Konrad Adenauer to a central position in Europe, presiding over the German Economic Miracle. He was a driving force behind West Germany becoming the first German state to re-establish a national military (the "Bundeswehr") in 1955. He came to terms with France, which made possible the economic unification of Western Europe. Adenauer opposed rival East Germany and made his nation a member of NATO and a firm ally of the United States. Adenauer, who was Chancellor until age 87, was dubbed "Der Alte" ("the elder"). British politician and historian Roy Jenkins says he was "the oldest statesman ever to function in elected
West Germany at the 1972 Summer Olympics Men's Team Competition: Three male pentathletes represented West Germany in 1972. Men's Individual Competition: Men's Team Competition: Alternate Member Men's Single Sculls Men's Coxed Pairs Fourteen male shooters represented West Germany in 1972. Konrad Wirnhier won gold in the skeet. Men's 100m Freestyle Men's 200m Freestyle Men's 4 × 100 m Freestyle Relay Men's 4 × 200 m Freestyle Relay West Germany at the 1972 Summer Olympics West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany) was the host nation of the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. 423 competitors, 340 men and 83 women, took part in 183 events in 23 sports. West