From the first attack, on 28 August 1914, the Ardennes department was immediately occupied by the Germans. Charleville and Mézières, two towns separated by two kilometres, were united for the first time under the name Mézières-Charleville. Kaiser Wilhelm II arrived with his court, the military staff and diplomats, and the German General Headquarters moved to the prefecture of Mézières. The son of the Kaiser, Kronprinz Wilhelm of Hohenzollern, occupied the Renaudin villa on the Bélair side of Charleville. All public buildings, including the town hall, were controlled by the Germans until 11 November 1918.