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Istanbul-based Armenian Agos newspaper published interviews with historian Wolfgang Gust, former Editor-in-Chief of German Der Spiegel, and Eric Weitz, German historian at City University of New York, The historians who reflected on the question of German responsibility in the Armenian Genocide.

According to Wolfgang Gust, Germany was the one of the key allies of the Ottoman Empire during the First World War. Consequently, it received well-documented reports from its consuls and diplomats about the Genocide underway.

Gust noted tat during the Genocide German diplomats used to send “innocent” letters to the Ottoman leadership trying to make an impression they wanted to help the Armenians, while the reaction of the German Foreign Ministry differed. Bethmann-Hollweg, then Chancellor of Germany, used to say “Our primary aim is to keep Turkey in our proximity until the war ends. The question of being or not-being of the Armenians has no significance.”

Gust added that one should not overlook the role of German militaries in Turkey. In certain areas of the empire, they personally led the attacks in the Armenian populated districts.

Eric Weitz on his part emphasized that Germany was the Ottoman Turkey’s ally and German officials had known what was happening with the Armenians that time. According to him, reference in the Bundestag resolution to the German complicity to the Armenian Genocide is very important. He next highlighted the role of the German militaries that if not guided - at least concealed the crimes being committed against the Armenians.