The 'September Programme' drawn up in September, 1914 by Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg, states:

"The military to decide whether we should demand cession of Belfort and eastern slopes of the Vosges, razing of fortresses and cession of coastal strip from Dunkirk to Boulogne.

The ore-field of Brie, which is necessary for the supply of ore for our industry, to be ceded in any case.

Further, a war indemnity, to be paid in instalments; it must be high enough to prevent France from spending any considerable sums on armaments in the next fifteen to twenty years.

Furthermore: a commercial treaty which makes France economically dependent on Germany, secures the French market for our exports and makes it possible to exclude British commerce from France. This treaty must secure for us financial and industrial freedom of movement in France in such fashion that German enterprises can no longer receive differential treatment from French."

In short, annex the channel ports, destroy or occupy French fortresses, neuter the French military, and cripple France as an independent state. Annexing Briey-Longwy would mean annexing 64% of France's pre-war pig-iron production, 58% of it's steel, and 40% of it's coal. They also had eyes on French possessions in Africa, notably Dahomey, Morocco, French Equatorial Africa, and French Congo.

German war aims gravitated generally around the September Programme during the war, with many, more extensive proposals being put forward. Fortunately, these all came to naught, as the Central Powers lost!