In Germany
Reactions in Germany
Reactions in Germany
TextReactions in Germany
‘An opportunity for Europe’ from the Hamburger Abendblatt (10 May 1950)
TextOn 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.
Front page of the Bonner Rundschau on the Schuman Plan (10 May 1950)
TextOn 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.
Editorial from Der Mittag (10 May 1950)
TextOn 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.
Summary record of discussions between Germany and the USA on the Schuman Plan (11 May 1950)
TextOn 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.
'The Ruhr still in waiting' from the Süddeutsche Zeitung (11 May 1950)
TextFollowing 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.
'France's proposal — a political sensation' from the Süddeutsche Zeitung (11 May 1950)
TextOn 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.
'Ruhr–Lorraine union' from Die Welt (11 May 1950)
TextOn 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.
Cartoon by Stig on the role played by France and Germany in the success of the Schuman Plan (11 May 1950)
Image‘There you go — now that we’ve got the right starting handle in the right place, it would be strange if neither of us managed to start this car!’ On the road to European unification, Konrad Adenauer and Robert Schuman try to restart the engine of European integration.
Cartoons by Beuth on the importance of the Schuman Plan for the establishment of closer relations between France and Germany (11 and 17 May 1950)
Image‘The peace pipe — Judicious dismantlement'. In the 11 and 17 May 1950 editions of the German daily newspaper Hamburger Abendblatt, German cartoonist Beuth illustrates the economic and political significance of the Schuman Plan and welcomes the establishment of closer relations between France and the Federal Republic of Germany.
Cartoon by Köhler on the FRG’s attitude towards the Schuman Plan (1950)
Image‘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.
‘France-German entente’ from the Freie Presse (13 May 1950)
TextOn 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.
Cartoon by Szewczuk on the Schuman Plan (13 May 1950)
Image‘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.
Illustration showing the contributions of France and Germany to the Schuman Plan (13 May 1950)
TextOn 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.
Letter from André François-Poncet to Robert Schuman (Godesberg, 16 May 1950)
TextOn 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.
Telegram from André François-Poncet to the French Foreign Office (17 May 1950)
TextOn 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.
‘Managers not politicians: Europe is revolutionised ' from Die Zeit (18 May 1950)
TextOn 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.
Map on the coal and steel regions of Western Europe (20 May 1950)
TextMap showing the importance of the coal and steel basins in Western Europe.
Resolution of the International Trade Union Conference on the Schuman Plan (22–23 May 1950)
TextOn 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.
Letter from Konrad Adenauer to Robert Schuman (23 May 1950)
TextOn 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).
Summary record of the meeting between Jean Monnet and Konrad Adenauer (23 May 1950)
TextOn 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.
Extract from the personal diary of Herbert Blankenhorn (24 May 1950)
TextOn 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.
‘Prospects’ from Die Gegenwart (1 June 1950)
TextOn 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.
Reactions in Germany
Report by the German Federation of Iron and Steel Industries (Düsseldorf, 5 June 1950)
TextOn 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.
'The Schuman Plan and German industry' from Combat (7 June 1950)
TextOn 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.
"Ce qu'ils pensent du plan Schuman" dans Die Zeit (8 juin 1950)
TextLe 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.
Debates in the German Parliament on the Schuman Plan (Bonn, 13 June 1950)
TextThe 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.