| 1918-01-21-DK-001
From Legation Constantinople (Carl Ellis Wandel) to Foreign Ministry Copenhagen (Erik Scavenius) [da de en]
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Report on the negations in Berlin between top CUP representatives and Germany concerning possible German economic aid to the Empire. Also, Wandel has heard rumors that Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk) has recently formed a "political military-nationalist" party in opposition to Germany and Enver Pasha, but with the support of many high-ranking officers and most CUP and Chamber of Deputy members, and possibly with the tacit knowledge or support of Talaat Pasha.
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| 1918-02-08-DE-001
From German Foreign Office (Bussche-Haddenhausen) to German Embassy Constantinople [de]
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A report released by the Turkish news agency on atrocities carried out by Armenians has caused great concern among German friends of Armenians, who fear acts of revenge and doubt the accuracy of the report. According to the Undersecretary of State in the Foreign Office to his Ambassador in Constantinople, the German Ambassador should vigorously demand strict military discipline during the advances of the Caucasian army.
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| 1918-02-10-DE-001
From German Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) to German Foreign Office [de]
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In accordance with the instructions, he already repeatedly insisted upon and especially requested von Seeckt to ensure "that Enver Pasha does not, in an unguarded moment, order repressive measures”. However, the most important man is Talaat, who is at present in Brest.
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| 1918-02-11-DE-001
From German Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) to German Foreign Office [de]
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Halil Bey assured that strict orders had been given to prevent repressive action against "Armenian gangs".
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| 1918-02-11-DE-002
From Orient- and Islam-Commission of the German Protestant Mission-Board (Karl Axenfeld) to German Reichskanzler (Hertling) [de]
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On behalf of German Christians, Axenfeld warned that renewed massacres would take place against the Armenians after the retreat of Russian troops, because surviving Armenians would flee with the Russians or individual Armenians would possibly take revenge. The indignation of new atrocities would be laid at Germany’s door and it could lead to a split throughout Christianity if German Christians remained silent.
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| 1918-02-22-DE-002
From German Reichstag (Maximilian Pfeiffer) to German Foreign Office [en de]
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Accompanying letter. Bussche-Haddenhausen then sends a report by E. Neuner to the ambassador in Constantinople on Turkey in general and the deportation of the Armenians. The Undersecretary of State asks Bernstorff to give a statement, in which the latter defends the Turks. According to the Ambassador, "They must see in the Armenians a people whose existence was suited to endanger the continuance of the Ottoman Empire." The Turks had believed the time had come to "free themselves from what they considered to be unbearable economic pressure."
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| 1918-03-02-DE-001
From German Foreign Office (Bussche-Haddenhausen) to Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) [de en tr]
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In future peace negotiations, the Armenian question and a far-reaching autonomy will be brought up, according to the Undersecretary of State in the Foreign Office to his Ambassador in Constantinople. It would be favourable for Turkey's position to provide the inhabitants of this region with a mild and just treatment even before the start of these negotiations. Moreover, the Greeks should be allowed to return to their coastal districts on the Black Sea.
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| 1918-03-03-DE-001
From German Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) to German Foreign Office [de]
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According to the Ambassador, he had been delivering the protests for months. Although receiving no rejections, he usually received promises which were mostly unfulfilled. Talaat arrived back from Europe with more experience and is possibly more likely to be open to protests.
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| 1918-03-08-DE-001
From German Consulate Sivas (Hesse) to German Embassy Constantinople [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-03-08-DE-002
From German Consulate Aleppo (Roessler) to German Embassy Constantinople [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-03-13-DE-001
From German Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) to German Foreign Office [de]
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The apostolic delegation informed him that the Pope instructed them to represent the interests of the Armenians. There are great fears among the Armenians that new repressive actions could take place. Only Talaat could prevent this.
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| 1918-03-16-DE-001
From German Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) to German Foreign Office [de en]
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The German Ambassador writes that all Armenians have been torn by fears of death due to the newspaper article, although the Turkish government seemed really determined this time to prevent any excesses. But leading circles were in a fever of confidence that they would be victorious and in a state of nationalism and pan-Islamism. They really seemed to believe that all Moslems in Asia had just been waiting to ”stretch out the hand of brotherhood to Turkey”.
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| 1918-03-17-DE-001
From German Foreign Office (Bussche-Haddenhausen) to German Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) [de]
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The articles in "Tanin" and "Terdjüman" were suitable to unsettle German public opinion as well, the Undersecretary of State in the Foreign Office writes, and urgently recommends that the Turkish Government should impose restraints upon its press.
