Franco-German relations in the Gaullist thought

Abstract

The presented article attempts to describe and analise the evolution of Charles de Gaulle’s ideas regarding the relations between states and nations of France and Germany. Beginning with the first look towards the eastern neighbour, through the events of interwar period until the time of de Gaulle’s presidency, the article presents ideas and demands formulated by de Gaulle in the issue of franco-german relations. The article also describes the process of evolution of Gaullist approach, from the desire of the vengeance on Germans to the belief in the need of reconciliation of two nations. The article intends to prove that the franco-german relations (as viewed by de Gaulle), just like gaullism itself, had one pragmatic object: to ensure „the greatness of France”. The last object of the article is to disenchant the „romantic history” of franco-german post-war reconciliation. To achieve this object the article analises the views and postulates of German chancellor Konrad Adenauer the second great architect of franco-german reconciliation.