Germany after the war was an occupied country, split up into various zones by their opponents in the war. There is no fundamental difference in the way the US or the SU setup their bases there. Sovereignty implies they had a say in whether or not the US army is stationed there, which I think is a ridiculous claim. Thus, as there was no sovereignty, there was no sovereignty to protect.
That in 1955 Germany had a realistic way of saying, we're a sovereign country and don't want US troops on our soil?
But that in the end has nothing to do with my original response, which was "the US sets up its bases out of its own self interest". Even if those interests align, it doesn't mean it's there to honor German wishes. If those interests had not aligned, the US would've still stayed there, this is as clear as the header of this page being orange.
After 1955, the Germans could have asked the US to leave. The Germans weren't stupid, though. They had very good reason to want the US military there. I've already covered it in this thread.
Recall I've lived through that, and my father was pretty involved in it in the military bases there. I've had German friends, and been in their homes, and interacted with them.
My comment was not about Germany, but about the US. It was "they do it out of their own interest". If you think Germany had the possibility in 1955 to claim sovereignty and ask the US troops to leave, I will respectfully disagree. The troops would stay because they were there out of their own self interest, whatever Germany wanted is immaterial.
You haven't presented any evidence whatsoever for your conclusion. I've presented first hand, second hand, and documentary evidence for my case.
P.S. My dad also spent time stationed in France. He said the French made it very clear they wanted the USAF out. He said it was quite a contrast with Germany.
I was there, and my father told me is not evidence, it's an anegdote. I live in Germany now and when people back home ask me what it's like I say I don't know because I only live in a small part of it. You have very simplistic views of complex situations which those involving tens of millions of people surely are.
I can only repeat, I wrote "The US places its military worldwide out of its own interest, not to protect anyone". Whatever Germany wanted there does not make any difference.
Also again, the best I can do is respectfully disagree about the idea Germany asking the US to leave, and the US respecting its sovereignty. That West Germany was sovereign since 1955 is only part of the story, East Germany became sovereign in 1954, but it would be difficult to argue it meant anything of value (because it didn't).
