‘The German Siamese twins.’ On 24 February 1948, German cartoonist Ernst Maria Lang illustrates the question of the future of post-war Germany. On the left, West Germany, represented by a little ‘German Michel’ with a straight hat, is cosseted by the three Western Allies (Marianne for France, Uncle Sam for the United States and John Bull for the United Kingdom), who are working together to get it back on its feet. On the right, a drained, frightened Michel, representing East Germany in the Soviet occupation zone, is faced with a huge bear, symbolising Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. From 23 February to 6 March 1948, the Tripartite Conference between the United States, France and the United Kingdom is held in London on the German question. The three Allies decide to speed up the creation of a West German state that will help stop the spread of Communism.

On 26 July 1948, the British daily newspaper The Daily Telegraph publishes an article by the British politician Anthony Eden in which, following his visit to Germany, he discusses the question of the country’s economic and political future.

‘And hanging overhead [Ruhr Statute, Lack of capital, Housing shortages, Dismantling, German disunity, Unemployment] ... A carefree infancy?’ In 1949, the German cartoonist Köhler portrays the dangers hanging over the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).

Le 21 janvier 1949, Albert Wehrer, chef de la mission luxembourgeoise auprès du Conseil de contrôle allié à Berlin, adresse une lettre à Joseph Bech, ministre luxembourgeois des Affaires étrangères, dans laquelle il analyse la question du futur siège de la capitale d'Allemagne.

Heinrich von Brentano hält am 8. Mai 1949, dem Tag der Verabschiedung des Grundgesetzes für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland, eine Rede im Parlamentarischen Rat. Von 1948 bis 1949 war Heinrich von Brentano Vorsitzender des Hauptausschusses des Parlamentarischen Rats.

On 12 May 1949, the three Western Military Governors in Germany approve the Basic Law adopted by the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG): (from left to right) the French General Pierre Koenig, the British General Sir Brian H. Robertson and the American General Lucius D. Clay.

The Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) is signed in Bonn on 23 May 1949.

On 23 May 1949, in a public session of the Parliamentary Council in Bonn, Konrad Adenauer, President of the Council, proclaims the adoption of the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).

On 15 June 1949, the Parliamentary Council in Bonn adopts a law laying down the voting arrangements for the first elections to the Bundestag and the Federal Assembly.

Map illustrating the birth of the Federal Republic of Germany with the adoption of the Basic Law on 23 May 1949, as well as the various Länder as established in 1949.

Le 7 septembre 1949, le doyen d’âge du Bundestag Paul Löbe ouvre la session constituante du nouveau Parlement allemand à Bonn. A cette occasion, Erich Köhler (CDU) est élu président du Bundestag.

On 7 September 1949, the Bundestag holds its constituent session following the first general elections organised in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) on 14 August 1949. On 15 September, Konrad Adenauer is elected Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.

On 21 September 1949, the German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer (centre), presents his new government to the press: (from left to right) Fritz Schäffer (Finance), Thomas Dehler (Justice), Jakob Kaiser (All-German Affairs) and Franz Blücher (Vice-Chancellor).

During the Anglo–Franco–US Conference held in London from 23 February to 6 March 1948, the Luxembourg daily newspaper Luxemburger Wort considers the position of the three Benelux countries with regard to the problem of the political and economic reconstruction of Germany.

‘Patronage.’ In January 1949, in view of the Soviet threat, the United States deploys its protective umbrella over West Germany.

‘It’s been cut in two … Both together: “What have you hatched there?”’ In April 1949, against the background of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, Opland, Dutch cartoonist, speculates on the future politics of a divided Germany.

The day after the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany comes into force on 23 May 1949, the German daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung analyses the positive vote of the German Parliamentary Council and details the measures which would make Bonn the new capital of the FRG.

In May 1949, during the Paris Conference of Foreign Ministers from the Soviet Union, the United States, the United Kingdom and France, the Luxembourg Communist daily newspaper Zeitung vum Lëtzeburger Vollek accuses the Western forces of failing to comply with the Potsdam Agreements and of encouraging the birth of the ‘Fourth Reich’.

On 18 August 1949, the German weekly news magazine Der Spiegel analyses the results of the elections to the first Bundestag of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).

On 7 September 1949, the German daily newspaper Die Welt recalls the issues arising from the establishment of democratic institutions in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and underlines the importance of the renewed confidence of the German people in their political institutions.

On 16 September 1949, the East German Communist daily newspaper Neues Deutschland publishes a ‘wanted’ poster strongly criticising the new federal Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, as a ‘traitor’ to the German people.

On 1 October 1949, in a note to the US Government, the Soviet Union deplores the birth of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).

Following the birth of the Federal Republic of Germany on 14 August 1949, the French daily newspaper Le Monde considers the issue of West Germany’s accession to the Council of Europe.

In this note, J. Frère, Legation Secretary at the Belgian Embassy in Rome, analyses the Federal Republic of Germany's position in East-West relations.

On 12 May 1949, General Pierre Koenig, Military Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the French Zone of Germany, General Lucius D. Clay, Military Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the United States Zone of Germany, and General Sir Brian Hubert Robertson, Military Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the British Zone of Germany, promulgate the Occupation Statute of Germany in Bonn.

On 12 May 1949 in Bonn, General Pierre Koenig, Military Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the French Zone of Germany, General Lucius D. Clay, Military Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the United States Zone of Germany, and General Sir Brian Hubert Robertson, Military Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the British Zone of Germany, adopt the Charter of the Allied High Commission for Germany for the exercise, from 21 September 1949, of Supreme Allied Authority in the Federal Republic of Germany under the leadership of three High Commissioners (André François-Poncet, John McCloy and Sir Brian Hubert Robertson).

On 21 September 1949, André François-Poncet, French High Commissioner for Germany, John McCloy, US High Commissioner for Germany, and Sir Brian Hubert Robertson, UK High Commissioner for Germany, declare the entry into force of the Occupation Statute of Germany and of the tripartite control machinery of the Allied High Commission.

On 21 September 1949, the Allied High Commission for Germany promulgates Laws 1 to 7, published the same day as the Declaration concerning the entry into force of the Occupation Statute of Germany.

In 1949, the French, British and US Governments issue a memorandum on the exercise of powers and responsibilities of the three Western occupying powers in Germany after the creation of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).

In 1949, Georges Bidault, French Foreign Minister, Ernest Bevin, British Foreign Secretary, and Dean Acheson, US Secretary of State, send a note to the Parliamentary Council in Bonn in which they set out some of the political decisions taken concerning the future Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).

In 1949, Georges Bidault, French Foreign Minister, Ernest Bevin, British Foreign Secretary, and Dean Acheson, US Secretary of State, send their views on the Basic Law of the new Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) to Pierre Koenig, Military Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the French Zone of Germany, General Lucius D. Clay, Military Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the United States Zone of Germany, and General Sir Brian Hubert Robertson, Military Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the British Zone of Germany.

Following the creation of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in 1949, Konrad Adenauer, the first Chancellor of the FRG, endeavours to defend the sovereign prerogatives of the FRG and of its Länder against the jurisdiction of the Allied High Commission (AHC) which, since 12 May 1949, has acted on behalf of the three Western occupying powers in Germany.