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| 1918-03-19-DE-001
From German Foreign Office [de en tr]
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That the deportations should result in the annihilation of a large part of the Armenian race was certainly neither "initially wanted nor predicted" by the rulers of Turkey. The Foreign Office tried everything "to alleviate the situation of the Armenians”. The responsibility of a break with Turkey could not have been accepted by any German government. After the invasion of Turkish troops into the area which was evacuated by the Russians, the German government insisted on an amnesty for those Armenians who subjugated themselves. However, representatives of Armenian organisations urged their fellow countrymen in the Anatolian provinces to "exercise utmost resistance against Turkey". The Armenian population is, therefore, "seriously endangered". The German government would welcome it if the German friends of Armenians were to persuade them "to negotiate on their subjugation with the Turks".
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| 1918-03-20-DE-001
From German Delegation in Bucharest (Kuehlmann) to German Foreign Office [de]
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As soon as he returns to Constantinople Talaat promised he would "proclaim the promised Amnesty Declaration".
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| 1918-03-22-DE-001
From German Foreign Office (Bussche-Haddenhausen ) to German Delegation of the Foreign Office in Bucarest (Kuehlmann (in Bukarest)) [de]
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Radio signal Lyon sent a message from Trapezunt that thousands of Russian latecomers were shot and burnt. The Armenians were subjected to indescribable torments. Even though it was hoped that the news was untrue, it was indeed suspicious that there is no longer any talk of Paul Weitz's journey to Trapezunt.
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| 1918-03-24-DE-001
From German Foreign Office (Bussche-Haddenhausen) to German Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) [de]
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The fierce campaign by the press against the Armenians could probably be ascribed to Enver. The Undersecretary of State in the Foreign Office requests that Enver be influenced through Seeckt to act more moderately.
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| 1918-04-03-DE-001
From German Foreign Office (Bussche-Haddenhausen) to German Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) [de]
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The German-Armenian Society wished to send the Armenian student Naximianz to Tiflis and there to influence the leaders of the Dashnakzutiun that they persuade the fighting Armenians to lay down their weapons. The Undersecretary of State in the Foreign Office instructed the German Ambassador to insist once again on strict military discipline of the Turkish troops during the occupation of areas with a high level of Armenian settlement.
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| 1918-04-14-DE-001
From German Foreign Office (Bussche-Haddenhausen) to German Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) [de]
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According to a radio message from Moscow, the advancing Turkish troops would not only annihilate the Turkish, but also the Russian Armenians. The responsibility lay firmly with Germany which instigated the withdrawal of Russian troops from Armenian districts. The Undersecretary of State in the Foreign Office requested that the Ambassador point out to the Sublime Porte the "questionability of Turkish actions".
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| 1918-04-15-DE-001
From German Foreign Office (Bussche-Haddenhausen) to Embassy Constantinople [de]
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The Undersecretary of State in the Foreign Office pointed out to the Ambassador in Constantinople that Germany had pushed through the conditions of the Treaty of Brest with regard to Kars, Ardahan and Batum for the Turks and that, therefore, they would be put in "a very embarrassing situation" if it were proven that the advancing Turkish troops had committed atrocities.
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| 1918-04-17-DK-001
From Foreign Ministry Copenhagen (Erik Scavenius) to Danish Legation Stockholm and Danish Embassy Kristiania (Oslo) [da de en]
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Danish King Christian 10 has received a telegram from the president of the national Armenian delegation at Paris, Boghos Nubar Pasha, regarding a possible intervention on behalf of the Armenians left in those Ottoman provinces recently abandoned by the Russian army. Danish Foreign Minister Erik Scavenius wants to know whether similar appeals have been to the Swedish and Norwegian kings.
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| 1918-04-23-DE-001
From German Embassy Constantinople [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-04-24-DE-001
From German Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) to German Foreign Office [de]
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According to Enver, the situation in the Caucasus is favourable for Turkey. They only needed to advance further and Tsengili would come to Batum to sign for peace. Talaat renewed his agreement to obtain an amnesty for "peaceful" Armenians and left it up to the German Ambassador to use this information, also with regard to the press
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| 1918-04-26-DE-001
From German Foreign Office (Bussche-Haddenhausen) to German Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) [de]
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The Foreign Office requests information on whether permission to return is also valid for those Armenians who fled to Russia.
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| 1918-04-27-DK-001
From Foreign Ministry Copenhagen (Erik Scavenius) to The Royal Danish Court, Copenhagen (A. Krieger) [da de en]
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Leader of the Armenian national delegation at Paris, Boghos Nubar Pasha, has contacted the Scandinavian countries to appeal on behalf of the persecuted Armenian survivors in the parts of Anatolia previously occupied by Russia (see 1918-04-17-DK-001). The coordinated response by the Scandinavian authorities is basically that they will "do nothing about the matter," as it is put.
