Stalin Note

© HdG „Don't you want to become neutral?“ - The Stalin Note as an attempt to make Germany a satellite state of the USSR

After the failed attempt to form a constituent national assembly by means of elections in both German states, Joseph Stalin, the Soviet party and government chief, sends a diplomatic note (Stalin Note) on 10 March 1952 to the Western Powers – the United States, Great Britain and France. He suggests a reunification and neutralisation of Germany followed by a withdrawal of all foreign troops from the country. The Western allies and the federal government under Konrad Adenauer (CDU) are convinced that this is merely a diversionary manoeuvre to delay or even to completely prevent Western integration and re-armament of the Federal Republic. Stalin’s initiative leads to an exchange of notes between East and West throughout the summer of 1952 concerning a possible solution to the „German issue“. However, the Four Powers Conference on Germany suggested by Stalin will not be convened; the country remains divided into two states.