ARMED FORCES AS A DOOR OPENER FOR DIPLOMACY: DIPLOMATIC BREAKTHROUGHS OF THE GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC BY PROVIDING MILITARY SUPPORT TO AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST
Abstract
This article will prove how the government of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) used military support as a key tool to break through the West German diplomatic blockade. After the foundation of the GDR in 1949, no country in the world except for the Soviet Union and their satellites recognized this new state diplomatically. This was due to the West German government’s claim to sole representation of Germany and all Germans. From the GDR perspective, it was primarily the Middle East and the states in Africa that emerged after 1960 which offered the most likely chances to overcome international isolation. The employment of military channels seemed to be particularly promising. The fact that military contacts played an essential role in GDR foreign policy toward developing countries was obvious given the importance of the military in those states. This article attests to this key function using the military assistance and weapons deliveries of the GDR for Zanzibar, Tanzania, Guinea and especially Egypt as examples. Nasser’s Egypt was an ideal recipient of both diplomatic and military East German approaches. Nasser viewed the increasingly closer relations between West Germany and Israel with suspicion. The Six-Day War of 1967 finally opened a chance for the regime in East Berlin to achieve a major diplomatic breakthrough by delivering weapons that Egypt desperately needed.
Keywords
Supporting Institution
Ethical Statement
Thanks
References
- List of Archives
- German Federal Archive (Bundesarchiv, BArch), Berlin and Freiburg i. Br.
- Bundesarchiv. 1964a. “GDR-Embassy Sansibar, report Aktion ‘Film,’ 15 Mar 1964.” File DVW 1/114471. Berlin.
- Bundesarchiv. 1964b. “GDR-Embassy Sansibar, final report Action ‘Film,’ 12 Apr 1964.” File DVW 1/114471. Berlin.
- Bundesarchiv. 1964c. “East German Ministry of National Defence (MoND), Minister General of the Army Hoffmann, to Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party SED, Secretary for Security Affairs, Erich Honecker, 21 Apr 1964.” File DVW 1/114471. Berlin.
- Bundesarchiv. 1966a. “MoND, General of the Army Hoffmann, to MoD USSR, Minister Marshall of the Soviet Union Grechkov, 30 Jun 1966.” File AZN 28040. Berlin.
- Bundesarchiv. 1966b. “MoND, Minister General of the Army Hoffmann, to Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Willi Stoph, 04 Apr 1966.” File DC 20/12338. Berlin.
- Bundesarchiv. 1966c. “Letter from Secretary General of PAIGC, dated 10 Aug 1966.” File DZ 8/7303-662. Without pagination. Berlin.
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
International Security
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Klaus Storkmann
*
0009-0000-8432-3074
Germany
Publication Date
March 24, 2026
Submission Date
January 9, 2025
Acceptance Date
May 20, 2025
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Number: Özel Sayı