Editing Konrad Adenauer (section)

===Key achievement===
Economic Miracle (Wirtschaftswunder): Under Adenauer and Economics Minister Ludwig Erhard, West Germany achieved rapid industrial recovery, driven by Marshall Plan aid, currency reform (1948), and market-oriented policies. By the 1950s, it was a global economic powerhouse.

Western Integration: A staunch anti-communist, Adenauer aligned West Germany with the West, joining [[NATO]] in 1955 and fostering ties with the U.S., U.K., and France. He negotiated the London Debt Agreement (1953), halving Germany’s war debts, and supported the Treaty of Rome (1957), laying the foundation for the European Economic Community (EEC), a precursor to the EU.

Franco-German Reconciliation: Adenauer’s partnership with French President Charles de Gaulle culminated in the Élysée Treaty (1963), ending centuries of rivalry and cementing European cooperation.

Rearmament and Security: Adenauer advocated for West German rearmament, establishing the Bundeswehr in 1955, despite domestic opposition, to counter Soviet threats, especially after the Korean War heightened Cold War tensions.