‘German sovereignty. Equal rights. Armament. “I’m sure we would hear each other much better if she didn’t shout so loudly!..”’ On 8 October 1954, French cartoonist Jo Paz (Joseph Paz) illustrates the difficult negotiations between France and West Germany over the end of the occupation regime in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), the restoration of the FRG’s sovereignty and the country’s rearmament. France (on the right, depicted as Marianne) seems somewhat irritated by the numerous demands made by young Gretchen (on the left wearing a Wehrmacht helmet), symbolising Germany. The Germans have three main requests: ‘German sovereignty, equal rights, armament’. The Paris Agreements, signed on 23 October 1954, restore sovereignty to the FRG, which becomes a full member of NATO, and result in the creation of Western European Union (WEU).