Development of the diplomatic relations of the Federal Republic of Germany with the Eastern European countries

This bachelor's thesis deals with establishment of diplomatic relations with the Eastern countries during the period of Willy Brandt's chancellorship. The aim of this thesis is to analyze the way the contracts that the Federal Republic of Germany made with the Soviet Union, Poland, GDR and Czechoslovakia during Brandt's chancellorship contributed to détente in Europe and prepared good conditions for the organization of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe in Helsinki, whose outcome was the Final Act adopted on August 1, 1975. The first chapter deals with the roots of Brandt's Ostpolitik and the beginnings of his political career. The second chapter analyzes Brandt's government concerning his policy toward the eastern countries. It concerns Brandt's meeting with Stoph in Erfurt and Kassel, and the conclusion of the contracts with the Soviet Union and Poland in 1970. The third chapter deals with the normalization of relations of the FRG with GDR. The fourth chapter then deals with the contract between FRG and the Czechoslovakia from 1973 which completed the overall structure of the bilateral agreements with the Eastern countries. This chapter also deals with the issue of the invalidity of the Munich Agreement, which had to be solved in order to conclude this contract. The fifth chapter analyzes the connection of the Ostpolitik with the organization of the CSCE which is often regarded as the greatest achievement of Brandt's Ostpolitik.