The British High Commissioners in Germany : some aspects of their role in Anglo-German relations, 1949-1955
Between 1949 and 1955 the supreme authority in the newly established Federal Republic of Germany did not lie in the hands of the elected representatives, but in the hands of the representatives of the three Western Occupying Powers, the Allied High Commissioners. Surprisingly quickly the character and the role of the Allied High Commission changed and it devolved more and more of its power to the German Government. This thesis recounts the history of the Allied High Commission from the perspective of the British High Commissioner. Three men consecutively held this position: Sir Brian Robertson, Sir Ivone Kirkpatrick, and Sir Frederick Hoyer Millar. They were three very different men, who had different perceptions of their role, different tasks to accomplish, and different degrees of influence on events in Germany and British policy on Germany. The three men are given epithets, which either describe their perception of their role as British High Commissioner in Germany or the role itself, and which serve as themes for the three main parts of the thesis. Sir Brian Robertson was called a ~Benevolent and Sympathetic Viceroy~ by his biographer, which not only describes Robertson's own perception of his role in
Schwepcke, Barbara
Post war; FDR
The British High Commissioners in Germany : some aspects of their role in Anglo-German relations, 1949-1955. Between 1949 and 1955 the supreme authority in the newly established Federal Republic of Germany did not lie in the hands of the elected representatives, but in the hands of the representatives of the three Western Occupying Powers, the Allied High Commissioners. Surprisingly quickly the character and the role of the Allied High Commission changed and it devolved more and more of its power to the German Government. This thesis recounts the history of the Allied High Commission from the perspective of the British High Commissioner. Three men consecutively held this position: Sir Brian Robertson, Sir Ivone Kirkpatrick, and Sir Frederick Hoyer Millar. They were three very different men, who had different perceptions of their role, different tasks to accomplish, and different degrees of influence on events in Germany and British policy on Germany. The three men are given epithets, which either describe their perception of their role as British High Commissioner in Germany or the role itself, and which serve as themes for the three main parts of the thesis. Sir Brian Robertson was called a ~Benevolent and Sympathetic Viceroy~ by his biographer, which not only describes Robertson's own perception of his role in
british high germany aspect role anglo_german relation authority newly establish federal republic germany lie hand elect representative hand representative western powers allied high surprisingly quickly character role allied high commission change power german government recount history allied high commission perspective british high commissioner men consecutively hold position sir robertson sir sir three_different men different perception_role different task accomplish different_degree influence event germany british_policy germany men give either describe perception_role british high commissioner germany role serve theme three_main part_thesis sir robertson call benevolent sympathetic viceroy biographer describe robertson perception_role