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Unchained Eagle. - Review - book review
Contemporary Review, March, 2001 by Peter Hylarides
Unchained Eagle. Germany after the Wall. Tom Heneghan. Reuters. [pound]18.99. 245 pages. ISBN 0-273-65012-2.
Germany's national symbol has been the eagle since Charlemagne was emperor from 800 to 814. Its wings have been shown in different positions over the ages, and looking back probably represent various stages in German history. The only time the eagle on the coat of arms seemed to have 'flown' was during the Nazi Era when it held the main part of Europe in its vicious claws. With its wings clipped and chained in 1945, the eagle was set to retire peacefully, showing itself only on the coat of arms of the Federal Republic. In 1990, a reunified Germany, fully embedded in the European Union, would retake its position on centre stage. With the division ended and the eagle unchained, the question was: would a powerful Germany be up to its old tricks again?
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Tom Heneghan, Reuters' Chief Correspondent for Germany from 1989 to 1997, arrived there at the start of turbulent times: the Berlin Wall crumbled and with it the Communist regime. Within months the fate of the German Democratic Republic was sealed. It was to merge with its prosperous neighbour in October 1990. Less than a year had passed in which the improbable became the inevitable, a reunified Germany. In part one of his book, Mr Heneghan takes the reader step-by-step through the events which preceded the fall of the Wall, starting with a brief history of Germany since the Holy Roman Empire.
With an eye for detail the author recounts the negotiations that took place concerning the different treaties which covered Germany's future. The State Treaty would introduce the Deutschmark as legal tender in East Germany, while the Unity Treaty was about introducing West Germany's political and legal system in the east. The Election Treaty was about how and when the first all-German poll since 1932 should be organised. Finally, the Two Plus Four Treaty dealt with the remaining rights of the World War II allies in Germany. As Mr Heneghan rightly observed, Helmut Kohl was the key player in these negotiations. His tireless efforts for a quick German reunification paid off well. For years to come, he would seem the undisputed leader of his country and an important European statesman.
The second and third part of the book are partly devoted to issues that understandably still divide Germany rather than unite it, as nearly forty years of separation was bound to leave its marks. Tom Heneghan takes a look at the country's two legacies, and how united Germany dealt with them. Other topics are the demise of Helmut Kohl and the rise of (Chancellor) Gerhard Schroder, leader of Germany's 'New Labour'.
Until reunification, foreign policy in West Germany was characterized by multilateralism and military restraint. Obviously, restored sovereignty would imply a more active role in world politics. Despite some initial gaffes, the author rightly asserts that the Germans continued to play a positive, albeit more influential role in the world. As far as the European Union was concerned, Germany was already known to favour deeper relations between the EU countries. This became even more obvious after reunification, when they were in fact propagating a European superstate, in which a Franco-German core would dictate policies. In this aspect Herr Schroder, when he has the opportunity, proves to be no different from his predecessor.
On the domestic side there were still serious hurdles to overcome. The BonnBerlin debate emphasised the differences between East and West Germans. The outcome clearly favoured the East Germans, with Berlin once again becoming the capital of a reunified Germany. It was a necessary concession, as the Ossies felt dominated by their western counterpart. The Berlin Republic would not, however, replace the Bonn-style democracy. The principles on which the West German state was based in 1949 would merely be renewed and updated, as Tom Heneghan observed. In my view this would mean, that a more competitive economy would have to replace the rigid protectionist model in which the costly welfare state indulged. Mr Heneghan also devotes a chapter to neo-nazi violence and the asylum debate which, unfortunately, to this day continues to be unresolved.
The fate of the former East German officials was settled in the courts, where the rule of law prevailed over acts of revenge. This did not apply to the many collaborators of the Stasi, East Germany's hated secret police. A rumour of some form of cooperation with the Stasi would be enough to end careers. Dealing with the East German economy was also a hard task. The outdated technology, ecological waste and unfamiliarity with marketing put the East Germans in a disadvantaged position compared to the west.
The concept of a miracle recovery, like West Germany's after the war, seemed attractive to Helmut Kohl and was put into practice. The Treuhand or trustee was set up to rationalize East Germany's companies and industry, but became known as the western jobkiller, second only to the Stasi in terms of public contempt. Their rigorous methods shocked the East Germans and made them dependent on West German subsidies. The book ends on more positive terms though, with the author expressing confidence in a renewed Germany, a resurgent eagle with peaceful intentions.
