Dhaka, March 9 -- Various possible solutions were advanced to the "German question" in the years after 1945. European integration of Germany within the wider Western world was considered the most viable way forward for Germany. In 1951, Germany became one of the founding members of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). This involvement of Germany in the ECSC was seen as the first step towards creating a much more integrated Europe which would help to "Europeanise Germany" to solve the "German question". However, this integration also entailed the partition of Germany into two in 1945. Eventually, in 1990 both parts of Germany joined together.

In a drive towards much closer European integration, Germany signed the treaty establish...