West Germany joins NATO as 15th member, Soviet Union responds by founding Warsaw Pact

West Germany formally joins NATO on May 9, 1955, becoming the alliance's 15th member under the Paris Agreements signed October 23, 1954. The Soviet Union responds two days later by founding the Warsaw Pact with seven Eastern Bloc nations. West Germany contributes a planned Bundeswehr of 500,000 soldiers to NATO's integrated command under Supreme Allied Commander Alfred Gruenther. The admission transforms Germany from an occupied territory into a full military partner and extends NATO's front line directly to the Soviet border in Central Europe.