12 - The Role of East Germany in American Policy

Summary

Translated by Eric Weinberger

America's relationship with the German Democratic Republic (GDR) from 1968 to 1990 was largely overshadowed by its relations with the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the Soviet Union. The United States generally dealt with the GDR only when American interests in Germany and Eastern Europe overlapped. Bonn and Moscow were the major orientation points. The United States regarded the GDR as the Soviet Union's staunchest ally; thus, America's relations with the second German state remained very much a function of the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union. For a long time, America was so absorbed with its West German ally that it hardly noticed the other Germany's existence. Washington respected the Bonn government's claim to be the sole representative of the German people and avoided any recognition of the GDR for two decades. In many arenas, America gave West Germany free rein to lead the way in developing relations with East Germany. / The Establishment of Diplomatic Relations: The Quadripartite Agreement on Berlin, the Basic Treaty establishing relations between East and West Germany, and the admission of the two German states to the United Nations paved the way for diplomatic recognition of the GDR by the United States. In September 1974, the United States became one of the last NATO members to enter into diplomatic relations with the GDR. However, initial official contacts had been made at the United Nations in New York in January 1973, followed up in East Berlin in August 1973 and March 1974.