CONNECTING TRADE AND POLITICS: NEGOTIATIONS ON THE RELEASE OF THE GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR IN YUGOSLAVIA AND THE FIRST WEST GERMAN-YUGOSLAV TRADE AGREEMENT OF 1949/1950

Abstract

This paper analyzes the multipronged approach the West German authorities embraced in their relations with Yugoslavia during the early 1950s. By focusing on the issue of repatriation of the remaining 1,400 German prisoners of war in Yugoslavia, the author attempts to show how West Germany, lacking political power, resorted to its economic strength in order to achieve its political goals. The article, based on unpublished German and Yugoslav sources, follows the discussions about trade and economic cooperation as well as discussions on the future release of German POWs and analyzes how and when those issues intertwined.

Keywords

• german prisoners of war
• federal republic of germany
• yugoslavia
• german-yugoslav relations
• trade agreement
• repatriation
• war crimes