December 7, 1970: the signing of the treaty by which Germany recognized Poland’s western border

The signing on December 7, 1970 of the treaty in which the Federal Republic of Germany recognized the border on the Odra and Nysa Łużycka rivers deserves recognition as a significant accomplishment of the Polish government and, in particular, as the achievement of Władysław Gomułka’s personal goal. The visit to Warsaw of Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt alone was without precedent. His signing of the document ended a period of hostility and distrust in Polish-West German relations.