Kreuznach Conference Explained

The Kreuznach Conference refers to several conferences held during 1917 in Bad Kreuznach, then headquarters of the Oberste Heeresleitung (OHL) - the German Supreme Army Command.

• The first Kreuznach Conference of April 23, 1917 brought together mainly political and military leaders of the Reich to define the war aims of the Reich, then occupying power of a significant part of Europe.^[1]
• The second conference of May 17–18, 1917 was a meeting between the German Emperor, Wilhelm II, and the Austrian Emperor, King of Hungary Charles, the first after the enthronement of the Austro-Hungarian monarch on November 22, 1916. The aim of this conference was to establish a common framework for the Central Powers' policy.^[2]
• The third conference of August 9, 1917 was held to define German policy towards the dual monarchy following publication of the Papal Note of August 1.
• The fourth conference of October 7, 1917 was convened to define a new program of war aims.
• The final conference of December 19, 1917 was held to redefine the Reich's Eastern policy.

References

1. Farrar . L. L. . Separate Peace - General Peace - Total War: The Crisis in German Policy during the Spring of 1917 . Militaergeschichtliche Zeitschrift . 1 December 1976 . 20 . 2 . 51–80 . 10.1524/mgzs.1976.20.2.51 . free .
2. Snell . John L. . Benedict XV, Wilson, Michaelis, and German Socialism . . 1951 . 37 . 2 . 151–178 . 25015254 . 14 November 2023 . 0008-8080.