The German reunification policy of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, 1945-1960

From 1945 to 1960, the West German Social Democratic Party, in the role of the parliamentary opposition party, vigorously opposed, the foreign policy of the Federal Republic of (West) Germany. This opposition has primarily been based on the differences the Social Democrats maintained against the ruling party, the Christian Democratic Union, over ways and means to bring about the reunification of Germany. The Social Democrats' opposition has caused many Western observers to view the Social Democrats as a "hostile" opposition party. During the 1950's, the party was often accused by its political enemies of being in sympathy with the Communist regimes in Russia and Eastern Europe. There were even charges that the Social Democratic Party, if it ever gained control of the West German government, would seek to bring West Germany into the Communist orbit. This thesis presents the Social Democratic Party's view on the issue of German reunification from 1945 to 1960. The Social Democrats opposed the European Defense Community, West German rearmament, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and economic integration with the Western Powers. All through the 1950's, the Social Democratic Party advocated that West Germany should follow a neutralist course between East and West. The Social Democrats favored a neutral course because of their fear that the absorption of the two Germanies into two separate economic and military power blocs would perpetuate the division of Germany. For this reason, and not because of any sympathy for Cooanunism, the Social Democrats urged West Germany and the Western Powers to investigate proposals and suggestions for Germany's reunification. [...]