Alfred von Kiderlen-Waechter | |
---|---|
![]() | |
State Secretary for Foreign Affairs | |
In office 27 June 1910 – 30 December 1912 | |
Monarch | Wilhelm II |
Chancellor | Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg |
Preceded by | Wilhelm von Schoen |
Succeeded by | Gottlieb von Jagow |
German Minister to Romania | |
In office 21 January 1900 – June 1910 | |
Preceded by | Hippolyt von Bray-Steinburg |
Succeeded by | Friedrich Rosen |
Personal details | |
Born | Stuttgart, Kingdom of Württemberg | 10 July 1852
Died | 30 December 1912 Stuttgart, German Empire | (aged 60)
Political party | Independent |
Signature | ![]() |
Alfred von Kiderlen-Waechter (né Alfred Kiderlen; 10 July 1852 – 30 December 1912) was a German diplomat and politician who served as Secretary of State and head of the Foreign Office from June 1910 to December 1912. He is best known for his reckless role in the Agadir Crisis in 1911, when France militarily expanded its control of Morocco. He demanded compensation in an aggressive saber-rattling fashion, sent a warship to the scene and whipped up nationalist sentiment inside Germany. A compromise was reached with France, which took control of Morocco and gave Germany a slice of the French Congo. However, the British were angry at German aggressiveness and talked of war. The episode, although small itself, permanently soured prewar relations between Berlin and London.[1]