On 10 May 1950, the German daily newspaper Hamburger Abendblatt welcomes Robert Schuman’s plan to pool the coal and steel industries in Western Europe and emphasises the political and economic advantages of the French proposal.

On 10 May 1950, the German daily newspaper Bonner Rundschau leads with the plan to pool the coal and steel industries in Europe and emphasises the historic importance of Robert Schuman’s proposal.

On 10 May 1950, the German daily newspaper Der Mittag sets out the economic and political issues surrounding the Schuman Plan and welcomes a historic initiative that lays the foundations for renewed cooperation between France and Germany.

On 11 May 1950, an internal note from the German Foreign Ministry comments on the favourable response to the Schuman Plan by the United States and outlines the reaction of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) to the statement by the French Foreign Minister.

Following the Schuman Declaration, the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung considers the repercussions of the European coal and steel pool on the control of industrial output in the Ruhr.

On 11 May 1950, the German daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung considers the reactions of German politicians and economists towards the French plans for a coal and steel pool in Western Europe.

On 11 May 1950, the German daily newspaper Die Welt comments on the proposal made by Robert Schuman that coal and steel output in Western Europe should be pooled.

‘On the Schuman Plan. Right! — Now that we’ve got the right starting handle in the right place, it would be strange if neither of us managed to get this car going again!’ In May 1950, German cartoonist Roland Stigulinszky illustrates the efforts made by Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman to restart the engine of European integration, with the encouragements of the crowd. Sat in the car with a European flag, we see the main European leaders and politicians, including General de Gaulle, Italian Prime Minister Alcide De Gasperi, Belgian Paul-Henri Spaak and Luxembourg Foreign Minister Joseph Bech.

‘Judicious dismantling. French steel. German coal. The peace pipe. Steel. Coal. This is where the hatchet was buried.’ On 11 and 17 May 1950, German cartoonist Beuth illustrates the economic and political significance of the Schuman Plan, which is contributing to the establishment of closer relations between France and the Federal Republic of Germany within a European coal and steel pool. French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman and Federal Chancellor Konrad Adenauer are working together to dismantle all the obstacles (the barbed wire) in order to facilitate this new agreement based on French steel and German coal. The political aim is also to bury the hatchet and put an end to the age-old antagonism between France and Germany.

‘Come on! There you are, Johnny, you should follow his example!’ In 1950, the German cartoonist Köhler portrays the enthusiasm shown by the Federal Republic of Germany towards the Schuman Plan.

On 13 May 1950, the Germany daily newspaper Freie Presse looks back at the stormy history of Franco-German relations and welcomes the Schuman Declaration of 9 May that paves the way for a new entente between the two countries.

‘Sit Europa in the saddle — she’ll know how to ride!’ On 13 May 1950, German cartoonist Fritz Meinhard highlights the historic nature of the Schuman Declaration of 9 May 1950 in bringing reconciliation to France and Germany and laying the foundations of a united Europe. Taking inspiration from the Greek myth of the abduction of the princess Europa by Zeus in the guise of a bull, Meinhard emphasises the combined efforts of French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman (on the right) and Federal Chancellor Konrad Adenauer (on the left) to help Europa climb onto the bull, whose markings form a map of the European continent. The cartoonist also makes reference to the famous metaphor used on 11 March 1867 by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, the main architect of the future North German Confederation, which would be subjected to Prussian hegemony: Setzen wir Deutschland in den Sattel, reiten wird es schon können.

‘Steel and coal economic union’. On 13 May 1950, German cartoonist Koob illustrates how the Schuman Plan is leading to Franco-German rapprochement and bringing about reconciliation between the two countries. From left to right: Robert Schuman, French Foreign Minister, and Konrad Adenauer, German Chancellor, portrayed as factory chimneys entwined in a friendly embrace

‘Love and coal’. On 13 May 1950, German cartoonist Mirko Szewczuk illustrates the impact of the Schuman Declaration of 9 May, which paves the way to closer cooperation between France and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). From left to right: French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman (depicted as Marianne wearing a Phrygian cap) and German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer (as the German Michel) flirt together on a coal heap, while behind them the Kohlenklau continues his work. The Kohlenklau refers to a coal thief cartoon character created during the Second World War in Germany to urge people not to waste available energy resources. In the post-war context, the image of the coal thief is used to criticise the role played by French mining companies that mine coal in the Saar and send it to France.

On 13 May 1950, the German daily newspaper Hamburger Abendblatt illustrates the contribution of the French and German steel and coal sectors to the Schuman Plan.

On 16 May 1950, André François-Poncet, High Commissioner of the French Republic in Germany, sends a letter to Robert Schuman, French Foreign Minister, in which he analyses the initial reactions in West Germany to the Schuman Plan.

On 17 May 1950, André François-Poncet, French High Commissioner in the Federal Republic of Germany, sends a telegram to the French Foreign Office in which he gives an account of his meeting with the German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, the previous day.

On 18 May 1950, the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit outlines the ‘revolutionary’ aspects of the French proposal for a coal and steel pool in Western Europe, known as the Schuman Plan.

On 22 and 23 May 1950, the liberal-leaning International Trade Union Conference issues a press release in Düsseldorf in which it welcomes the Schuman Plan and expresses its intention for workers’ unions to participate in the plan’s implementation.

On 23 May 1950, the German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, sends a letter to the French Foreign Minister, Robert Schuman, in which he expresses his gratitude for French support for the establishment of a European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

On 23 May 1950, the German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, receives Jean Monnet in Bonn and holds a lengthy discussion on the Schuman Plan and on the forthcoming diplomatic negotiations.

On 24 May 1950, Herbert Blankenhorn, a close diplomatic adviser to Konrad Adenauer, notes in his personal diary his impressions of the meeting held on the previous day in which the German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, and Jean Monnet discussed the Schuman Plan.

On 1 June 1950, the German magazine Die Gegenwart outlines the economic, political and social implications of the Schuman Plan for the Federal Republic of Germany and emphasises the importance of including Eastern Europe in the future coal and steel pool.

On 5 June 1950, the German Federation of Iron and Steel Industries drafts a detailed report on the economic consequences of the establishment of a European coal and steel pool and emphasises the revolutionary nature of the French proposal.

On 7 June 1950, the French daily newspaper Combat prints the comments of several German trade unionists and employers on the plans for a European coal and steel pool.

Le 8 juin 1950, réalisant un sondage d'opinion sur l’accueil du plan Schuman en France, l'hebdomadaire allemand Die Zeit passe en revue les réactions des principaux responsables politiques et économiques français sur la question.

The Declaration made on 9 May 1950 by the French Foreign Minister, Robert Schuman, on the pooling of iron and steel production in Western Europe sparks off lively debates in the German Parliament in Bonn.