The Basic Treaty is commonly used in articles about Germany as a short name for the "Treaty concerning the basis of relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic".

After the entry into force of the Four-Power Agreement from 1971 both German states began with negotiations over a Basic Treaty. Like the Transit Agreement of 1972 the discussions were led by the Under-Secretaries of state Egon Bahr - for the Federal Republic - and Michael Kohl - for the GDR.

As part of the Ostpolitik under Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt, the treaty was signed on 21 December 1972 in East Berlin. It was ratified the next year in West Germany, despite opposition from conservatives who supported a hard line. It came into effect in June 1973.

References

• Basic Treaty between the Federal Republic of Germany and the GDR (December 21, 1972) on the German Historical Institute] web site

Further reading

• Address by the Chancellor of the FRG, Helmut Schmidt (PDF) to the third stage of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, Helsinki, 20 July to 1 August 1975

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