Britain, Germany and the Cold War: The Search for a European DTtente 1949û1967

by Hughes; R Gerald

• ISBN13: 9780415412070
• ISBN10: 0415412072
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-06-20
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

This well-researched book details the ambiguity in British policy towards Europe in the Cold War as it sought to pursue detente with the Soviet Union whilst upholding its commitments to its NATO allies. From the early 1950s, Britain pursued a dual policy of strengthening the West whilst seeking detente with the Soviet Union. British statesmen realized that only through compromise with Moscow over the German question could the elusive East-West be achieved. Against this, the West German hard line towards the East (endorsed by the United States) was seen by the British as perpetuating tension between the two blocs. This cast British policy onto an insoluble dilemma, as it was caught between its alliance obligations to the West German state and its search for compromise with the Soviet bloc. Charting Britain's attempts to reconcile this contradiction, this book argues that Britain successfully adapted to the new realities and made hitherto unknown contributions towards detente in the early 1960s,whilst drawing towards Western Europe and applying for membership of the EEC in 1961. Drawing on unpublished US and UK archives, Britain, Germany and the Cold War casts new light on the Cold War, the history of detente and the evolution of European integration. This book will appeal to students of Cold War history, British foreign policy, German politics, and international history.

Author Biography

R. Gerald Hughes is a lecturer at the University of Wales Aberystwyth.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Britain, Germany and Europe in the Cold War

Stunde Nullto Deutschlandvertrag

Detente or Politik der Sturke?

Macmillan and the Search for Detente

The Fall of the Politik der Sturkeand Rise of the Anglo-Saxon Consensus

The Wilson Government and the Divided Continent

Conclusion: A New Role, A New Era

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