26

Benjamin PFANNES (Germany) 

Abstract 

This contribution explores the creation of the German-French Brigade (1988) and Eurocorps, both of which understood as milestones in the evolution of European security and defense cooperation during the Cold War. It examines the bilateral initiatives between Germany and France against the backdrop of geopolitical shifts, including the US Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) and the Reykjavik Summit (1986), which spurred European concerns about their security dependence on the United States. Drawing on unpublished archival material and interviews, the study analyses the strategic, political, and diplomatic dynamics that shaped these military projects, emphasising their significance for both bilateral relations and a broader European integration. The article identifies diverging motives: France viewed the Brigade as a step towards a European defense identity independent of NATO, while Germany sought to reintegrate France into NATO structures and strengthen transatlantic bonds. Both initiatives exemplified a desire to address Cold War uncertainties and forge a European response to global security challenges. Despite these differences, the projects symbolised a commitment to interoperability and European emancipation concerning matters of defense. The article concludes, that the German-French Brigade and Eurocorps represent both the complexities, and aspirations of European security policy in the late 20th century, offering insights into the balancing between national interests and collective European ambitions. 

Keywords: German-French Brigade, Eurocorps, European defense integration, Cold War security, Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)​

Text download ​​​

DOI for this text: https://doi.org/10.56092/IDYO4289

​​