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| 1918-04-28-DE-001
From German Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) to German Foreign Office [de]
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According to Talaat, the amnesty would only apply to the local Armenians. They would have the choice between their previous property or a sum of money. Enver demanded that the Armenians in the three new Turkish districts remain, and guaranteed their security.
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| 1918-04-28-DE-002
From Military clergyman David to German Embassy Constantinople [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-04-29-DK-001
From Legation Constantinople (Carl Ellis Wandel) to Foreign Ministry Copenhagen [da de en]
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Due to the continued persecutions of Ottoman Christians, the diplomatic representatives of Spain and the Vatican have been ordered by their superiors to speak to the Porte on behalf of these groups. Wandel comments that since, among other things, Germany has allowed the Ottoman government ”free hands” in the treatment of these populations, the remaining Ottoman Christians, and particularly the Armenians, are heading toward ”a sad future” unless the Western Powers are able to forcefully intervene.
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| 1918-04-30-DE-001
From German Foreign Office (Bussche-Haddenhausen) to Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) [de]
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Bussche-Haddenhausen sent the "Guidelines on Negotiations with the Trans-Caucasians" to the German representative.
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| 1918-04-30-DE-002
From "Berliner Tageblatt" [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-05-03-DE-001
From German Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) to German Foreign Office [de]
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Following the withdrawal of Russian troops from Erzingjan, the correspondent of the "Frankfurter Zeitung" in Constantinople, Paul Weitz, reported on his journey. Murat Pasha had formed an "Armenian government of terror" and murdered 600 Moslems. The city was now just a scene of devastation.
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| 1918-05-03-DE-002
From German Consulate Aleppo (Roessler) to German Reichskanzler (Hertling) [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-05-06-DE-001
From German Foreign Office (Bussche-Haddenhausen) to German Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) [de]
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The Armenians requested the return of members of their tribe who had fled from the Caucasus due to the shortage of land and the means of gaining a living.
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| 1918-05-09-DE-001
From German Embassy Constantinople (Mordtmann) [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-05-12-DE-001
From German Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) to German Foreign Office [de]
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About 10000 Moslems fled from the Armenians to Bayazid.
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| 1918-05-14-DE-001
From Radio Station Carnarvon [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-05-15-DE-001
From German Consulate Aleppo (Roessler) to German Reichskanzler (Hertling) [de]
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The German Consul reports that, since the middle of March, Armenians from the district of Vilayet Mamuret ul Aziz have again been deported. A state of starvation is prevalent in many areas.
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| 1918-05-15-DE-002
From German Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) to German Foreign Office [de]
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The German Consul reported that the military attaché, Otto von Lossow, cabled him that "extreme Turkish demands also for solely Armenian areas" amount to claims for land which extends well beyond the Treaty of Brest. Enver claimed to be in agreement with the Commander of the German forces, which could only be a result of a misunderstanding. Lossow has raised the sharpest protest.
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| 1918-05-15-DE-004
From German Embassy Constantinople (Voigt) [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-05-16-DE-001
From German Consulate Aleppo (Roessler) to German Embassy Constantinople [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-05-18-DE-003
From German Consulate Aleppo (Roessler) to German Embassy Constantinople [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-05-21-DE-001
From Armenian National Council (Nasariantz) to German Foreign Office [de]
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Representatives of the Armenian National Council appealed to the German Imperial government to prevent the disaster threatening the Caucasian part of the Armenian people. Goeppert noted that he informed the representative of the National Council in Germany, Liparit Nasariantz, that it could lead to clashes with the Armenians because the Turks crossed the borders at Ardahan, Kars and Batum ”due to military considerations which have been recognised by our military staff".
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| 1918-05-21-DE-002
From German Consulate Aleppo (Roessler) to German Embassy Constantinople [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-05-21-DE-003
From German Consulate Aleppo (Roessler) to German Embassy Constantinople [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-05-23-DE-001
From German Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) to German Foreign Office [de en]
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Lossow reported that in Constantinople the direction of extreme open hostility against Armenians has obviously gained acceptance and Turkish troops were advancing further in order to annex the Governments of Elisabethpol and Baku with the assistance of the Tartars. Armenian troops evaded to the East and the Armenian population fled there, too, which could only lead to their massacre by the Tartars. ”There is no place left for the Armenian people to live.” Immediate and constant pressure on Turkey was necessary ”if the annihilation of the Armenians was to be prevented".
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| 1918-05-25-DE-001
From German Consulate Aleppo (Roessler) to German Embassy Constantinople [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-05-26-DE-001
From German Foreign Office (Kuehlmann) to German Embassy Vienna (Botho von Wedel) [de]
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Turkey surpassed all bounds in its negotiations with the Trans-Caucasian Republic and flouted the Peace Treaty of Brest. The Armenians in particular were exposed to the rage of the irregulars. Germany could not condone a further advance. The Supreme Army Command had taken steps accordingly with the Command of the Turkish Army. The Austrian government had been requested to intervene in the same manner in Constantinople.
