The Hallstein Doctrine
Interview with Wilhelm Grewe (11 December 1955)
TextOn 11 December 1955, Wilhelm Grewe, Director of the Policy Department of the Foreign Ministry of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), explains in a radio interview the policy that his country will adopt vis-à-vis those States which confer diplomatic recognition on the German Democratic Republic (GDR).
The resumption of diplomatic relations between the FRG and the USSR and the Hallstein Doctrine (1955)
VideoIn 1955, the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the Soviet Union establish diplomatic relations in exchange, notably, for the liberation of the final German prisoners of war detained in the Soviet Union. In the same year, the ‘Hallstein Doctrine’, named after Walter Hallstein, State Secretary to the Foreign Minister, is established, under which the FRG refuses to maintain diplomatic relations with States that recognise the existence of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), with the exception of the Soviet Union.
Cartoon by Köhler on relations between the FRG and the GDR (1956)
Image‘East is East and West is West, and ne’er the twain shall meet.' In 1956, the Cold War governs relations between the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the German Democratic Republic (GDR).
Note from Heinrich von Brentano to Dušan Kveder (Bonn, 19 October 1957)
TextOn 19 October 1957, the Federal Foreign Minister, Heinrich von Brentano, sends a note to the Yugoslav Ambassador in Bonn, Dušan Kveder, announcing the end of diplomatic relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
‘Diplomatic relations between Germany and Yugoslavia have been broken off’ from the Bulletin des Presse- und Informationsamtes der Bundesregierung
TextIn its issue of 22 October 1957, the Bulletin of the Press and Information Office of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) justifies the decision taken by the German Government to sever diplomatic relations with the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia following that country’s official recognition of the German Democratic Republic (GDR).
Note from the German Government to the Cuban Government (Bonn, 14 January 1963)
TextOn 14 January 1963, the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) delivers a note to the Cuban Government declaring the end of their bilateral diplomatic relations in retaliation against Havana’s recognition of the German Democratic Republic (GDR).
Circulaire du ministère allemand des Affaires étrangères (Bonn, 18 juin 1964)
TextLe 18 juin 1964, Karl Carstens, secrétaire d'État aux ministère allemand des Affaires étrangères, émet une circulaire dans laquelle il suggère de prendre des mesures économiques à l'encontre des États qui reconnaissent diplomatiquement la République démocratique allemande (RDA).
Note du porte-parole du gouvernement allemand sur la doctrine Hallstein (Bonn, 16 mai 1969)
TextLe 16 mai 1969, Conrad Ahlers, porte-parole adjoint du gouvernement de la RFA, remet en question la doctrine Hallstein suite à la reconnaissance de la RDA par le Cambodge.
‘The end of the doctrine?’ from Die Zeit
TextOn 6 June 1969, the German daily newspaper Die Zeit deplores the inconsistencies in the policy of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) towards the countries that have recognised the German Democratic Republic (DRG) and decries the Hallstein doctrine.