In addition, the FRG wanted to pre-empt the GDR, which had already opened its first trade mission in 1954, to contain its influence on Burma and prevent its recognition.

Although Germany was the second largest donor nation behind Japan and the most important Western European development partner for Burma, providing DM 1.15 billion between 1956 and 1988, the partnership was less significant from a German perspective.

[1] The management of Fritz-Werner GmbH had excellent relations with the military and the government, especially with General Ne Win, and systematically built on these over the years.

[1] The relationship went so far that the head of Fritz-Werner GmbH had a more privileged position than the German Embassy in Rangoon and acted as a mediator in most bilateral projects and agreements.

However, its business in Burma has been criticized for playing a major role in the military's rise to power and the bloody suppression of pro-democracy protests in August 1988.

After the mass demonstrations in Burma in August 1988 and the coup on September 18 of the same year, the strategy of German foreign policy toward the country changed abruptly.

These radical measures can be described as a "negative pedant to the non-reaction before 1988, as the Federal Republic had turned a blind eye to the dictatorial features of Ne Win's government.

The FRG promoted the establishment of the CFSP, but left decision-making to Northern European countries, such as the Netherlands, UK, Denmark, and Ireland, which advocated tightening sanctions against Myanmar.

In 1998, the EU imposed economic sanctions for the first time in history by revoking Myanmar's Generalized System of Preferences rights.

When Khin Nyunt and a considerable part of the state apparatus were removed from office in 2004, the EU lost its interlocutors within the military regime.

In response to the first free elections since 1988, EU sanctions were initially suspended for a year and then lifted altogether in 2012, with the exception of the arms embargo.

[1][8] Although the Federal Republic aligned itself with the EU's strategy toward Myanmar on the basis of the CFSP throughout the period from 1993 to 2011, it did attempt to intervene in some ways.

During the period, Germany supported United Nations aid projects to combat drugs abuse, and measures relating to infrastructure.

Among other things, Gauck met with President Thein Sein and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

During his visit in February 2012, the then Federal Minister Dirk Niebel advocated promoting sustainable economic development.

German involvement in this area, represented by GIZ, focuses primarily on promoting vocational training, as Germany's dual education system is a perfect template.

With officially registered 1402 Burmese (2013), Germany is the second largest European country after the United Kingdom for migrants from Myanmar.