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| 1918-05-27-DE-002
From German Consulate Aleppo (Roessler) to German Embassy Constantinople [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-05-28-DE-001
From Hratschir Der Nersessian to German Embassy Constantinople [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-06-01-DE-002
From German Foreign Office (Kuehlmann) to German Embassy Constantinople [de]
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The commitments made to Turkey were no longer valid due to the breaking up of the Trans-Caucasian Federation, for which the Turks were responsible. The Secretary of State sent a reminder of the amnesty promised to the Armenians.
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| 1918-06-05-DE-001
From German Consulate Adana (Buege) to German Embassy Constantinople [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-06-05-DE-002
From German Consulate Aleppo (Schoenberg) to German Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-06-07-DE-001
From German Embassy Constantinople to Willy Seeger [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-06-08-DE-001
From German Supreme Headquarters (Berckheim) to German Foreign Office [de]
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Ludendorff had Enver informed that Turkey had disregarded the provisions of the Treaty of Brest with no consideration for Germany and threatened not to support Turkish policy in future.
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| 1918-06-09-DE-001
From German Supreme Headquarters (Berckheim) to German Foreign Office [de]
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Hindenburg sent a telegram to Enver asking him to order all Turkish troops to retreat from the Caucasian region, because the allies could not afford to make enemies among the Caucasian states.
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| 1918-06-14-DE-001
From Lieutenant Walker) [de]
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The German Lieutenant Walker reported on the persecution and annihilation of Armenians in the German colony of Katharinenfeld.
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| 1918-06-16-DE-001
From Armenian Delegation in Berlin (Ohandjanian/Suraboff) to German Foreign Office [de]
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Accompanying letter
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| 1918-06-17-DE-001
From Apostolic Delegation (Dolci) to German Embassy Constantinople [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-06-18-DE-001
From German Embassy Constantinople [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-06-19-DE-001
From German Consulate Tiflis (Schulenburg) to German Foreign Office [de]
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The German Consul in Tiflis reported on the events in the Caucasus as well as on the contents of treaties between the Turks with Armenia and Georgia. North of Kalageran, shooting took place between Turks and Germans.
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| 1918-06-20-DE-001
From Paul Weitz [en de]
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Detailed report of a journey throughout the north-eastern Anatolian, formerly Armenian provinces.
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| 1918-06-22-DE-001
From Willy Seeger to German Embassy Constantinople [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-06-23-DE-001
From German Foreign Office (Rosenberg) to German Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-06-25-DE-001
From German Consulate Aleppo (Schoenberg) to German Embassy Constantinople [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-06-26-DE-001
From Willy Seeger to German Embassy Constantinople [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-06-29-DE-001
From "Basler Anzeiger" [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-07-02-DE-001
From Armenian Delegation in Berlin (Ohandjanian) to German Foreign Office [de]
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The authorised representative of the Armenian government drew attention to the large number of refugees, (more than 600,000) who sought refuge in the mountains from Turkish troops, and who could only survive there a short while.
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| 1918-07-06-DE-001
From German-Armenian Society (Johannes Lepsius) Jarotzki) [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-07-10-DE-001
From German Delegation in the Caucasus (Kress von Kressenstein) to German Foreign Office [de]
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At least half a million Armenians had to die of hunger, reports the head of the German delegation in the Caucasus, if the Armenians were not immediately allowed to return to the Sarabad-Igdir area. The Turks intended to let the entire Armenian population starve to death. Under trivial pretexts, Essad turned down the request for the return of the Armenian National Council and the refugees.
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| 1918-07-11-DE-001
From German Delegation in the Caucasus (Kress von Kressenstein) to German Reichskanzler (Hertling) [de en]
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The head of the German delegation in the Caucasus reported that, according to his information, more than half a million Armenians had left their villages and, in part, had to sustain themselves on grass. About 140000 Armenians between the ages of 17 and 60 were forced into labour duties. Germany’s credibility in the Caucasus as well as the implementation of its economic and political programme in the Caucasus was bound to suffer greatly if Germany did not succeed in protecting the Armenians from the Turks.
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| 1918-07-11-DE-002
From German Embassy Constantinople to Willy Seeger [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-07-12-DE-001
From Prussian Legation in Munich (Treutler) to German Reichskanzler (Hertling) [de]
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Treutler reports that the Nuntius requested the mediation of support for the Armenians in the Caucasus and the Syro-Chaldean population in Persia. Undersecretary of State Bussche-Haddenhausen supported this mediation.
