When the first bricks and pieces of the Berlin Wall fell to the ground on 9 November
1989, the German soil might not have been the only thing that has been shaking on
that day: As soon as the news arrived in Number 10 Downing Street, London, the
floor in Margaret Thatcher’s office might have been shaking as well.
The metaphorical earthquake German reunification is considered today to have been
in those days did not only cause disorientation and confusion in both German states
but also in Great Britain.
Since the four victorious powers decided to split the German nation into four parts –
that later became only two – at the Yalta conference, the British felt save from their
greatest enemy during the Second World War. The balance of power between the
Soviet Union and the West seemed to be restored after the Cold War. Germany was
not strong enough to even try to start a new war, which caused a strong securely
feeling among the British people and its government.
Now, that this stony guarantee for peace got its first cracks it forced the peaceful
atmosphere – not only the British created in the bygone decades – to crack as well.
In this paper I want to describe the response of both British politicians and the British
people to the events that happened in the months between November 1989 and
October 1990, but mainly concentrate on two of the most important ones for British
politics during this time, namely the Nicholas Ridley affair and the revelation of the
minutes of the Chequers meeting.
The British press of course has not ignored these events. Since it became one of the
most important commentators on the upheaval that went on in Germany and the
British domestic discussions and affairs, I want to underline the statements and
comments made by politicians or other spokesperson of public opinions with excerpts
of British newspapers.
[...]
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Germany 1989/1990 – The political-historic situation
3. The British fear about the ‘German question’
3.1 Margaret Thatcher’s response to German unification
3.2 The Nicholas Ridley affair
3.2.1 Public response to the Nicholas Ridley affair
3.3 The Chequers meeting
3.3.1 The press’ response to the Chequers memorandum
4. Conclusion
5. Sources
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the political and public reactions in Great Britain to the process of German unification between November 1989 and October 1990, focusing on the concerns regarding potential German hegemony and the historical legacy of the Second World War.
- Analysis of the British political establishment's stance on German reunification.
- Evaluation of Margaret Thatcher’s personal and political opposition.
- Investigation of the controversial "Nicholas Ridley affair" and its domestic political impact.
- Examination of the leaked Chequers meeting minutes and the resulting press debate.
- Comparison of various British media perspectives on the "German question."
Excerpt from the Book
3.2 The Nicholas Ridley affair
A senior British Cabinet minister said in a magazine interview published today that West Germany was trying to 'take over' Europe, that the French were behaving like the Germans' 'poodles' and that giving up sovereignty to the European Community would be tantamount to surrendering to Hitler.31
These lines in the New York Times issue on 13 July 1990 summarized an interview British Trade and Indus-try Secretary Nicholas Ridley gave to the pro-conservative magazine The Spectator the day before. Under the headline “Saying the unsayable about the Germans” he referred to “a visit last week by Karl Otto Pohl, the West German central bank President, to promote European monetary union.”32
He completely threw out the European Monetary Union (EMU) and depicted it as “a German racket designed to take over the whole of Europe. […] It has to be thwarted.”33 He went on saying, that this “rushed takeover by the Germans on the worst possible basis, with the French behaving like poodles to the Germans, is absolutely intolerable.''34
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the historical context of the Berlin Wall's fall and sets the research focus on the British response to the subsequent German unification process.
2. Germany 1989/1990 – The political-historic situation: Summarizes the development of the two German states from 1949 until the fall of the Berlin Wall and the eventual Treaty of Union.
3. The British fear about the ‘German question’: Discusses the deep-seated British concerns regarding European security and potential shifts in the balance of power following German unification.
3.1 Margaret Thatcher’s response to German unification: Analyzes the Prime Minister's personal opposition and skepticism towards the speed and nature of German reunification.
3.2 The Nicholas Ridley affair: Details the controversy surrounding Nicholas Ridley's disparaging remarks about Germany and his subsequent resignation from the cabinet.
3.2.1 Public response to the Nicholas Ridley affair: Examines the public and political backlash to Ridley's comments and the impact on the Conservative party's stability.
3.3 The Chequers meeting: Explores the purpose and atmosphere of the academic meeting convened by Thatcher to assess the nature of a unified Germany.
3.3.1 The press’ response to the Chequers memorandum: Investigates how different British newspapers interpreted and reported on the leaked minutes of the Chequers meeting.
4. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, highlighting the shift from initial xenophobic fears to a grudging acceptance of a changed Germany.
5. Sources: Provides a comprehensive bibliography of the books, newspapers, and internet sources used for the study.
Keywords
German Unification, Great Britain, Margaret Thatcher, Nicholas Ridley, Chequers Meeting, European Community, German Question, British Press, Foreign Policy, Cold War, Political History, Conservative Party, Anglo-German Relations, Diplomacy, Sovereignty
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper explores the multifaceted response of the British government and public to the reunification of Germany between 1989 and 1990.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The main themes include British security concerns, the fear of German economic and political dominance, the role of the press in shaping public opinion, and the internal political debates within the British Conservative party.
What is the central research question?
The paper aims to describe and analyze how British politicians and citizens reacted to the rapid political changes in Germany, specifically focusing on instances of skepticism and anti-German sentiment.
Which methodology does the author use?
The author employs a qualitative analysis of historical documents, government statements, and media reports from the period to understand the political atmosphere of that time.
What is covered in the main section of the paper?
The main section covers the geopolitical context, Margaret Thatcher’s personal stance, the Nicholas Ridley controversy, and the debates surrounding the leaked minutes from the Chequers meeting.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include German Unification, British Response, Margaret Thatcher, The Nicholas Ridley Affair, and The Chequers Meeting.
Why was the Nicholas Ridley affair significant for the British government?
It was significant because it publicly exposed the internal rift within the British cabinet regarding Europe and forced Thatcher to handle a major diplomatic gaffe that highlighted her own perceived prejudices.
What was the intent of the Chequers meeting?
The meeting was designed by Margaret Thatcher to consult with historians and experts to evaluate whether a unified Germany would revert to the aggressive behaviors associated with its historical past.
How did the British press report on these events?
The reporting was highly diverse; while some papers remained critical and emphasized negative stereotypes, others focused on the diplomatic necessity of maintaining good relations with Germany.
- Quote paper
- Markus Mehlig (Author), 2009, “Germany 1990 is not Germany 1939” – The British response to German unification, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/126192
