The German Democratic Republic and Australia

Abstract

This article covers the development of relations between the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and Australia through the full course of the GDR's existence, but with an emphasis on events leading to mutual diplomatic recognition in December 1972. It argues that as minor powers within their respective Cold War blocs the GDR and Australia had very limited room for manoeuvre, yet within those limitations both sides adopted a good deal of pragmatism in cultivating political, cultural, sporting and above all trade relations. Although the conservative Australian government which was voted out of office in early December 1972 consistently resisted pressure to recognize the GDR, the new Labor government under Gough Whitlam was able to build on the pragmatic foundations for an expanded relationship laid in preceding years. Nonetheless, Whitlam moved rapidly and with a boldness which indicated a clear new direction in Australian foreign policy under his leadership. Diplomatic recognition did not, however, necessarily bring with it improved relations in other spheres, indeed the possibilities for improved trade remained largely unfulfilled through to the GDR's demise.

Notes

¹ Whitlam's statement cited in “Committee for Recognition of the German Democratic Republic. Information Bulletin”, Jan. 1971. SAPMO BArchiv, DY 43/11143; also reported in Neues Deutschland 20 Dec. 1972.

² National Archives of Australia (hereafter NAA) A1838 29/1/3/9 Germany. Relations with Australia. German Democratic Republic (East). Cablegram Department of External Affairs 11 January 1950 to Australian High Commission Colombo.

³ NAA, A 1838/272 30/1/3 Part 3, Rules for Travel in East Berlin and East Germany, 307.

⁴ Politisches Archiv des Auswärtigen Amtes (hereafter PA des AA) (Bestand MfAA), A 16445. Abteilung Südostasien. Herstellung von Kontakten zu australischen Wissenschaftlern.

⁵ Rose's unpublished memoirs are held at the State Library of New South Wales, MLMSS.

⁶ There were altogether thirty-seven GDR athletes in the German team, winning one gold medal (the bantamweight boxer Wolfgang Behrendt), four silver and two bronze.

⁷ The Petrov Affair, as it became known, was triggered by the defection to Australia of the Soviet MVD officer Vladimir Petrov, who was attached to the Soviet Embassy in Canberra. The defection was followed by a Royal Commission into espionage in Australia. See especially Manne.

⁸ PA des AA (Bestand MfAA), A 16443. Teilnahme der DDR an den Olympischen Spielen 1956 in Melbourne, 15.

⁹ Ibid.

¹⁰ Ibid.

¹¹NAA, A1838 819/1 PART 1/East Germany—Economic Relations with Australia.

¹²Ibid. Memorandum from Assistant Secretary, External Affairs, to Secretary, Dept. of Commerce and Agriculture, 5 Nov. 1954.

¹³Ibid.

¹⁴ PA des AA (Bestand MfAA), A 16444. Anknüpfung Aussenhandelsbeziehung der DDR zu Australien 1951–1959. Letter, Minister for Trade and Customs to E. C. Heyne and Co., 18 Dec. 1951, 11.

¹⁵ PA des AA (Bestand MfAA), A 16444. Letter H. C. Heyne to Carl Zeiss Jena, 24 Dec. 1951.

¹⁶ PA des AA (Bestand MfAA), A 16444, Letter from Assistant Trade Commissioner R. J. C. M. Schneemann, Commercial Counsellor's Office, Australian Embassy, Bonn to Gerhard Wachsen, 5 Oct. 1955.

¹⁷ PA des AA (Bestand MfAA), A 16444. Letter HA Handelspolitik Gruppe Übersee to Handelsvertretung der DDR in Burma, Rangoon, 3 July 1956.

¹⁸ NAA, A1838 819/1/2 East Germany—Visit by East German Trade Mission. Letter from Chamber of Foreign Trade of GDR, Overseas Section, to Associated Chambers of Commerce, 10 Dec. 1956.

¹⁹ NAA, A1838 819/1/2. Memorandum from Australian Military Mission Berlin, 23 Jan. 1957 to Secretary Department of External Affairs.

²⁰ NAA, A1838 819/1/2. Letter from Seidel, Director, Chamber of Foreign Trade of the GDR, Trade Relations Overseas Section, Berlin, 28 May 1957, to K. F. Coles, President of the Associated Chamber of Commerce.

²¹ NAA, A1838 (A1838/264) 30/2/5/1. Berlin Memorandum No. 20, “SED Sixth Party Congress”, 31 Jan. 1963, by T. V. Holland, Deputy Head of Mission, 243.

²² Statement by Hasluck, House of Representatives Debates, Vol. 45, 7 Apr. 1965, 747. Cited in Millar 315.