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| 1918-07-15-DE-001
From German Embassy Constantinople (Otto von Lossow ) to German Foreign Office [de]
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He was commissioned by Ludendorff to clarify the political implementation of the guidelines for the Caucasus with the Foreign Office.
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| 1918-07-15-DE-002
From Armenian Delegation in Berlin (Ohandjanian/Suraboff) to German Foreign Office [de]
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The Armenian delegation in Berlin is pressurising the German government that the Turks should withdraw to the borders designated in the Treaty of Brest.
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| 1918-07-16-DE-001
From German Delegation in the Caucasus (Kress von Kressenstein) to German Foreign Office [de]
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The Austrian representative in the Caucasus visited about 40000 Armenians camping in the forests of Bakuriani, and whose supplies were coming to an end. About 30000 Armenian refugees who found makeshift accommodation in Tiflis were on the verge of starvation due to the shortage of bread, should they not be allowed to return home. The situation of the 500000 Armenians near Jerevan was simply desperate.
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| 1918-07-18-DE-001
From German Foreign Office (Bussche-Haddenhausen) to Prussian Legation in Munich [de]
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The Undersecretary of State in the Foreign Office requested that the Nuntius be informed that Germany was prepared, in principle, to take on payments of support for the Armenian population in the Caucasus and the Syro-Chaldeans in Persia.
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| 1918-07-18-DE-002
From German Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) to German Foreign Office [de]
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The President of the Armenian National Committee requested the occupation of Armenia by German or Austrian troops.
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| 1918-07-18-DE-003
From German Consulate Aleppo (Roessler) to German Embassy Constantinople [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-07-19-DE-001
From German Delegation in the Caucasus (Kress von Kressenstein) to German Foreign Office [de]
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If a great number of Armenian refugees were unable to return to their homes, then hundreds of thousands would die of starvation.
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| 1918-07-20-DE-001
From German Delegation in the Caucasus (Kress von Kressenstein) to German Foreign Office [de en]
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If Germany were not able to assert itself against the Turks to rescue half a million Christians, then history would attribute the "blame of the annihilation of the Armenians to Germany and the view that we were jointly responsible for the Armenian atrocities of 1915 would find new sustenance".
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| 1918-07-24-DK-001
From Legation Constantinople (Carl Ellis Wandel) to Foreign Ministry Copenhagen (Erik Scavenius) [da de en]
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The new Sultan, Mehmed VI, wants to implement reforms, pardon deserters, and revoke the state of emergency. Wandel gives information about some of the most radical, nationalist, and chauvinist Young Turks, especially Dr. Nazim Bey and his role in the early CUP efforts at 'demographic engineering' in the Ottoman Empire through the removal of non-Muslims.
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| 1918-07-25-DE-001
From German Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) to German Foreign Office [de]
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The Armenian delegation would inundate the Germans to send troops to Armenia. Only then would it be possible to suppress the anarchy. Talaat made the usual promises, but the local Turkish military and civil authorities were well known for not carrying out instructions from Constantinople.
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| 1918-07-25-DE-002
From Y.M. Iplicjian to German Consulate Smyrna [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-07-27-DE-001
From German Foreign Office (Rosenberg) [de en]
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The expert at the Foreign Office for the Middle East determined the German concept for the policy to be implemented with regard to the Caucasian states. The Chancellor agreed with the draft, with the exception of Persia as that country's representatives had not come to the talks.
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| 1918-07-30-DE-001
From German Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) to German Foreign Office [de en]
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The Turks remained stubborn regarding the question of regulating the borders, which had already been conceded to Enver. According to their arguments, it was not acceptable to withdraw from the Caucasian states supported by Germany. Reprisals would only drive the Turks into the arms of the enemy. Moreover, according to information from experts, Germany would not gain at all the economic advantages hoped for from the Caucasus. If an agreement with the Turks was not desired, then Germany had to station troops in the Caucasus and implement power politics.
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| 1918-07-30-DE-002
From German Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) to German Reichskanzler (Hertling) [de en]
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Accompanying letter
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| 1918-07-31-DE-001
From German Supreme Army Command (Hindenburg) to Ottoman General Staff (Seeckt) [de]
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Further actions against Baku depend on the negotiations. The combats against the Armenians should not surpass those measures which are necessary from a military point of view.
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| 1918-07-31-DK-001
From Foreign Ministry Copenhagen (Kr.) to Ministry of Justice Copenhagen (C. Lundbye) [da de en]
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A number of leading Scandinavian women have written a petition to the German Emperor, Wilhelm II, pleading with him to support the persecuted Armenian survivors in Eastern Anatolia and the Caucasus. The German embassy at Copenhagen asks the Danish Foreign Ministry to thank the women on behalf of the Kaiser, while the Foreign Ministry requests that the Danish Ministry of Justice collects information about the petition and its content.
