As the first chancellor of the newly-founded Federal Republic, Konrad Adenauer left a lasting impression on post-war Germany. Adenauer stood for a policy of maintaining Western ties, and European unification. The CDU politician was convinced that – without protections from the US – Western Europe would be at the mercy of Soviet expansionism. Although many had expected Adenauer to be in office only briefly, he was three times re-elected chancellor. His 14-year reign spanned the beginnings of the Cold War, and what seemed the ultimate separation of Germany into two states. It is with good reason that the years of his chancellorship – 1949 to 1963 – are referred to as the 'Adenauer Era'. In this episode of History Stories, we take a look back at the long years in office of the 'founding chancellor', and show how Adenauer achieved his milestones; the regaining of West Germany's sovereignty, the Franco-German reconciliation, and look at the dramatic turning point in his chancellorship – construction of the Berlin Wall.

Report by Dagmar Schönowsky

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