Wilhelm Grewe
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Georg Grewe was a German
diplomat
and professor of international law. He played a major role in formulating the Hallstein Doctrine
. He was an expert in International Law
and was the author of Epochen der Völkerrechtsgeschichte (1984), a standard work on the subject.
at Hamburg
, Berlin
, Freiburg
and Frankfurt
. He then worked as an assistant to Professor Ernst Forsthof at the University of Hamburg
, and in 1936 he was awarded a doctorate (Dr. jur.). His doctoral thesis was entitled Gnade und Recht (Mercy and Law). From 1936 to 1937 he was at the University of Königsberg
and from 1937 to 1939 at the Deutsches Institut für außenpolitische Forschung (German Institute for Foreign Policy Research) in Berlin, where he was responsible for International Law
.
From 1939 Grewe lectured at the Hochschule für Politik (School of Politics) in Berlin, which, in 1940, was incorporated into the new Auslandswissenschaftliche Fakultät (Faculty of Foreign Studies) at the Friedrich Wilhelm University of Berlin, where he was lecturer in "Legal Foundations of Foreign Policy".
In 1941 Grewe was awarded his habilitation
on the basis of work that was later to become part of his book Epochen der Völkerrechtsgeschichte, and he lectured at the Faculty of Foreign Studies and the Faculty of Law (in Berlin). In 1942 he was appointed extraordinary professor at the Faculty of Foreign Studies, where he taught "Legal Foundations of Foreign Policy and Policy of International Law (Völkerrechtspolitik).
After the World War II
, Grewe taught at the University of Göttingen from 1945 to 1947 and then in Freiburg im Breisgau
from 1947.
in the post-war years, from 1951 to 1955, heading the delegation negotiating the end of Allied occupation of West Germany
, leading up to the signing of the Convention on Relations between the Three Powers and the Federal Republic (Deutschlandvertrag) in 1954.
At the German Foreign Office, he was acting head of the legal department (1953 – 1954), head of the Political Department (1955 – 1958), and from 1954 to1955 he led the German observer delegation at the Four Powers Conferences in Berlin and Geneva. Grewe played a major role in formulating the Hallstein Doctrine
.
He was also German ambassador to Washington (1958-1962) and Tokyo
(1971 – 1976) and he was Permanent Representative
to the North Atlantic Council
at Nato headquarters in Paris and Brussels (1962 – 1971). From 1971 to 1976, while based in Tokyo, he was also German ambassador to Mongolia
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and professor of international law. He played a major role in formulating the Hallstein Doctrine
Hallstein Doctrine
The Hallstein Doctrine, named after Walter Hallstein, was a key doctrine in the foreign policy of the Federal Republic of Germany after 1955. It established that the Federal Republic would not establish or maintain diplomatic relations with any state that recognized the German Democratic Republic...
. He was an expert in International Law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
and was the author of Epochen der Völkerrechtsgeschichte (1984), a standard work on the subject.
Academic career
From 1930 to 1934 Grewe studied LawLaw
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at Hamburg
University of Hamburg
The University of Hamburg is a university in Hamburg, Germany. It was founded on 28 March 1919 by Wilhelm Stern and others. It grew out of the previous Allgemeines Vorlesungswesen and the Kolonialinstitut as well as the Akademisches Gymnasium. There are around 38,000 students as of the start of...
, Berlin
Humboldt University of Berlin
The Humboldt University of Berlin is Berlin's oldest university, founded in 1810 as the University of Berlin by the liberal Prussian educational reformer and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt, whose university model has strongly influenced other European and Western universities...
, Freiburg
University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...
and Frankfurt
Johann Wolfgang Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main
The Goethe University Frankfurt was founded in 1914 as a Citizens' University, which means that, while it was a State university of Prussia, it had been founded and financed by the wealthy and active liberal citizenry of Frankfurt am Main, a unique feature in German university history...
