HISTORY OF THE UN 26 JUNE 1945
THE IDEA TO ESTABLISH AN ORGANISATION OF UNITED NATIONS OWES ITS ORIGINS TO THE SECOND WORLD WAR (1939-45) AND THE PERIOD PRIOR TO THIS.
The aggressive policy of National Socialist Germany was a fundamental reason for the failure of the League of Nations. When Germany, Italy and Japan reached the peak of their military success, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill agreed on specific framework conditions for future common foreign policy principles, peacekeeping measures and the creation of a permanent system of general security in the Atlantic Charter of 14 August 1941. The ideas for a new international order they agreed on were a sign of hope in the darkest hours of the war.
THE IDEA OF THE „UNITED NATIONS“
At the Yalta Conference in February 1945, Roosevelt, Churchill and the Soviet head of state Josef Stalin reached agreement on the future of the almost defeated Germany as well as the basic outlines of the post-war order. Less known, but all the more important the „big three“ also reached agreement on the establishment of the United Nations.
![DECLARATION BY UNITED NATIONS
On 1 January 1942, representatives of 26 Allied nations fighting against the Axis Powers met in Washington, D.C. to pledge their support for the Atlantic Charter by signing the „Declaration by United Nations“. This document contained the first official use of the term „United Nations“, which was suggested by United States President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (seated, second from left). 01 January 1942 Washington D.C., United States Die Deklaration der Vereinten Nationen](https://75un.tourviews.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/31319-1024x431.jpg)
![DECLARATION BY UNITED NATIONS ISSUED IN WASHINGTON, DC, PLEDGES STRUGGLE AGAINST „HITLERISM“
01 January 1942, Washington D.C., United States](https://75un.tourviews.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/327496-1024x709.jpg)
FOUR MONTHS LATER – ON 25 JUNE 1945 – 50 STATES UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED THE CHARTER OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMPRISING 111 ARTICLES IN SAN FRANCISCO, THEREBY AFFIRMING THEIR COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING WORLD PEACE AND SECURITY, THE EQUAL RIGHTS OF MEN AND WOMEN AND OF NATIONS LARGE AND SMALL.
The UN Charter entered into force on 24 October 1945.
![THE SAN FRANCISCO CONFERENCE, 25 APRIL - 26 JUNE 1945](https://75un.tourviews.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/1341-1024x538.jpg)
![WILLY BRANDT MEETS HENRY KISSINGER
Chancellor and Chairman of the SPD (Social Democratic Party of Germany) Willy Brandt (right) meets US Foreign Minister Henry Kissinger to discuss the admission of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United Nations.](https://75un.tourviews.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/43913017-1024x686.jpg)
IN JUNE 1973, THE GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC (GDR) AND THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS TO BECOME THE UN’S 133RD AND 134TH MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY.
On the recommendation of the UN Security Council, the admission of the Federal Republic of Germany and the GDR as members was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 18 September 1973. Seventeen years later, following German unification in 1990, the Federal Republic of Germany was represented as a single, unified country in the UN.
![APPLICATION OF THE GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC TO JOIN THE UNITED NATIONS](https://75un.tourviews.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Germany_CounselOfMinisters_letter-12_June_1973-compressed-799x1024.jpg)
![APPLICATION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY TO JOIN THE UNITED NATIONS](https://75un.tourviews.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Germany-UN_NV-12Jun73_Decl-Accptce_of_UN_obligations_Eng-799x1024.jpg)
![NOTIFICATION OF ADMISSION BY THE UNITED NATIONS.](https://75un.tourviews.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/UN-NV_20Sept73_-_Germany_UN-Member-799x1024.jpg)
![GENERAL-ASSEMBLY – ADMISSION OF THE TWO GERMAN STATES TO THE UNITED NATIONS
Handshake between Foreign Minister of the German Democratic Republic, Otto Winzer (left) and Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany, Walter Scheel.
