in the wake of the integration of west germany into the west, the country joined nato in 1955, whereupon the occupation statute ceased to operate. the paris peace treaties contained a new regulation for the presence of foreign troops in west germany, which henceforth became known as "sending states' forces", stationed in germany to help defend the country against possible invasion by the soviet-controlled warsaw pact. in 1956 the canadians largely stopped exercising in this area. that year the british withdrew from an area of 600 hectares near haverbeck, after major protests by the locals.