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 Europe, eased significantly, all sides agreeing to work towards a policy of détente. The leader of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), or West Germany as it was named at that time, Willy Brandt, decided to review the policies that the FRG had up till this point held regarding Eastern Europe. Under the Hallstein Doctrine, relations with Eastern Europe had basically ground to a halt during the mid-fifties, so Brandt in 1970, along with his foreign minister Walter Scheel, agreed to hold negotiations with the leaders of the East. This policy of improving relations with the Eastern communist bloc was known as Ostpolitik. The aims of this policy were mainly to leave future reunification with the German Democratic Republic (GDR) as a possibility, as well as to stabilize relations with the opposing side during the postwar period. The main aspects of Ostpolitik were the five treaties signed from 1970-1972; the treaties between the FRG, USSR, Poland, Czechoslovakia and the GDR, especially the Mosc and then the Four Power Agreement on Berlin. Brandt's aims were mainly achieved through the negotiation of treaties.
The main treaty that this policy represented for the FRG was the Moscow Treaty, as it looked to achieve both of Brandt's main aims, secure 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 located in other states, and that the FRG accepted the fact that they were not to challenge Poland's or the inner German border. The treaty also 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 later on both Germanies would be accepted into the United Nations. The Soviets were also given a
The main treaty that this policy represented for the FRG was the Moscow Treaty, as it looked to achieve both of Brandt's main aims, secure 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 located in other states, and that the FRG accepted the fact that they were not to challenge Poland's or the inner German border. The treaty also 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 later on both Germanies would be accepted into the United Nations. The Soviets were also given a