18 August 1973 VN-Generalversammlung – Aufnahme der beiden deutschen Staaten Händedruck zwischen dem Außenminister der DDR Otto Winzer (links) und dem Außenminister der Bundesrepublik Deutschland Walter Scheel. 18. August 1973](https://75un.tourviews.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/43393214-1024x642.jpg)
THE UNITED NATIONS TODAY 26 JUNE 2020
KEY OBJECTIVES OF THE UNITED NATIONS
» Maintaining international peace and security
» The peaceful settlement of disputes
» Refraining from the use of force
» Respect for the principle of sovereign equality of all states
» Developing friendly relations to maintain peace
» Promoting international cooperation to solve international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character
» Respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion
![FOREIGN MINISTER OF GERMANY ADDRESSES GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Heiko Maas, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-fourth session.
25 September 2019, United Nations, New York, United States](https://75un.tourviews.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/825029-1024x657.jpg)
GERMANY’S INVOLVEMENT IN THE UNITED NATIONS HAS GROWN STEADILY.
Over 30 UN institutions are now based in Germany, particularly in Bonn. Germany is involved in a large number of UN bodies, institutions and peace missions and is also the fourth-largest contributor to the regular UN budget after the US, China and Japan.
On 8 June 2018, the Federal Republic of Germany was elected to the UN Security Council for the sixth time as a non-permanent member.
Membership of the Security Council extends Germany’s foreign policy outreach. Germany contributes to solve international crises at a central position and to prevent them.
GERMANY IS ALSO WORKING INTENSIVELY TO FOSTER DISARMAMENT AND NON-PROLIFERATION, TO STRENGTHEN THE AGENDA OF WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY AND IS PLACING A FOCUS ON HUMAN RIGHTS, CLIMATE AND SECURITY, INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW AND HUMANITARIAN SPACE.
SINCE 2011, 193 STATES, OR ALMOST ALL OF THE WORLD’S COUNTRIES, HAVE BEEN MEMBERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS.
The UN is the only forum in which all states meet on an equal footing to find common solutions and reach decisions.
The founding document of the UN, the UN Charter, sets out the objectives and principles of the UN, as well as the six principal organs of the organisation and specifies their composition and competencies.
The principal organs of the UN are the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Secretariat, the International Court of Justice and the Security Council. In addition to the adoption of non-binding resolutions by the UN General Assembly, the UN Security Council may take decisions that are binding for all its members under international law.
![SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES MEETS WITH HEIKO MAAS, FEDERAL MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
26 February 2020, United Nations, New York, United States](https://75un.tourviews.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/839578-1024x672.jpg)
![](https://75un.tourviews.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/200224_ZAA_PHT0081-1024x430.jpg)
THE FUTURE OF THE UNITED NATIONS 26 JUNE 2045
A KEY PRIORITY OF THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT IS THE REFORM OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL.
Such reform is intended to ensure that the Security Council reflects the geopolitical realities of the 21st century more accurately. The UN Security Council’s legitimacy and authority are at risk as long as important regions and major contributors are not adequately represented. Germany there- fore actively supports this reform along with its G4 partners Brazil, India and Japan. Reform endeavours are also underway in other areas.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres intends to implement a comprehensive reform agenda to make the UN fit for the challenges of the future. He has defined priorities that Germany supports. In addition to the coherent implementation of the 2030 Agenda, Guterres intends to strengthen conflict prevention and reorganise the UN.
![](https://75un.tourviews.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/200227_TTAA_PHT63-1024x614.jpg)
A KEY ISSUE FOR GERMANY IS A FUTURE ROOTED IN MULTILATERALISM – “JOIN TOGETHER” NOT “MY COUNTRY FIRST”.
Multilateralism as the core of international cooperation is and will become more important than ever before with a view to overcoming current and future global political challenges. The Alliance for Multilateralism established by Foreign Minister Maas, a network of countries that are working together in a wide range of policy areas, is intended to contribute to the preservation and further development of the rules-based order.
THE AIM IS TO CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN THE VALUES OF THE UN IN THE FUTURE AND TO CREATE A WORLD FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS IN WHICH WORLD PEACE AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY FOR ALL NATIONS ACROSS BORDERS IS NOT A UTOPIA BUT A REALITY.
![](https://75un.tourviews.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/180926_FAA_PHT0691-1024x430.jpg)