The West German government in Bonn rejected this , claiming that the Federal Republic of Germany was the legitimate heir of the German Reich .
This was seen as giving the German Democratic Republic ( East Germany ) a degree of legitimacy as a separate state .
The East Germany   government in Bonn rejected this , claiming that the Federal Republic of Germany was the legitimate heir of the German Reich .
This was seen as giving the German Democratic Republic ( East Germany ) a degree of legitimacy as a separate state .