Kaiser Wilhelm II

born: died: 1941 Central Powers

Involvement in the War:

Politics: Above all, the Kaiser wanted "a place in the sun" for the German people. The problem was the only places left were in the shade. There was very little room left for new colonization in the early part of this century. Never the less the Kaiser built up the German military machine and under the Tirpitz Plan, built a naval fleet to rival that of Great Britain. The term "saber rattler" sums up his politics as well as his personality. Historian Barbara Tuchman put it well when she referred to the Kaiser as "possessor of the least inhibited tongue in Europe".

The Kaiser neither started the war nor wanted the war. His "saber rattling" never went to the extent of encouraging open warfare amongst the European nations. The most that can be said is that the Kaiser did not do enough to try to control the actions of Austria-Hungary and prevent the outbreak of war; he accepted war as an afterthought.

Quotes:

"only fit to live in a country house and grow turnips"

The Kaiser on Czar Nicholas II

"bear yourselves as Huns of Attila"

The Kaiser to troops heading for the Boxer Rebellion in China

"a spirited note, what?"

The Kaiser on the ultimatum to Serbia

"A great moral victory for Vienna, but with it, every reason for war disappears."

The Kaiser on the Serbian reply to the ultimatum

"Gentlemen, you will regret this."

The Kaiser to the general staff on the decision to mobilize