L'Union soviétique et les Allemagnes

The history of the relations between the USSR and the two Germâmes from 1945 to the late 1970s is bounded by two trends in international relations : the liquidation of the sequels of World War II, and the transformation of the East-West conflict in Europe. Soviet policy followed no précise pattern during this period and the policy option supporting the division of Germany alternated with proposais for re-establishing German unity. Since the USSR succeeded in obtaining the récognition of the status quo and the possibility of extensive coopération within this framework — both in the area of specifically German problems and in the area of European security — her policy has been to préserve the achievements of socialism in the German Démocratie Republic without sacrificing the opportunities offered by the normalisation of relations with the Fédéral Republic of Germany.