ABSTRACT
The role of the German Empire at the time of the Armenian Genocide and throughout the war alliance is still under discussion today. In the light of the Nazi Holocaust, it is no surprise that the Armenian Genocide has been viewed with the latter catastrophe in mind. The First World War is regarded as the decisive point from which the concept of ‘ethnic cleansing’ grew more and more concrete. First World War research in Germany is no longer overshadowed by the Second World War. Given the level of insight into these developments, German objection remained limited. The Middle European idea was primarily tactical: first and foremost, it was designed as an opposition against Russia and second as a backup for German Orient policy. As the war progressed, the Middle European Idea was superseded by a desire to establish a solid power structure.