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| 1918-08-02-DE-001
From Armenian Delegation in Berlin (Ohandjanian) to German Foreign Office [de]
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The delegation of the Armenian Republic in Berlin presented letters from various esteemed figures regarding the situation in Armenia and requested immediate relief.
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| 1918-08-03-DE-001
From German Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) to German Foreign Office [de]
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Enver agreed that Armenian refugees in the area about 20 kilometres east of the Alexandropol-Dshulfa railway line could return home. Otherwise, he could see no possibility of distinguishing between civilians and those Armenians carrying out a war and who were now in the pay of the British. The Turkish army could not carry on a successful war with half a million partly armed and hostile Armenians in their rear.
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| 1918-08-04-DE-001
From Delegation of Austria-Hungaria in the Caucase (Franckenstein) to Austra-Hungarian Foreign Office (Burian) [de]
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The representative of Austria-Hungary described the opening of the "Armenian Committee” in Jerevan. All nationalities living in Armenia were represented in parliament.
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| 1918-08-05-DE-001
From German Delegation in the Caucasus (Kress von Kressenstein) to German Reichskanzler (Hertling) [de]
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The head of the German delegation in the Caucasus presented a report concerning his negotiations with the Armenian leaders and the Catholicos and described in detail the situation in Armenia. If the Central Powers wished to save Armenia they had to give it enough land to ensure its basic nutritional needs. Armenia had to be given the borders set down in the Treaty of Brest-Litowsk without any border amendments.
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| 1918-08-06-DE-001
From German Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) to German Foreign Office [de en]
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Turkey would take Russia into consideration, but never return to the borders of the Brest Peace Treaty. According to Enver, Georgia and Armenia completely accepted the Batumer Peace Treaty, whereas Turkey viewed the recognition of the borders in the Brest Treaty as a submission to Armenia and Georgia.
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| 1918-08-06-DE-002
From German Supreme Headquarters (Berckheim) to Foreign Office [de]
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During the effective selection of troops, Ludendorff had no objections to sending out Austrian-Hungarian border guards.
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| 1918-08-07-DK-001
From Legation Constantinople (Carl Ellis Wandel) to Foreign Ministry Copenhagen (Erik Scavenius) [da de en]
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Wandel describes how the new Sultan, Mehmet VI (6), urged by senate opposition leader Ahmed Riza, now wants to allow deported Armenians and Arabs to return to their homes. According to Wandel's sources this decision goes against the wishes of the CUP. These sources also contend that the main reason for the Grand Vizier, Talaat Pasha, to support this decision would not be humanitarian concerns, but rather his concerns that Ottoman Armenians who would not return to their homes would instead serve to strengthen the newly established Armenian Republic.
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| 1918-08-13-DK-001
From Legation Constantinople (Carl Ellis Wandel) to Foreign Ministry Copenhagen (Erik Scavenius) [da de en]
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Wandel relates information about Sultan Mehmet VI (6) trying to assert his independence vis-à-vis the CUP, and about the assumed strength of, and opposition to, the CUP. He also reports that one reason for Talaat Pasha to initiate the Armenian genocide was that Armenians in general knew about the CUP organization from the time of Armenian-Turkish cooperation around the 1908 revolution.
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| 1918-08-14-DE-001
From German Foreign Office (Stumm) to German Delegation in the Caucasus (Kress von Kressenstein) [de]
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The Undersecretary of State in the Foreign Office asked the Head of the Delegation in the Caucasus if a migration of the refugees to the North was not possible and whether it could not be put into action immediately, as the Turks would not move away from their present position.
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| 1918-08-15-DE-001
From German Delegation in the Caucasus (Kress von Kressenstein) to German Foreign Office [de en]
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It is the opinion of the Head of the German Delegation that, after the withdrawal from Jerevan, Armenia can only be saved from extinction through the early assistance of the Central Powers. The present Armenia cannot even feed the local population, let alone up to half a million refugees. Armenia is only capable of surviving within the borders of the Treaty of Brest-Litowsk. All productive areas are occupied by the Turks who, against the conditions of the treaty, have also exported large amounts of cotton.
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| 1918-08-19-DE-001
From Armenian National Council of Kars to German Foreign Office [de]
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The National Council of Kars protested against the referendum on the affiliation with the Ottoman Empire as the Christian majority population had been driven out and only the Moslem population was able to let its voice be heard, even though the Treaty of Brest includes the entire population.
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| 1918-08-20-DE-001
From German Foreign Office (Hintze) to German Delegation in the Caucasus (Kress von Kressenstein) [de en]
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Hintze asked Kress if grain could be transported to Armenia through Georgia.
