Ostpolitik: What were the aims of Brandt's Ostpolitik and how did he seek to achieve them?

After the events of the Cuban Missile Crisis, tensions worldwide, including within atomic number 63, eased significantly, all sides meeting to excogitate at towards a policy of détente. The leader of the Federal res publica of Germany (FRG), or westbound Germany as it was named at that time, Willy Brandt, decided to polish up the policies that the FRG had up till this flower held regarding eastern Europe. Under the Hallstein Doctrine, transaction with einsteiniumern Europe had basically ground to a plosive consonant during the mid-fifties, so Brandt in 1970, along with his foreign minister Walter Scheel, concur to hold negotiations with the leaders of the atomic number 99. This policy of improving relations with the Eastern communist axis of rotation was known as Ostpolitik. The aims of this policy were chiefly to leave future reunion with the German Democratic nation (GDR) as a porta, as well as to poise relations with the opposing side during the postwar period. The main aspects of Ostpolitik were the fin treaties signed from 1970-1972; the treaties between the FRG, USSR, Poland, Czechoslovakia and the GDR, particularly the Mosc and then the Four advocator Agreement on Berlin. Brandts aims were mainly graspd through the negotiation of treaties.

The main treaty that this policy represented for the FRG was the capital of the Russian Federation pact, as it looked to achieve two of Brandts main aims, skilful the possibility of reunification with the GDR as well as improve ties with the leader of the Eastern bloc, the USSR. The Moscow Treaty declared that both the USSR and the FRG had no claims on territories rigid in other states, and that the FRG accepted the fact that they were non to challenge Polands or the inner German border. The treaty excessively stipulated that the FRG would agree to negotiate treaties with Poland, the GDR and Czechoslovakia. It did not mention that the GDR was officially recognized as a state by the FRG, however it was agreed that afterward on both Germanies would be accepted into the United Nations. The Soviets were also given a letter from the West Germans where it stated that the FRG would proceed towards -peace in Europe where the German people regains its unity in free self-determination. This explains what the FRG gained out of a seemingly prepossess treaty leaning towards the USSR; the success seriousy dropped hints that the FRG wished to see reunification posterior on. Also, the FRG managed to use the word inviolable rather than the Soviet chosen word immutable when describing the frontiers, as immutable means immutable, whereas inviolable leaves room for future negotiations as to borders. This agreement allowed Brandt to work cooperatively with the Soviets, conceding to points which would not affect the FRG perversely in any way, while ensuring that the option to reunify remained open in the future. This achieved both of Brandts goals of clearing the air with the leader of the Eastern bloc and easing the pathway for future reunification with the GDR.

The Four federal agency negotiations over Berlin represented another milestone in Brandts policies. Berlin fluid remained the thorn in the sides of all the powers, with the question of main course to it a constant quandary for the USSR, the US, Britain, and France. The aims of the horse opera consort were that West Berlin should be officially linked with the FG, and that the West should have free access to it. As both sides reputations were on the line with as new a subject as Berlin, which had long been a point of contention for the duration of the snappy War. This explains the Soviet anxiety to attend as if they were not making significant concessions, however they were ardent as well to for tensions to ease, and especially wary of angering the US, who were working on relations with the Soviets nemesis at the time, mainland China. As for the Western Allies, they were positive(p) of the upper book due to their exploiting of the deteriorating relations between the USSR and China in 1969-1970 with death chair Nixon being the first US President to visit China. The terms of the Four situations agreement saw the Soviets suffer unimpeded traffic between West Berlin and the FRG, recognition of West Berlins ties with the FRG, and finally, the right for West Berliners to visit East Berlin. On the Western side, they agreed that West Berlin was not an official part of the FRG. As for Willy Brandt and his aims, the Four Power Treaty was another Ostpolitik success as it showed that even though the FRG was attempting to strengthen relations with the East, this policy did not compromise their links with the West, whose involvement in these negotiations signified their solidarity with the FRG. This went hand in hand with Brandts aims of maintaining stable relations with the postwar world. Furthermore, the concessions make by the Soviets that freed up access to West Berlin for the FRG and the Western Allies made it seem even more plausible that in the future reconciliation with the GDR was possible.



In this way, Brandts main aims were accomplished employ the Four Power Treaty on Berlin.

Lastly, the Four Power Treaty led the way for the negotiations of the Basic Treaty, which was the treaty involving shoot contact between the FRG and the GDR. The policy of Ostpolitik was mainly created to improve ties with the East Germans, the brothers of the West Germans. The treaty posed some risks for the GDR, as it would present them further to the economic and social conditions in place in the FRG. This could pose disastrous complications for the public of the GDR who would then learn approximately the lifestyles of their Western compatriots. Honecker, the leader of the GDR at the time, was wary about the possibility of Social Democratisation by Brandt towards the GDR, or the attempt to diversify the East to be more like the FRG. Basically, the Basic Treaty stipulated that the FRG recognized the GDR as a separate and sovereign state, both to be represented in the United Nations. However the FRG did accentuate their belief that both states had common German citizenship and reemphasized that they would be button for reunification in the future. Again, Willy Brandt was aiming for openness between the two states, and succeeded to the finis that communication was established, however he did not truly secure any guarantee any promise of reunification.

The policies of the FRG and Willy Brandt regarding Eastern Europe were a significant step in the record of the acold War, as it signified the thawing of relations between the East and the West, and can almost be considered to precipitate the end of the Cold War in the end. Ostpolitik was a cornerstone of German history, especially with regards to its separation. Willy Brandts aims with his policy were to open up the possibility of German reunification in the future, as well as to maintain positive relations with the rest of the postwar world. Using the treaties and agreements in Ostpolitik, Brandt chose to research to achieve his aims through diplomacy and cooperation.

Sources:

Europe and the Cold War, 1945-91

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostpolitik

http://www.germanculture.com.ua/library/history/bl_ostpolitik.htm

*All information was taken from the history textbook, with information exactly confirmed by the websites.

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