Hallstein Doctrine

The Hallstein Doctrine was a key doctrine in the foreign policy of the Federal Republic of Germany between 1955 and 1969. According do the doctrine, the Federal Republic of Germany had the exclusive right to represent the entire German nation, and with the exception of the Soviet Union, West Germany would not establish or maintain diplomatic relations with any state that recognized East Germany. The doctrine was first applied to Yugoslavia in 1957.

East Germany attempted to undermine this doctrine by forming diplomatic relationships with the newly decolonized nations of the third world.

The doctrine was abandoned with the advent of Ostpolitik by Chancellor Willy Brandt which resulted in mutual recognition between East and West Germany.