The Test of Strength: Explaining Germany‘s Reluctance towards Nuclear Weapons, 1945-2011

This study comprises an analysis of the German nuclear policy and encompasses two major aspects. First, an attempt to explain Germany‘s reluctance towards nuclear weapons, and secondly, an analysis of the implications of the findings for Germany‘s nuclear posture in the future. The research begins with a look at Germany‘s recent history following WWII with particular emphasis on its politics and nuclear ambitions. The historic part is separated into three chapters, the phase when Germany was disarmed and carefully began to regain signs of political life, followed by the struggle to rearm, and finally Germany‘s way into the Western Alliance. The underlying argument points out the German government‘s persistent strife for nuclear ownership in order to regain political status beyond its initial goal of national sovereignty and reunification. Watching its neighbors gaining prestige and status through their independent nuclear weapons program the young Republic undertook several attempts to gain control over those weapons, but ultimately failed. As will be pointed out during this study, the German population did not entirely share its government‘s enthusiasm for nuclear weapons. This fact was never sufficiently appreciated by the authorities hence protests accompanied the political decision-making process from the start.