FRANKFURT, Jan. 20 — Gen Dwight D. Eisenhower arrived in Germany today to reverse his wartime role by offering the West German people an equal participation with the North Atlantic pact nations in the defense of the free world.

Smiling and confident, the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, stepped down from his special plane at Rhine-Main Air Base after a flight this morning from Luxembourg to be greeted by U.S. and Allied military and civil officials.

Last Tour Stop

He wag accompanied by his chief of staff. Lt Gen Alfred M. Gruenther.

Eisenhower is making U.S. headquarters in Germany his last stop on a two-week survey tour of Atlantic pact nations. After conferences with EUCOM and HICOG officials, and after meeting top West German representatives, he is scheduled to depart for the U.S. Tuesday, via Iceland and Canada.

Landing in a drizzle, he was met at the air base by Gen Thomas T. Handy, EUCOM commander-in-chief, whose guest he will be while in Germany; U.S. High Commissioner John J. McCloy, and high U.S., British, and French military officials.

He moved quickly to a press conference with correspondents in the Rhine-Main Officers Club, then accompanied Handy to Heidelberg for a series of conferences with the EUCOM and USAREUR staffs on integration of U.S. troops in Germany into an international army which he will command for the defense of Europe.

To correspondents, Eisenhower made no secret of his hope that the West Germans will "line up with the free world and build up the strength necessary to protect themselves."

The general candidly admitted that the last time he encountered Germans he "bore antagonism and fought hard."

"Today," Eisenhower said, "bygones are bygones. I hear no resentment against the Germans as a nation or against the German people. It is governments and national prejudices and prides which brought us into conflict, and I say that was a pity.

Urges Resolution

"I would like to see the German people say: `We want to live as friends with all, and we will build up that strength necessary to protect ourselves’."

In vigorously supporting equal status for German soldiers in the West Europe defense organization, Eisenhower declared:

"I shall hope that one day the German people are lined up in defense of the free world they have freely chosen to adhere to. In defense they must be exactly on the same status as the defenders contributed by other nations.

"Soldiers must believe in their heart that they are serving their country and their civilization. They must believe in the cause."

The five-star general said he was seizing a priceless opportunity to state on German soil that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization "has only a peaceful purpose."

"Our object," he stressed, "is to deter the use of force against us. Western Europe is the cradle of our civilization and of Christian culture based on the dignity of the individual. It has produced a peaceful system of living together."

"All of the Western peoples, and I believe the Germans, really believe in their hearts in some such system," he concluded.

Regarding results of his lightning tour of the capitals of the North Atlantic pact nations, Eisenhower disclosed he has become convinced that West Europeans "have a clear conviction that unity (for defense) is necessary. The governments and the peoples understand that."

"They realize," the general continued, "that something must be done to protect freedom. In unity, the Western nations can develop their moral strength and their military strength so that their people may confidently lead free and tranquil lives."

No NATO Status

While Western Germany has no NATO status, there are commanders, officials, and troops that he wants to see here, Eisenhower said.

Asked whether additional U.S. combat divisions would be stationed in Germany by July, Eisenhower said he could not pinpoint a date, and added he personally believes some added U.S. troop strength will be stationed here.

In a reference to increasing U.S. military preparedness moves, he noted "the U.S. can provide more (troop) strength than at present. Every nation must contribute strength according to its capacities."

As his plane touched down at Rhine-Main from Luxembourg at 10:15 am, Eisenhower was met by high military and civil officials and by a battery of press photographers and newsreel men.

Welcoming Group

In the welcoming group, besides Handy and McCloy, were Lt Gen Manton S. Eddy, CG, USAREUR, and CG, 7th Army; Lt, Gen John K. Cannon, CG, USAFE;. Maj Gen Daniel Noce, EUCOM chief of staff; Rear Adm John Wilkes, commander, U.S. Naval Forces in Germany; Lt { Gen Sir Charles S. Keightley, British military commandant in Germany; Lt Gen Augustin Guillaume, French military commandant; — British Air Marshal Sir Thomas M. Williams; Benjamin J. Buttenwieser, assistant U.S. High Commissioner; and other military and civil representatives.

Eisenhower is scheduled to meet West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and a score of top West German governmental representatives and Allied officials Monday night at a reception given by McCloy at his Bad Homburg official residence.