Founding and Early Consolidation of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) (1949–1955)

1. Basic Law promulgated, founding West Germany

   May 23, 1949Labels: Basic Law, Federal Republic

   • German Govt
   • Deutschlandmuseum

2. First federal election chooses inaugural Bundestag

   Aug 14, 1949Labels: Bundestag, Federal Election

   • Bundestag I
   • Election 1949

3. Theodor Heuss elected first federal president

   Sep 12, 1949Labels: Theodor Heuss, Federal President

   • Pres election

4. Konrad Adenauer elected first chancellor

   Sep 15, 1949Labels: Konrad Adenauer, Chancellor

   • Britannica
   • Bundestag I

5. Allied High Commission begins supervising FRG

   Sep 21, 1949Labels: Allied High, Occupying Powers

   • Allied High Commission

6. Petersberg Agreement expands West German autonomy

   Nov 22, 1949Labels: Petersberg Agreement, Allied High

   • GHDI
   • Petersberg

7. Schuman Plan proposes Franco-German industrial pooling

   May 9, 1950Labels: Schuman Plan, Robert Schuman

   • Britannica
   • Oxford Acad

8. West Germany becomes associate member of Council of Europe

   Jul 13, 1950Labels: Council of, Federal Republic

   • Council of Europe

9. Federal Constitutional Court begins sittings in Karlsruhe

   Jan 1, 1951Labels: Federal Constitutional, Karlsruhe

   • Britannica
   • BVerfG

10. ECSC treaty signed, linking FRG to Europe’s economy

    Apr 18, 1951Labels: ECSC Treaty, European Coal

    • EU Parliament
    • EU Factsheet

11. Bonn–Paris conventions signed to end occupation regime

    May 26, 1952Labels: Bonn Paris, Federal Republic

    • Bonn Paris

12. Occupation ends; FRG gains broad sovereignty

    May 5, 1955Labels: Occupation Ends, Bonn Paris

    • Bonn Paris
    • Allied High Commission

13. West Germany joins NATO, completing Western alignment

    May 6, 1955Labels: NATO Membership, Federal Republic

    • NATO
    • HISTORY