jan 1, 1969 - Policy of Ostpolitik

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The policy of Ostpolitik was the normalization of relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic. Initiated by Willy Brandt, as foreign minister and then chancellor (1969-1974), the policy was one of détente with Soviet territories , recognizing the East German government and expanding commercial relations with other Soviet-bloc countries. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) political party dominated West German governments from 1949 to 1969. These governments refused to have any contact with the GDR government, which was further enforced by the Hallstein Doctrine. The Christian Democrats under Konrad Adenauer and his successors tried to combat the Communist regime of East Germany, while Brandt's Social Democrats tried to achieve a certain degree of cooperation with East Germany.His proposition of Ostpolitik held that the Hallstein Doctrine did not help to undermine the communist regime or even lighten the situation of the Germans in the GDR. Brandt believed that collaboration with the communists would foster German-German encounters and create trade that would undermine the communist government over the long term.

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