West German rearmament
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West German rearmament began in the decades after World War II. Fears of another rise of German militarism caused the new military to operate within an alliance framework, under NATO command. The even
West Germany joins NATO: Walter Hallstein (left) and Konrad Adenauer (centre) at the NATO Conference in Paris in 1954
Generals Adolf Heusinger and Hans Speidel sworn into the newly founded Bundeswehr by Theodor Blank on 12 November 1955
Hans Speidel
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Hans Speidel was a German general who successively served in the armies of the German Empire, Nazi Germany and West Germany. The first general officer of the Bundeswehr, he was a key player in West Ge
West German rearmament
…that outlined "a real difference between the German soldier and Hitler and his criminal group". Bundesmarine formation Generals Adolf Heusinger and Hans Speidel sworn into the newly founded Bundeswehr by Theodor Blank on 12 November 1955 The US established the Naval Historical Team (NHT) to help with the…
Speidel in 1944
Speidel with Erich von Manstein August 1943
Speidel with Erwin Rommel, April 1944
November 1955 (left to right): Adolf Heusinger, future Chief of Staff of the Bundeswehr; Theodor Blank, Minister of Defence, West Germany; and Speidel