The Divergences Between The Federal Republic Of Germany And The United States In The Period Of Eisenhower Administration (1953-1960)

As is known to all, despite it was looked as a faithful ally and partner of the United States, the Federal Republic of Germany made increasing doubts about foreign policy of its American ally from 1955. This study of the relationship between the Federal Republic of Germany and the United States from 1953-1960 asks three questions. First, were the divergences in the relationship between the Federal Republic of Germany and the United States-commonly linked with the advent of the Kennedy era-actually present before 1960? If so, how serious were they? Second, did those divergences matter? Did they affect decision-making or outlook of the Federal Republic of Germany in a way that was significant for other events at the time? Thirdly, how did possible strains in the relationship affect Adenauer government’s ability to influence the United States?The analysis finds that Adenauer government was a greater critic of USA’s policies and it has a more independent thinking and understanding on numerous Cold War than has previously been studied. Through teasing and analysing the historical facts of this period, the dissertation concludes that divergences between them began to appear long before the well-known problems with the Kennedy Administration. They not only demonstrate usual areas, such as nuclear and defense issues, Berlin, and German reunification, but also include American policy toward the Middle East, Eisenhower’s credibility, the American style of negotiating with the Soviets,and the mechanics of verification under arms control agreements, etc. It concludes that these divergences in the relationship were important because they affected perceptions and decision-making of the Federal Republic of Germany toward both the United States and the larger issues of the Cold War and because they gave a new dimension to policies of the Federal Republic of Germany. Finally, the study analyzes Adenauer government’s ability to influence the United States. As the ally of the superpower like the United States, the Federal Republic of Germany achieved substantial success through influencing polices of the United States on the basis of interest appeal and political situation of its own, particularly when a high degree of cohesion existed in them or in the absence of such cohesion, when the issue at hand dealt directly with Germany.