‘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

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 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.

‘English sauce or Pool sauce?’ In June 1950, at the start of diplomatic negotiations on the coal and steel pool, Robert Schuman is reticent about considering the United Kingdom as an ingredient in European cuisine.

‘The Schuman plan to restore German militarism’. In 1953, in the satirical East German magazine Frischer Wind, French cartoonist Tim (Louis Mitelberg) criticises the dangers of the Schuman Plan, which encourages a revival of West German militarism. On the left, the face of French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman, depicted as a crane, is using French coal and iron ore to feed the military–industrial complex of the Federal Republic of Germany, symbolised by a Chancellor Konrad Adenauer that is half-man, half-machine, wearing a Prussian helmet with a skull and crossbones.

In 1952, Robert Schuman, French Foreign Minister, attends the launch of works for the building of a European village in Spiesen, in the Saar region.

‘The Schuman–Adenauer “complex”’. On 11 May 1950, cartoonist Curry emphasises the importance of the new partnership between France and the Federal Republic of Germany that has resulted in the Schuman Plan, and illustrates the pooling of Franco-German coal and steel resources. Federal Chancellor Konrad Adenauer (on the right) is feeding the French blast furnace (Schuman’s face) with German coal. The declaration by French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman offers a first chance for Europe to free itself of the oppressive yoke of nationalism by providing a framework to pool the coal and steel output of France and Germany in a supranational organisation open to the other countries of Europe. The Schuman Plan represents a decisive stage in the European integration process.

The first sitting of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe takes place on 10 August 1949. Among those taking part are Paul-Henri Spaak, Carlo Sforza, Edouard Herriot, Ernest Bevin and Robert Schuman.

Façade of the Council of Europe building in Strasbourg in 1949.

‘Heading for the topping out ceremony’. On 24 March 1949, German cartoonist Wos illustrates the United States’ desire to establish a military alliance between the Western countries. From left to right: Dean Acheson, US Secretary of State, Ernest Bevin, British Foreign Secretary, and Robert Schuman, French Foreign Minister.