ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the historical infancy of America's Germany Question as it emerged prior to and in the aftermath of World War I. It explores the crucial decisions reached by American foreign policy-makers in 1946-1947 that spelled out the provisions for a constructive engagement in the creation of a European postwar order. The chapter focuses on the economic and socio-cultural dimensions of America's German Question. As in 1989, four decades ago, the construction of a new European order had been an equally pressing task for American leaders. As in 1989, Berlin was not only the visible symbol for the dramatic changes that were to manifest themselves over the next four decades — the Cold War, the East-West conflict, detente, and gradually, the transformation of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Much has been written about the genesis of Europe's German Question or German Problem, two concepts that are not only used interchangeably but also denote historical longevity.
