GIs in Germany: The Social, Economic, Military, and Political History of the American Military Presence, 1945-2000
An International Conference Sponsored by the German Historical Institute, Washington, D.C. and the Department of History, University of Heidelberg (Germany)
Convener: Detlef Junker
Postwar German-American relations have become one of the most heavily researched areas of contemporary international history. Until recently, however, scholars have devoted little attention to the history of American soldiers stationed in Western Germany. What American authorities originally intended as a short-term occupation after the end of World War II developed into one of the largest and longest military operations of all times, spanning six decades and involving more than sixteen million men and women coming from across the United States. The US military presence represented a weighty factor in the German-American diplomatic and strategic partnership, but it also played a considerable role in German life. American bases had a considerable impact on the Federal Republic's economy. American military personnel and their families also helped shape the face of many towns and regions in the Federal Republic. Through their daily contacts with the local inhabitants they strongly influenced German perceptions of the United States. Thus the US military presence can be considered one of the Twentieth Century's greatest "cultural exchange programs".
Because the topic by its very nature is interdisciplinary, researchers from all fields in the humanities and social sciences are invited to participate. The conference will cover the whole spectrum of issues raised by the U.S. military presence, ranging from local contacts to the strategic and political framework. Because the first postwar decade has been studied more extensively in the literature, we are especially interested in papers dealing with the period stretching from the second half of the 1950s to the late 1980s. Papers may focus on the relationship between the American armed forces and a particular town or region, a specific thematic issue (such as gender, race, German-American friendship associations, or anti-Americanism) or larger political events (for example the second Berlin Crisis, the war in Vietnam, or the implementation of the NATO "double track" decision). Also of interest are studies on the US military presence in Germany that focus on the regional or national economic impact, the decision-making processes in Washington and in Bonn, the debates in the American Congress and the West German Bundestag, the interaction of military elites (including the westernization of the German military), the relations between the American military and local/regional German governments, the role of NATO, strategic issues, the military planning process as well as the legacy that members of the American military left behind, including the changes that occurred after American bases closed. Finally, papers may address the impact of former military personnel and their families on American society after their return to their native country.
The conference will be held at the Wissenschaftsforum in Heidelberg on November 9-11, 2000. In order to receive consideration proposals must be postmarked by February 15, 2000. For more information or to submit a paper proposal please contact:
Professor Detlef Junker
Historisches Seminar
Universität Heidelberg
Postfach 10 57 60
69047 Heidelberg
GERMANY
Phone: **49 - 6221 - 54 24 77
Fax: **49 - 6221 - 54 24 49
e-mail: g30@ix.urz.uni-heidelberg.de
webpage: http://www.rzuser.uni-heidelberg.de/~g30/
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