by Ernest Ogbozor
Konrad Adenauer was the first chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, popularly known for his transformation of Germany after the devastation of the Second World War. He ensured a truly free and democratic society, described to have been almost unknown to the German people before, but today deeply integrated into modern German society. The reconciliation of France and Germany was credited to Konrad Adenauer. His vision laid the groundwork for Germany's re-entry into the community of nations, and he was the architect of the unification of East and West Germany.
Charles Williams in his book, Adenaeur: The Father of The New Germany[1], described him as a man who lived a full and occasionally dangerous life, who was disliked by many for his complex and difficult character but who summoned the energy and ambition to bring his country back into the civilized world from what seemed to be permanent ostracism and into a new Europe based on the recognition of individual freedom, tolerance and, above all, democracy.[2] Adenauer served as the mayor of Cologne until the Nazis' regime in Germany. He was arrested and sacked from office after he failed to cooperate with the Nazi regime, and later sent to a concentration camp in 1944.
However, after the Second World War, he was restored back as the mayor of Cologne in May 1945. Thereafter, he assumed the top post of Germany as its first chancellor and he helped to reconcile Germany's relationship with the U.S. and France and also facilitated the acceptance of Germany's membership in NATO and EEC (presently known as the European Union).[3] During the lifetime of Adenauer, he used a gardening metaphor to speak about the Franco-German reconciliation and the 1963 friendship treaty between the two countries: according to him, "the friendship between France and Germany is like a rose that will always have flowers and thorns."[4]
Lily Feldman noted that this dual character of abundant blooms and sharp points is at the heart of understanding of reconciliation, particularly, how the Germans and the French recast their relationship as "hereditary enemies" to enable them to become partners at the heart of today's Europe. The fiftieth anniversary of the 1963 Elysée Treaty, according to Feldman, provides occasion for a reflection on the French and German relations. However, it also raises a fundamental question of how its significance can help other countries struggling with issues of reconciliation.[5] Konrad Adenauer died in 1967 and his death was described as a great loss to the Germans. In memory of Adenauer's exemplary leadership, foundations were established in his honor. For example, the Konrad Adenauer Research Award was announced by Dr. Helmut Kohl to promote academic collaboration between Canada and the Federal Republic of Germany.[6]
[1] "Adenauer: The Father of the New Germany," accessed February 14, 2013, http://www.scribd.com/doc/37141796/Adenauer-The-Father-of-the-New-Germany.
[2] Ibid.
[3] "Konrad Adenauer : Nazi Germany : Biography," accessed February 8, 2013, http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/GERadenauerK.htm.
[4] "German-Polish Reconciliation in Comparative Perspective: Lessons for Japan? JapanFocus," accessed February 13, 2013, http://japanfocus.org/-Lily-Gardner_Feldman/3344.
[5] "The Franco-German Elysée Treaty at Fifty: A Model for Others? : AICGS," accessed February 14, 2013, http://www.aicgs.org/issue/the-franco-german-elysee-treaty-at-fifty-a-model-for-others/.
[6] "Alexander Von Humboldt-Foundation - Konrad Adenauer Research Award for Canadian Scholars in the Humanities and Social Sciences," accessed February 14, 2013, http://www.humboldt-foundation.de/web/adenauer-award.html.
