Germany and plans to create a European army: history and modernity

Author(s):  Yu.V. Rodovich, Dr., Prof., Tula State Lev Tolstoy Pedagogical University, Tula, Russia, tgpu@tula.net

Issue:  Volume 46, № 2

Rubric:  Topical issues of world history

Annotation:  The article deals with the history of the idea of creating a European army and its evolution to the present time, as well as the attitude of Germany to this fact. After the realization of the idea in the Great army of Napoleon, which crashed in Russia, it was returned in the 20s of XX century. The first step to the creation of a pan-European army was made in 1948 by the registration of the Western Union (since 1954 – the Western European Union (WEU)). The Pleven plan (1950), which envisaged the creation of a European defensive community, was not implemented. The WEU was partially integrated into the European Union structure in 1997. The impetus for the process of preparation for the creation of the European army was given by the modern Ukrainian crisis, and then – the upcoming withdrawal of the UK from the European Union and the statements and actions of US President D. Trump. The EU, with the active participation of Germany and France, is looking for some steps to gain the greater independence from the US. The creation of the European army in the future can help strengthen the EU as one of the poles of the multipolar world.

Keywords:  Germany, France, USA, European Union, NATO, European army.

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