Kreuznach Conference (August 9, 1917)
German conference where military imposed expansionist war aims on civilians.
On August 9, 1917, German officials gathered for the Kreuznach Conference to shape the Reich Government’s reply to proposals made eight days earlier by Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister Ottokar Czernin, who had suggested seeking an honorable exit from the war. The meeting was also the first major encounter between the newly appointed Imperial Chancellor, Georg Michaelis, and the High Command’s leading figures, Erich Ludendorff and Paul von Hindenburg. During the session, the military sought to force the civilian government to accept the war aims established at an earlier conference on April 23, 1917.
The conference took place against a backdrop of political upheaval. After Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg was dismissed on July 13, Georg Michaelis replaced him. Michaelis quickly gained a reputation as a figurehead for Hindenburg and Ludendorff, who had opposed Bethmann-Hollweg’s domestic reforms and war objectives. Bethmann-Hollweg had been ousted by Kaiser Wilhelm II following a subdued power struggle involving the Supreme Army Command, Crown Prince Wilhelm, and political parties. Despite his removal, Bethmann-Hollweg managed to appoint his successor, Michaelis, who had been serving as Supply Commissioner in the Prussian cabinet. Proposed by Bavarian Council President Georg von Hertling, Michaelis was admired by Hindenburg and Ludendorff for his frankness. The chancellor’s removal stemmed from disputes over domestic reform in both the Reich and Prussia, as well as war aims. Bethmann-Hollweg had considered the war objectives set on April 23 unrealistic, despite his earlier approval.
Relations between Germany and Austria-Hungary had also shifted. Emperor Charles I, upon ascending the throne, moved away from his predecessor’s blind adherence to German policy. He made numerous, often unsuccessful, contacts to resolve differences between the two empires and informed German leaders that the dual monarchy could not remain in the war. His attempts at parallel diplomacy reflected Austro-Hungarian efforts to reduce German control. In response, Germany vehemently opposed any peace initiatives from its ally and intensified its Eastern policy in the Baltic states, Poland, and Ukraine. German representatives promoted separatist movements in these regions under the guise of local support, aligning with objectives set in Bingen days earlier. Negotiations aimed to
- Date
- August 9, 1917
- Location
- Kreuznach, Germany
- Chairman
- Georg Michaelis
- Key Participants
- Georg Michaelis, Richard von Kühlmann, Paul von Hindenburg, Erich Ludendorff
- Purpose
- Draft response to Austro-Hungarian peace proposals; align civilian and military war aims
- Outcome
- Reaffirmation of expansionist war aims in East and West; military dominance over civilian government
Lore & Background
The conference was initiated by the new Reich Chancellor, Georg Michaelis, and chaired by him. It brought together Richard von Kühlmann, the new State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and the Dioscuri, Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff, representatives of the High Command. Upon opening the conference, the Chancellor agreed to the 'Kreuznach Agreement' terms of April 23, 1917, which were imposed by the Dioscuri. The inexperienced chancellor initially wavered but ultimately aligned with the military's stance.
Reader's Guide
The Kreuznach Conference of August 9, 1917, is significant as a key moment when the German military leadership, particularly Erich Ludendorff and Paul von Hindenburg, solidified their control over war policy, overriding civilian moderates like State Secretary Richard von Kühlmann. The conference reaffirmed aggressive annexationist goals in both Eastern and Western Europe, including plans to detach Ukraine and the Baltic states from Russia, partition Belgium, and integrate Alsace-Lorraine more tightly into Prussia. It also highlighted the growing power imbalance between Germany and Austria-Hungary, as Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister Czernin was forced to concede to German positions. The conference's legacy lies in demonstrating how the military's uncompromising war aims undermined any realistic chance of a negotiated peace, contributing to Germany's eventual defeat.
Did You Know?
- The conference was the primary meeting between new Chancellor Georg Michaelis and military leaders Hindenburg and Ludendorff.
- The military imposed war aims from the April 23, 1917 conference on the civilian government.
- Participants proposed detaching Ukraine and the Baltic states from Russia as part of an expansionist Eastern policy.
- The conference discussed partitioning Belgium and integrating Alsace-Lorraine into Prussia through economic measures.
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