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| 1918-08-22-DE-001
From German Foreign Office (Hintze) to German Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) [de]
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Kress telegraphed that the return of the Armenians, although allowed in theory, was being made difficult by the fact that everyone had to make an application, but that these were not being processed. The gathering of the refugee Armenians in the republic constituted a greater danger than their dispersal throughout the country. The Secretary of State in the Foreign Office instructed his ambassador to ask the Turkish government to consider if there might be convincing reasons for opening up the entire area right up to the borders of the Brest Treaty, to those returning.
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| 1918-08-24-DE-001
From German Foreign Office (Hintze) to German Delegation in the Caucasus (Kress von Kressenstein) [de en]
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The Secretary of State in the Foreign Office approved the actions of Kress, but informed him that the German efforts to persuade the Turks to withdraw from Armenian areas had failed. Kress should therefore avoid giving the Armenians any further hope.
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| 1918-08-25-DE-001
From German Embassy Constantinople (Bernstorff) to German Foreign Office [de en]
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The situation of the Armenians herded together in the area to the east of the line indicated by Enver Pasha is deteriorating from day to day. This "outrageous responsibility for the annihilation of this ancient Christian race" would "rest forever at the feet of Germany and Austria".
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| 1918-09-01-DE-001
From German Consulate Trebizond (Bergfeld) to German Reichskanzler (Hertling) [en de]
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According to Bergfeld’s opinion, it was compellingly necessary to deport the Armenians, because of their attitude and conviction. However, the excesses could not be condemned severely enough. Demands for reparation were to be expected during the peace negotiations, and he describes their chances of success.
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| 1918-09-03-DE-001
From German Delegation in the Caucasus (Kress von Kressenstein) to German Reichskanzler (Hertling) [de]
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The head of the German Delegation in the Caucasus reported on the impossibility of implementing certain orders demanded by the Germans, and the incompetence of the Turkish diplomats. He especially complained about "the Beast”, Vehib Pasha.
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| 1918-09-07-DE-001
From German Legation Bern (Romberg) to German Reichskanzler (Hertling) [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-09-20-DE-001
From German Foreign Office (Stumm) to Embassy Constantinople [de]
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The Undersecretary of State in the Foreign Office informed the chargé d'affaires in Constantinople that, together with Austria, he should inform the Turkish government that Talaat had convinced himself that, apart from Kars, Ardahan and Batum, the occupied areas must be returned.
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| 1918-09-23-DE-001
From German Delegation in the Caucasus (Kress von Kressenstein) to German Foreign Office [de]
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Nuri Pasha refused to permit Turkish troops to invade Nagorno-Karabagh, because this is Azerbaijani territory.
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| 1918-10-01-DE-001
From Delegation of the Armenian Republic in Berlin (Ohandjanian) to German Foreign Office [de]
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The representative of the Armenian Republic in Berlin thanks the Foreign Office for its support.
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| 1918-10-14-DE-001
From German-Armenian Society (Ewald Stier) to German Foreign Office (Solf) [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-10-15-DK-001
From Legation Constantinople (Carl Ellis Wandel) to Foreign Ministry Copenhagen (Erik Scavenius) [da de en]
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Wandel reports that Christians in Constantinople fear "disturbances" if the future of the Empire is discussed in a manner "disagreeable" to the Turks before the Powers are able to fill the vacuum left by retreating Central Power forces. In a unique request for action spurred by this possible renewal of persecutions, a request coordinated with other neutral envoys, Wandel suggests that Danish Foreign Minister Erik Scavenius run the risk being perceived as pro-German and asks the Great Powers to postpone any potentially inflammatory discussions of the 'Oriental Question.'
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| 1918-10-17-DE-001
From Chargé d’Affaires of the Armenian Republic in Georgia (Djamalian) to German Delegation in the Caucasus (Kress von Kressenstein) [de]
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Djamalian presents the German representative with a letter of protest to the Azerbaijani government.
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| 1918-10-18-DE-001
From Orient- and Islam-Commission of the German Protestant Mission-Board (Karl Axenfeld) to German Foreign Office [en de]
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Axenfeld asks the German Foreign Office to anticipate the expected attempts of both the Entente and Turkey to place the blame for the fate of the Armenians on Germany. This could be done in the form of documentary proof of German attempts to prevent and ease the misfortune of the Armenians. It was imperative that Germany’s honour be saved publicly. The Orient and Islam Commission had already planned such a publication and did not wish to hold back with this any longer.
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| 1918-10-19-DE-001
From German Legation Bern (Romberg) to German Reichskanzler (Prince Max von Baden) [de]
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On the basis of a newspaper article, Romberg, the Ambassador from Bern, reports that a secret peace treaty has been signed by Turkey and the Armenian Republic and requests instructions. Langwerth von Simmern replies that it was merely a promise on the part of the Grand Vizier to Germany for a revision of the territorial provisions of the Peace Treaty of Batum, which was not recognised by the Germans.
