Cessation of the state of war

The state of war between Germany and its adversaries in the Second World War has never been officially lifted even though the Federal Republic of Germany is one of the founding nations of the „European Coal and Steel Community“ (Coal and Steel Union) and the Federal Republic is already conducting negotiations with France, Italy and the Benelux nations on forming a „European Defence Community“ (EVG).

© zlb „Cessation of the state of war between Soviet Union and Germany“, „Neues Deutschland“, East Berlin, 25 January 1955

On 9 July 1951 Great Britain becomes the first representative of the Western Alliance to end this contradictory situation. France follows on 14 July, the United States on 24 October. In January of 1955 the Soviet Union will be the last former adversary to declare the state of war with West Germany to be at an end.