UK feared offending Germany throughout fortieth D-Day anniversary | UK | News | EUROtoday

WHILE this yr’s eightieth anniversary of D-Day didn’t move with out drama, preparations for the fortieth anniversary had their justifiable share of tension too.

According to newly declassified paperwork,  figures in Margaret Thatcher’s Government had been consumed by one overwhelming concern- that Germany would possibly take offence.

Letters between defence secretary Michael Heseltine and international secretary Geoffrey Howe have revealed the consternation felt on the highest ranges of presidency following an Anglo-German summit at Chequers on 2 May, 1984.

It was there, in accordance with Cabinet papers, that West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl raised with Mrs Thatcher the fragile “question of the reaction in Japan and Germany to the celebration of the Normandy landings”.

1984 was one of the Cold War’s most challenging years for the Western alliance which seemed, to some, to be fraying at the seams.

Soviet leader Konstantin Chernenko’s ill health meant that policy was being led by even arch hardliners Defense Minister Dmitriy Ustinov and Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko.

The USSR had placed SS-20 missiles in Eastern Europe and, in response,  the US had put Pershing II and cruise missiles in Western Europe.

In the meantime British and West Germany were under intense pressure at home, as peace movements gained influence to push for a stop to the US-Soviet arms race.

The fact that many veterans from both sides of the Second World War were still living was also a factor to be considered.

Heseltine was especially concerned over any “denigration of the German Army” in the speeches due to be delivered by politicians representing the Allied nations during anniversary events in Normandy, the highlight of which was a major speech given by US President Ronald Reagan.

While agreeing that it was “entirely right that we should be celebrating the 40th anniversary of D-Day on the basis now planned and that we should ensure that the celebration is given proper publicity”, he went on to caution that it was “important that whatever speeches there are at the various events should strike the right tone.”

He added: “I take into consideration notably what the Americans could say. I hope that we are able to keep away from an excessive amount of of the flavour of the triumph of excellent over evil or any denigration of the German Army, which is clearly a delicate concern in Germany.”

Rather than dwell on the army defeat of the Germans, Heseltine prompt to Howe that the main target of the occasions ought to be on “the sacrifice made to safe freedom and democracy in Western Europe.”

Both males hoped that they might “bring to bear in this direction whatever influence we have (on the United States)”.

They succeeded.

In the occasion, US President Ronald Reagan was to ship considered one of his most poignant speeches.

He praised the heroism of US, British, Canadian and Polish forces on that day, and paid particular tribute to the ““the boys of Pointe du Hoc”; the 62 surviving Army rangers who 40 years earlier than, had scaled the 100-foot cliffs below enemy hearth.

And, in a testomony to the power of the Special Relationship, he did so with out as soon as mentioning Germany by title.