Which agreement between the USSR and West Germany, signed in Moscow in 1970, ended the Hallstein doctrine and recognized the current German boundaries?

• A. The Moscow Treaty (1970)
• B. Helsinki Accords
• C. Geneva Accords
• D. Treaty of Versailles

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is how Cold War diplomacy shifted toward recognizing postwar borders through a bilateral treaty. The Moscow Treaty, signed in 1970 between West Germany and the Soviet Union, embodies that shift. It moved West Germany away from the Hallstein Doctrine, which insisted that West Germany would not maintain diplomatic relations with any country recognizing East Germany, by establishing normal, peaceful ties with the USSR. More importantly, the treaty committed both sides to respecting the existing German borders as they stood after World War II, paving the way for a more pragmatic approach to relations and supporting West Germany’s broader Ostpolitik—the effort to normalize relations with Eastern Europe. This combination of renouncing force in disputes and recognizing the postwar boundaries is why this agreement is the best answer for ending the Hallstein Doctrine and acknowledging Germany’s current boundaries. The other options refer to different agreements with unrelated purposes or timelines: the Helsinki Accords dealt with European security and human rights a few years later, the Geneva Accords concerned Indochina, and the Treaty of Versailles dates back to 1919 and established borders after World War I.