Former German headquarters 1918 Hotel Britannique

This majestic building 'Hotel Britannique' was the headquarters of the German Army for the Western Front from March to November 1918.

Field Marshal Von Hindenbrug and General Ludendorf represented the highest ranks within headquarters and were the strategists and army leaders on behalf of Kaiser Wilhelm II. . Kaiser Wilhelm II was also in Spa during this period, but at the villa Neubois, 2 km away from the headquarters. In this villa at Neubois, (Nivezé) he had taken up residence and received his generals and other distinguished guests.

Witness the commemorative stone, another historical event took place in this former hotel. In 1883, the reconciliation lunch between the kingdoms of Belgium and the Netherlands took place in this hotel. Here both kings "Leopold II and William III" were present. (Reconciliation after the Belgian Independance War of 1831.)

Besides the German headquarters, this was also the American headquarters of General Hodges (1st U.S. Army) from October 1944 to March 1945.

The building served as a hotel until 1958. Now it houses a boarding school for boys.

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Source

• Text: Ed Lewandowski
• Photos: Ed Lewandowski