# West Germany Joins NATO (1955)

URL: https://germany-history.com/timeline/1955-west-germany-joins-nato
Location: Paris
Categories: main-event

On 5 May 1955 West Germany became sovereign and joined NATO. The Bundeswehr was founded. East Germany joined the Warsaw Pact.

## Why it matters
It integrated West Germany into the Western alliance.

Ruler at the time: [Konrad Adenauer](https://germany-history.com/rulers/konrad-adenauer)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia – Bundeswehr](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundeswehr)
- [Wikipedia – London and Paris Conferences](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_and_Paris_Conferences)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica – Bundeswehr](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Bundeswehr)