West German foreign policy towards Africa, and other “Third World” countries, was largely defined by two pillars between 1955 to 1970: the Deutschlandfrage [German question] (which was part of the Hallstein doctrine) and Entwicklungshilfe [development aid]. The Hallstein doctrine, at its core, held that recognition of East Germany by third countries would be regarded as an unfriendly act, and could lead to the cessation of diplomatic relations with the third country; the government of the Federal Republic of Germany claimed to be the only legitimate representative of the German people, and wanted the rest of the world to reflect that as well. During the years that the Hallstein Doctrine was in effect, a country’s answer to the “German question” determined whether it was eligible for development aid, demonstrating that many “Third World” countries became pawns in the games of both German states and the Cold War. Efforts like a political union of all of Africa’s independent states were an attempt by the newly decolonized world to push back against solely being used as political tools, and to develop political power and independence on their own.