German-Georgian relations refer to diplomatic, economic and cultural ties between Germany and Georgia, which have been developing for several centuries. Germany proclaimed the independence of the Georgian Democratic Republic after World War I and was one of the first countries to recognize the newly formed state in 1918, making it a protectorate of the German Empire. Bilateral relations were interrupted due to the forcible annexation of Georgia to the Soviet Union in 1922, but were restored on April 13, 1992 after the collapse of the USSR. Georgia has an embassy in Berlin, and Germany has an embassy in Tbilisi.

First republic

When Georgia first achieved independence in 1918, the geopolitical situation in the country was difficult. To preserve its indisputable sovereignty and preserve both Russia and Turkey, Georgia became a protectorate of the German Empire, which sent a contingent of troops under the leadership of General Kress von Kressenstein Friedrich.

German involvement was short-lived but effective – Berlin put pressure on Turkey over Georgia’s ethnic borders, and by July 1918, Turkey had transferred all ports and railways under Georgian control, which until then had been controlled by Turkey. Germany also provided millions of German marks to the new republic. Germany had to withdraw its troops from the country soon after its defeat in the First World War.

Soviet period

By the 1940s, Germans lived in more than 20 Georgian cities, and their presence numbered over 24,000. As a result of the anti-German policy of the Soviet government during World War II from October 1941 to April 1942, most of the Georgian Germans, a total of 19,186 people, were deported from the republic by the Soviet authorities.

Modern period

On November 27, 2018, for the first time in the history of relations between the two countries, an agreement on military cooperation was signed. The agreement was signed by Georgian Defense Minister Levan Izoria and German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen. Under the treaty, Germany will support NATO’s open door policy towards Georgia.