Federal Republic of Germany joins the Council of Europe

The Federal Republic of Germany – West Germany – became an associate member in 1950, along with the Saarland, which was at that point a protectorate administered by France following World War Two. West Germany became a full member in 1951 and the Saarland’s application was withdrawn after it became part of West Germany following a referendum in 1955. The Communist German Democratic Republic (East Germany) never became a Council of Europe member on its own, but is now fully integrated into the organisation following German reunification in 1990 when it ceased to exist.

The picture shows German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer with then Secretary General Léon Marchal at the 14^th session of the Committee of Ministers in 1954.