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| 1918-10-21-DE-001
From German Delegation in the Caucasus (Kress von Kressenstein) to German Reichskanzler (Prince Max von Baden) [de]
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Accompanying letter
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| 1918-10-22-DE-001
From German Consulate Samsun (Hesse) to German Embassy Constantinople [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-10-22-DK-001
From Legation Constantinople (Carl Ellis Wandel) to Foreign Ministry Copenhagen (Erik Scavenius) [da de en]
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A thorough, detailed report on the latest political developments in the Ottoman Empire. In light of the hopeless military situation, opposition to the radical Talaat/Enver CUP faction crystallizes and gains strength inside and outside the Committee. A partial confrontation with the genocidal, corrupt, and martial policies of the CUP is initiated - the right of return and compensation for surviving deportees, the Istanbul Military Tribunals, peace negotiations, etc. - but Talaat and his supporters are still powerful, and a complete break with past policies is considered unwise or unlikely to succeed at the moment. Wandel believes that a backlash, a return to reactionary policies may await.
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| 1918-10-27-DE-002
From And. Walther. to German Foreign Office [de]
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--- English abstracts are not yet available ---
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| 1918-10-30-DE-001
From German Delegation in the Caucasus (Kress von Kressenstein) to German Reichskanzler (Prince Max von Baden) [de]
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Accompanying letter for the records on the seizure of Baku.
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| 1918-10-30-DE-002
From German Delegation in the Caucasus (Kress von Kressenstein) to German Reichskanzler (Prince Max von Baden) [de en]
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Accompanying letter to Eisenmann's reports.
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| 1918-11-01-DE-001
From German Embassy Constantinople (Waldburg) to German Reichskanzler (Max von Baden) [en de]
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Accompanying letter to the enclosures.
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| 1918-11-05-DE-001
From Baghdad Railway Company in Constantinople (Franz Johannes Guenther) to Board of Directors of the Baghdad Railway Company in Berlin [de]
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The Director of the Baghdad Railway Company informed the Board of Directors that a deputation of surviving Armenians had passed on their thanks to the directors for doing their utmost in 1915 to save their Armenian employees from deportation. A representative of the Armenian Patriarch also expressed his gratitude for the intervention.
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| 1918-11-19-DE-001
From German Foreign Office (Dieckhoff) [de]
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At the order of the former Supreme Commander in Mesopotamia, Nureddin, the Armenians deported in the late summer from Baghdad to Mossul were to be transported further to the river Euphrates together with the Armenians from Mossul. Baron von der Goltz prevented this by threatening to apply for a discharge. Enver Pasha then adopted a conciliatory stance.
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| 1918-11-20-DE-001
From Johannes Lepsius to German Foreign Office (Solf) [en de]
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Lepsius applies for a position as a delegate for questions concerning the Orient at the upcoming peace negotiations. He had excellent contacts to the Armenians, particularly those abroad, and was probably the only German “who, even now, still has the complete trust of the Armenian people and its leaders, both the Turks and the Caucasians”. Note from the German Foreign Office: “Application must be taken into earnest consideration. Lepsius has a reputation abroad!” Solf, Head of the German Foreign Office, notes. The Secretary of State then ordered Lepsius to publish the files “on the German government’s position in the Armenian question”.
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| 1918-11-25-DE-001
From "Deutsch-Armenische Korrespondenz" (German-Armenian Correspondence) [en de]
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The “German-Armenian Correspondence” writes that there is “a grain of truth” in the Entente’s reproaches concerning Germany’s joint responsibility. The deportation plan was approved by Marshal von der Goltz; it provided “for the deportees to be sent to areas owned by the Baghdad Railway, where new property would be surveyed for them”. But it was mainly the fault of the German censor that nothing could be reported on the deportations of the Armenians. “Not even Turkey,” according to the judgement of the “German-Armenian Correspondence”, “could have developed the cynicism with which it proceeded in the Armenian question against the unanimous judgement of the civilised world.”
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| 1918-12-26-DE-001
From German Foreign Office (Goeppert) [en de]
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According to Goeppert, it appears to be advisable “to justify our behaviour by publishing information on the actual course of events, before the Armenian question is raised during the negotiations with our opponents”. As official German declarations were seldom believed, Secretary of State Solf “has ordered the well-known friend of the Armenians, Dr. Lepsius, to take over this task. He is highly respected, especially in enemy countries, and, since the beginning of the persecutions against the Armenians, as is generally known, took a stance somewhat opposite to that of the government.” Public opinion would hardly regard these publications to be a “complete justification of our policy”, but the reproaches that could then be raised against the Reich would be “far less grave than the accusations that are presently general belief”.
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