Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, European Security and the German Question, Volume III, Part 1

740.5/1–2451: Telegram

The United States High Commissioner for Germany (McCloy) to the Secretary of State

secret
priority

Frankfurt, January 24, 1951—noon.

6080. For Acheson and Byroade. Eisenhower visit seems to have been real success.¹ His press conference on arrival² struck the right note and was very widely and favorably commented upon by German newspapers. At the reception which embraced leading German figures including Bonn Ministers, President, as well as French, British and American officials, there was a brief opportunity for Eisenhower to talk with Adenauer, Ollenhauer, who appeared as Schumacher’s representative (the latter being ill), Herr Blank, Heusinger and Speidel.³

Eisenhower stressed to them that he was not there to urge them or press them for military contributions, that he was an officer of NATO and Germany was not in NATO, but he was clear about two points. The first was that whatever German contribution was made it had to be made on a free will basis without any pressures from the outside; and secondly, that in any army that he commanded all soldiers would have to be on an equal basis. He would not tolerate second class membership in the army.

Adenauer referred to the necessity for a change in the political status and Eisenhower said he recognized that this was probably a concomitant of a contribution. Adenauer said that he was thinking of going to the Bundestag within a few weeks for a declaration in favor of the principle of a contribution and indicated that things might develop much more rapidly than was generally expected.

Ollenhauer stressed the Schumacher position of the concern which they had that there should be sufficient allied strength in Germany to serve as a protection to Germany until Germany was able to build up strength of her own; that he wished that the SPD position should not be misunderstood; that they had already chosen to go with the West but they could not run the risk of the loss of the first battle. He also stressed the necessity for equality and I think by this he had in mind political equality as well as soldier equality. Eisenhower assured him on the latter point but did not comment on the first.

Conversations with the Generals took primarily the form of Eisenhower explaining his lack of animus against German soldiers or officers as such, and his willingness to accept the principle of the distinction between Wehrmacht as a whole and the Nazi groups. This seemed to please the professional officers very much and to completely satisfy them.⁴ When leaving Eisenhower made a statement to this general effect.⁵ Every indication that all Germans present at reception, which was quite informal and harmonious, were deeply impressed by his personality and force.⁶

McCloy

1. General Eisenhower and his party arrived at Frankfurt from Luxembourg on January 20. The General visited the headquarters of the U.S. Army’s European Command at Heidelberg, where he reviewed Allied units and conferred with Allied military commanders and officials. Eisenhower also visited First Division headquarters at Darmstadt. On the afternoon of January 22, Eisenhower conferred informally with U.S. High Commissioner McCloy, British High Commissioner Kirk patrick, and French High Commissioner François Poncet at McCloy’s residence at Bad Homburg. No formal record of that meeting has been found. Later that day, high-ranking German leaders joined American, British, and French officials at a reception in honor of General Eisenhower at McCloy’s residence. Principal conversations with German leaders at that reception are described in the message printed here. Eisenhower and his party flew from Frankfurt to Paris on the morning of January 23.
2. In comments made at Rhine-Main Air Base on his arrival on January 20, General Eisenhower stated that he wished to see the German people join with other European peoples in a unified defense of the West. He sought to make clear he came to Germany as a friend with no feeling of resentment against Germany as a nation or against the German people.
3. The summary that follows here appears to be based upon a memorandum of January 24 prepared in the Office of the U.S. High Commissioner. That memorandum indicates that the meetings described here took place in a room separated from the general reception and that High Commissioner McCloy was present. The memorandum also indicates that Eisenhower spoke very briefly with Vice Chancellor Blüecher who indicated the West could count on Germany if equality were accorded to the Germans. (Frankfurt Mission files, lot 311, D (51) papers)

4. The memorandum cited in the previous footnote begins the account of Eisenhower’s conversations with Blank, Speidel, and Heusinger as follows:

   “The General stated that he was gratified to meet with these gentlemen and turning to the Generals he said that he felt he owed them an apology. In 1945 in his aim to carry the war to a successful end he had been under the impression that the Wehrmacht and the Hitler gang were all the same. Recently he had read Brig. Young’s book about Rommel. He wanted to ask the Generals and Mr. Blank whether they agreed with Brig. Young that one ought to draw a line between the army and the Nazis. Gen. Speidel said definitely yes and that he had pointed this out in his book ‘Invasion 1944’. Heusinger also confirmed this, saying that in his command he had had many opportunities to notice that difference. Mr. Blank added that originally he had been a miner, that he had come up through the trade unions, and that during the war he’d been a lieutenant of the reserve. Nobody could accuse him of being a militarist but he also felt that there had been a great difference between the army and the Nazi organization. The General said he was glad to hear this, that he had been quoted as challenging the honor of the German soldier, that this was completely wrong, that he’d never intended to challenge the honor of the German soldier and officer, even though some members of the German armed forces had committed misdeeds. The Generals and Mr. Blank were obviously pleased to hear this statement from the General.”

5. Before his departure for Paris on the morning of January 23, General Eisenhower made the following public comments regarding the German Army:

   “I have come to know that there is a real difference between the regular German soldier and officer and Hitler and his criminal group. For my part, I do not believe that the German soldier as such has lost his honor. The fact that certain individuals committed in war dishonorable and despicable acts reflects on the individuals concerned and not on the great majority of German soldiers and officers.” (Information Bulletin: Monthly Magazine of the Office of the US High Commissioner for Germany, February 1951, p. 37)

6. In his telegram 6190, January 26, from Frankfurt, for Secretary Acheson, Byroade, and General Gruenther, McCloy made the following additional observations:

   “Indications are that Eisenhower visit had more than a superficially good result. SPD circles as well as Adenauer seem to have been deeply impressed. Latter reports there are some real indications that more constructive attitudes toward German defense contribution will be taken all along line.” (740.5/1–2651)