justification to implement the Warsaw Pact
, which provided substantial military and political control over key Eastern European states. In April 1985 Eastern Europe
got together in Warsaw to sign an extension to the 1955 Treaty on Friendship. The Warsaw pact ensured that it will be a part of the international political and military for years to come. It has been used to develop some other Eastern European militaries in a reasonable manner so there is no conflict between ranks, power, and alliances.
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
, the West German army, in 1955.
Heinz Guderian
Heinz Guderian
Heinz Wilhelm Guderian was a German general during World War II. He was a pioneer in the development of armored warfare, and was the leading proponent of tanks and mechanization in the Wehrmacht . Germany's panzer forces were raised and organized under his direction as Chief of Mobile Forces...
stated that the fight was mainly between the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and the United States. “People resent the fact that while the United States followed a policy of German disarmament and of friendship with Russia after the war, it now advocates rearmament they could just as easily argue that it was for cooperation with the Soviet Union and to change its policy”..
During the NATO meeting in September 1950 France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
decided to become isolated for the operation because they did not want Germany
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...
to join NATO. The Federal Republic of Germany (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....
wanted to join NATO because the then German chancellor Konrad Adenauer
Konrad Adenauer
Konrad Hermann Joseph Adenauer was a German statesman. He was the chancellor of the West Germany from 1949 to 1963. He is widely recognised as a person who led his country from the ruins of World War II to a powerful and prosperous nation that had forged close relations with old enemies France,...
decided that it would appease the fears of its neighbors and it would gain Germany's trust and show willingness to cooperate. At first the US was skeptical about the whole operation, but after Dwight D Eisenhower agreed to endorse the deal then the US was for the operation. The Federal Republic of Germany in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France, agreed to support the operation. In 1955 West Germany joined NATO.
East and West Germany were still then unarmed but had defense systems (western Bundesgrenzschutz
Bundesgrenzschutz
Bundesgrenzschutz was the first federal police organization in Western Germany after World War II permitted by the Allied occupation authorities. In July 2005, the BGS was renamed Bundespolizei to reflect its transition to a multi-faceted police agency.It was established in 1951...
and eastern Kasernierte Volkspolizei
Kasernierte Volkspolizei
Kasernierte Volkspolizei were the military units of the Volkspolizei in the German Democratic Republic...
). Slowly, West German sailors were put on US navy ships and also West Germany helped to supply the navy. This whole operation was West Germany to possess an effective military force. The US supplied the potential sailors with intensive training to help build up the navy for the future as West Germany set a goal to have up to 50,000 men. Theodor Blank
Theodor Blank
Theodor Anton Blank was a German politician of the CDU. He was one of the founders of the CDU in 1945....
wanted to have a bigger military than Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
because he wanted to project German power and make bigger contributions. To get his point across he used this chart:
| Country | Peacetime Military Strength in Thousands | Percentage of population |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 2865 | 1.8 |
| United Kingdom | 772 | 1.5 |
| France | 850 | 2.0 |
| Belgium | 145 | 1.65 |
| Netherlands | 125 | 1.2 |
| West Germany | 500 | 1.0 |
To reach that goal they took the West German border security force (Bundesgrenzschutz) and changed them into military personal, they used young men having “difficulty” finding something useful to do, and then there were men who volunteered. West Germany issued a draft. At first West Germany was skeptical of that because they did not want to have people think about the Hitler army (Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
). There was enough favor for the new army the state then became a more right sided party. The social democrats
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
still argued that even though the numbers were high and there was enough positive reaction, it would still not be enough to revive German militarism.
To build the military's strength the US established the Naval Historical Team (NHT) to help with the British-American World War II navy historical project. Both countries recruited naval veterans and naval activists to help build up the navy by gaining a better perspective of the war in the water. NHT was not there for long studying the history and tactics for fighting at sea. They were then told to get information about the Soviet naval forces. The first thing they tried to study was the landing and targets of the Soviet navy. Eventually this agency became the coordinating staff of Bundesmarine, the West German navy. Another group of veterans were called the labor service units to do similar tasks. The veterans that were hired were from former Kriegsmarine
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
and they did a lot of converting of surveillance. Eventually the operations were set to the ground as well. Chancellor Adenauer created the Blank Office (Amt Blank) to gain sovereignty through the defense contribution. He also hired Kriegsmarine veterans to work with him. With the different organizations working together a naval proposal referred to as the Wagner Paper was adopted to use as a negotiation tool at the conference of the European Defence Community
European Defence Community
The European Defense Community was a plan proposed in 1950 by René Pleven, the French President of the Council , in response to the American call for the rearmament of West Germany...
(ECD). The ECD was held in Paris and it became a dead lock for all the navel issues in 1951. France did not approve of West Germany having its own navy for defense. They did not want them to have submarines or destroyers as a part of their navy because it was a threat to France and the weapons were perceived as Nazi regime. The resolve the issue the Wagner Paper was sent to the SHAPE
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe is the central command of NATO military forces. It is located at Casteau, north of the Belgian city of Mons...
organization. SHAPE wanted the navy to have weapons and have a big navy. Eventually France came to a conclusion, they offered some escorts and they got their desired size on the navy. The West German military was under the supreme allied NATO control. This hurt the militaries command positions.
The growth of the German Bundeswehr proved a key element in the growth of West German influence in central Europe. This, along with the Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Paris (1951)
The Treaty of Paris was signed on 18 April 1951 between France, West Germany, Italy and the three Benelux countries , establishing the European Coal and Steel Community , which subsequently became part of the European Union...
which cemented the elements of Western European economic cooperation
European Coal and Steel Community
The European Coal and Steel Community was a six-nation international organisation serving to unify Western Europe during the Cold War and create the foundation for the modern-day developments of the European Union...
helped to integrate post-war West Germany into European life. At the same time, the Soviet Union used this as foundational justification to implement the Warsaw Pact
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...
, which provided substantial military and political control over key Eastern European states. In April 1985 Eastern Europe
Eastern bloc
The term Eastern Bloc or Communist Bloc refers to the former communist states of Eastern and Central Europe, generally the Soviet Union and the countries of the Warsaw Pact...
got together in Warsaw to sign an extension to the 1955 Treaty on Friendship. The Warsaw pact ensured that it will be a part of the international political and military for years to come. It has been used to develop some other Eastern European militaries in a reasonable manner so there is no conflict between ranks, power, and alliances.