Israel and Germany 1948–1973

From 1948 to 1973 relations between Israel and the Federal Republic of Germany changed fundamentally. From being two countries that in the immediate aftermath of the Holocaust were completely estranged, Israel and the Federal Republic became two countries that - tensions and difficulties notwithstanding - had somehow managed to build a solid partnership across a variety of fields, including commerce, security and intelligence cooperation. Societal ties, initially banned under Israel’s official policy of a boycott of Germany, gradually expanded. The establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and Germany was a difficult and prolonged process. The actors involved in the making of such a ‘special relationship’ included political leaders, such as West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, as well as members of the economic and security elites of both countries, cultural figures and of the broader public.