The Brink

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The Brink:
Germany’s Invatation To Nato

Robert Wharton

PLP 11

Ms. Willemse

17 May 2019Wharton 1

There has always been conflict between social ideologies throughout the world. Wars based on idealist beliefs fuelled by hatred and mistrust towards the opposition. However, none have had more potentially world destroying power as the conflict between the capitalist west and the communist east. This conflict drew the world to the brink of nuclear war. But what was the key moment that lead this conflict to the brink? Why were tensions so high between two powers whose ability to start a war could destroy the modern world? The answer is West Germany’s invitation to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

On April 4th, 1949 in Washington DC, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, was formed. It’s purpose was to counter Soviet expansion. More specifically, to hold back the spread of communism in the western world. NATO believed that holding back communism was the most effective way of bringing stability to the western world. As Winston Churchill, a key member of early NATO, stated in a speech to Lord Hastings Ismay, the first secretary-general of NATO, "NATO provided the best, if not the only, hope of peace in our time." (Rutte) To act on its mission, NATO offered aid to any country threatened by a soviet takeover, be it physical or idealistic and would offer both financial support and military support to drive away the Soviet Union. In the article If NATO Had To Fight published in the periodical Foreign Affairs states “to the people of Western Europe it appears that in less than five years the outlook has been transformed. Economic recovery, so bountifully primed by Marshall Aid, has checked or curtailed the power of the local Communist parties” (Wilmont) it would seem that NATO was quite successful in its mission to keep peace. That is, until West Germany was invited.

Because NATO’s primary purpose was to counter the spread of soviet expansion by offering economic and militaristic aid, it would need troops available close to the Soviet satellite states in order to hold back the Soviets union effectively. That’s where the invitation to West Germany came in. NATO realized that it would be able to create a strong defensive line right next to the Soviet satellite states by placing troops in West Germany. To do this, West Germany would need to become a member of NATO. The risk with this move was that Russia was already feeling threatened by NATO. In fact, an academic journal on the of the Soviets offensive against NATO in the Cold War stated: “Ever since NATO existed, the Kremlin was keen to eliminate it” (Wettig). That meant that if West Germany, a country adjacent to the soviet power, were to join NATO it would force an equally threatening action. It turns out that the equally threatening action was the creation of the Warsaw Pact. The Warsaw Pact’s mission was to “enforce existing central and eastern european subordination to Moscow as satellite nations and to match the NATO threat.” (Wolchik) The Warsaw Pact solidified the lines between the east and west, raising tensions between two nuclear armed powers, risking nuclear war if any dispute was made within or between West and East Germany.

However, it wasn’t just the division between east and west that led to the brink of war, it was also the stationing of troops in West Germany. As stated previously, NATOs driving force behind inviting West Germany to join their organization was the opportunity it presented to create a barrier restricting the flow of communist ideals into Central Europe. NATO placed a large number of troops in West Germany, thereby creating a ‘blockade’ of sorts. While the rising number of troops in West Germany was justified in the eyes of the world, as West Germany was now a member of NATO and therefore encouraged to station troops, it also raised tensions between West Germany and the Soviets. As stated in the Routedge Handbook Of Russian Security, troops in Germany have “always been perceived as a threat to Russia’s security and power.” (Kanet)

The simple act of NATO inviting West Germany to join its coalition and West Germany accepting the invitation brought about the greatest potential threat to society the world has ever known. This act solidified the lines drawn across Europe, dividing the east and west and resulted in NATO increasing its troop perimeter around the Soviet border, further raising tensions between NATO and Russia. The world however, survives. No nuclear wars broke out and no weapons were fired. Hopefully we will never come to the brink again.