25 years affiliation to NATO - Germany / Federal Republic of Germany 1980 - 100 Pfennig

25 years of membership of the Federal Republic of Germany to NATO Twenty-five years ago, on May 6, 1955, the Federal Republic of Germany joined the North Atlantic Alliance, which had already been founded on 4 April 1949 and today comprises 15 nations on both sides of the Atlantic: Belgium, Denmark, Federal Republic of Germany , France, Greece, Great Britain, Iceland, Italy, Canada, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Turkey, United States of America. This step documented the resumption of the sovereign Germany into the circle of the principles of democracy, the freedom of the person and the rule of law affirming powers. The Atlantic Alliance is not a supranational organization but an intergovernmental organization with a high level of integration. As a defensive alliance without historical precedent, it ensures the independence and territorial integrity of its members by providing armed forces that serve only to deter any potential aggressor and any potential form of aggression. The Alliance complements these efforts to maintain peace and stability through détente initiatives, such as mutual and balanced force reductions, to help improve the East-West relationship. In addition, the Alliance is engaged in wide-ranging consultation and cooperation in the political, economic, environmental and social fields. The Alliance's highest-level political body is the North Atlantic Council, based on the principle of consensus, in Brussels, which meets twice a year, under the chairmanship of the NATO Secretary General, at Foreign Minister level. Next to them are Defense Planning (DPC) and Nuclear Planning (NPG) committees, which also meet twice a year at the level of Defense Ministers. EUROGROUP is available to NATO members for co-ordinating their defense contributions. Major Allied commander-in-chiefs are those for Europe (SACEUR) in Casteau (Belgium), for the Atlantic area (SACLANT) in Norfolk (USA) and for the English Channel (CINCHAN) in Northwood (UK). SACEUR are also subordinated to the combat units of the Bundeswehr. NATO's political and military authorities have integrated International Bars. As part of the NATO Alliance, the Federal Republic of Germany makes an important contribution to consolidating peace in Europe and beyond. (Text: Federal Foreign Office, Bonn)