²³ Promulgated by Konrad Adenauer, the doctrine was named after the secretary of state of the West German foreign ministry, Walter Hallstein, and insisted that the FRG would not maintain relations with any state that recognised the GDR. See Hitchcock 294–95.

²⁴ Sir Garfield Barwick, Minister for External Affairs, House of Representatives Debates, Vol. 41, 11 Mar. 1964, 473.

²⁵ PA des AA (Bestand MfAA), C 1528/75. Development of Relations GDR-Australia. Report “State of Relations GDR-Australia 18.10.1966”, 46.

²⁶ Samuel 30.

²⁷ Ibid.

²⁸ PA des AA (Bestand MfAA), 1528/75. Development of Relations GDR-Australia 1965–68, 1970–72, 42–43.

²⁹ NAA, A1838 819/1/3 East Germany—Relations with Australia—Proposed Trade Office.

³⁰ PA des AA (Bestand MfAA), C 102/73. Development of Trade Relations with Australia, 14. Letter from Thorman to Wolf, 8 Apr. 1968.

³¹ PA des AA (Bestand MfAA), C 102/73, 23-24.

³² NAA, A 1838 (A1838/396) 1500/3/1/21/1. Trade Offices in Australia—East Germany—Sydney.

³³ NAA, A1838 30/1/3 Part 3. German Democratic Republic. Confidential Report, 316.

³⁴ PA des AA (Bestand MfAA), C 1534/75. Jahresbericht Parsche, 19 Dec. 1970, 30.

³⁵ Ibid. 44

³⁶ Ibid. 64.

³⁷ Ibid.

³⁸ In November 1970 the Department of External Affairs was renamed Department of Foreign Affairs.

³⁹ A. Florin, “Ausweitung der Tätigkeit des Vertreters der Aussenwirtschaft der DDR in Australien, Handelsrat Gen. Parsche” 15 Feb. 1971. PA des AA (Bestand MfAA), C 1534/75. Jahresbericht Parsche, 19 Dec. 1970, 64–65.

⁴⁰ Letter Parsche, 14 May 1971. Ibid.

⁴¹ Letter Parsche to Florin, 29 Aug. 1971. Ibid.

⁴² Letter Parsche, 22 Oct. 1971. Ibid.

⁴³ PA des AA (Bestand MfAA), C1532/75, Bericht über eine Reise des Sekretärs der Gesellschaft Neue Heimat (Liga für Völkerfreundschaft) und eines Mitarbeiters des Aussenministeriums nach Australien 1971.

⁴⁴ Ibid. 17.

⁴⁵ SAPMO im BArchiv, DY/30/IV A 2/20. 587. Note by A. Florin 20 Nov. 1970.

⁴⁶ NAA A1838 (A1838/349) 30/1/1 Part 3. German Democratic Republic—Status of GDR. Dept. of Foreign Affairs. Record of Conversation with Dr. Helmut Kohl, Minister-President of the Rheinland-Pfalz, 31 Aug. 1972. Attended by Minister and officials on both sides including from FRG Embassy, 212–13.

⁴⁷ NAA A1838/272 30/1/3 Part 4, 226–27.

⁴⁸ PA des AA (Bestand MfAA), C 1531/75. Confidential report 6 Mar. 1972, 58.

⁴⁹ PA des AA (Bestand MfAA), C 1531/75, 96.

⁵⁰ PA des AA (Bestand MfAA), C 1531/75. Report of meeting in Ministry for Trade and Industry, 6 Dec. 1972.

⁵¹ Ibid. Final report by Opitz and Andres, 19 Dec. 1972, 75.

⁵² PA des AA (Bestand MfAA), C 4601, 1–11.

⁵³ SAPMO im BArchiv, DC 20/I/4 2898. Brief Otto Winzer an Erich Honecker, Willi Stoph, Hermann Axen, Berlin, 2 July 1973.

⁵⁴ SAPMO im BArchiv, DL 2 VA 7254. Article 1 of Trade Agreement between the Government of the GDR and the Government of Australia.

⁵⁵ SAPMO im BArchiv, DL 2 VA 7254. Protocol of the Eight Session of the GDR/Australia Mixed Commission.

⁵⁶ Australia-German Democratic Republic Friendship Society. Tenth Anniversary. Peace and Friendship 1982. n.p.: n.pub., 1982. Back cover.

⁵⁷ SAPMO im BArchiv, DY 43 11143. Note on discussion held 12 Dec. 1976, Melbourne.

⁵⁸ Ibid.

⁵⁹ BStU, MfS, Bln AIM 5163/91 Part II, Vol. 4.

⁶⁰ NAA A1838 30/1/1 Part 3. Confidential Policy Planning Paper. East Germany: Membership of the United Nations. 13 Sept. 1971, 4.

⁶¹ Ibid. 7–8.