. He then worked as an assistant to Professor Ernst Forsthof at the University of Hamburg
University of Hamburg
The University of Hamburg is a university in Hamburg, Germany. It was founded on 28 March 1919 by Wilhelm Stern and others. It grew out of the previous Allgemeines Vorlesungswesen and the Kolonialinstitut as well as the Akademisches Gymnasium. There are around 38,000 students as of the start of...
, and in 1936 he was awarded a doctorate (Dr. jur.). His doctoral thesis was entitled Gnade und Recht (Mercy and Law). From 1936 to 1937 he was at the University of Königsberg
University of Königsberg
The University of Königsberg was the university of Königsberg in East Prussia. It was founded in 1544 as second Protestant academy by Duke Albert of Prussia, and was commonly known as the Albertina....
and from 1937 to 1939 at the Deutsches Institut für außenpolitische Forschung (German Institute for Foreign Policy Research) in Berlin, where he was responsible for International Law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
.
From 1939 Grewe lectured at the Hochschule für Politik (School of Politics) in Berlin, which, in 1940, was incorporated into the new Auslandswissenschaftliche Fakultät (Faculty of Foreign Studies) at the Friedrich Wilhelm University of Berlin, where he was lecturer in "Legal Foundations of Foreign Policy".
In 1941 Grewe was awarded his habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
on the basis of work that was later to become part of his book Epochen der Völkerrechtsgeschichte, and he lectured at the Faculty of Foreign Studies and the Faculty of Law (in Berlin). In 1942 he was appointed extraordinary professor at the Faculty of Foreign Studies, where he taught "Legal Foundations of Foreign Policy and Policy of International Law (Völkerrechtspolitik).
After the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Grewe taught at the University of Göttingen from 1945 to 1947 and then in Freiburg im Breisgau
University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...
from 1947.
Political career
Wilhelm Grewe served under Konrad AdenauerKonrad Adenauer
Konrad Hermann Joseph Adenauer was a German statesman. He was the chancellor of the West Germany from 1949 to 1963. He is widely recognised as a person who led his country from the ruins of World War II to a powerful and prosperous nation that had forged close relations with old enemies France,...
in the post-war years, from 1951 to 1955, heading the delegation negotiating the end of Allied occupation of West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, leading up to the signing of the Convention on Relations between the Three Powers and the Federal Republic (Deutschlandvertrag) in 1954.
At the German Foreign Office, he was acting head of the legal department (1953 – 1954), head of the Political Department (1955 – 1958), and from 1954 to1955 he led the German observer delegation at the Four Powers Conferences in Berlin and Geneva. Grewe played a major role in formulating the Hallstein Doctrine
Hallstein Doctrine
The Hallstein Doctrine, named after Walter Hallstein, was a key doctrine in the foreign policy of the Federal Republic of Germany after 1955. It established that the Federal Republic would not establish or maintain diplomatic relations with any state that recognized the German Democratic Republic...
.
He was also German ambassador to Washington (1958-1962) and Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
(1971 – 1976) and he was Permanent Representative
Permanent Representative
A Permanent Representative is the head of a diplomatic mission to one of various international organisations. The best known of the organisations to which states send Permanent Representatives is the United Nations; of these, the most high-profile ones are those assigned to headquarters in New...
to the North Atlantic Council
North Atlantic Council
North Atlantic Council is the most senior political governing body of NATO established by Article 9 of the North Atlantic Treaty. The NAC can be held at the Permanent Representative Level , or can be composed of member states' Ministers of State, Defense, or Heads of Government. The NAC has the...
at Nato headquarters in Paris and Brussels (1962 – 1971). From 1971 to 1976, while based in Tokyo, he was also German ambassador to Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
.
Books by Wilhelm G. Grewe
- Grewe, Wilhelm; Transl. and rev. by Michael Byers: The epochs of international law; de Gruyter; 2000; ISBN 3-11-015339-4
- Grewe, Wilhelm: Epochen der Völkerrechtsgeschichte (2nd ed.); Nomos, 1988, ISBN 3-7890-1608-X
- Grewe, Wilhelm: Rückblenden; Propyläen, 1979; ISBN 3-549-07387-9 (partial memoirs)