Key People

Kaiser Wilhelm II -

Hot-tempered, military-minded ruler of German empire and kingdom of Prussia; increasingly suspicious of motives of Britain, France and Russia.

David Lloyd George -

Chancellor of Exchequer since 1906; against his earlier inclinations, in 1914 he became a leading proponent of military action against Germany.

Tsar Nicholas II -

Wilhelm's cousin-in-law and ruler of Russia since 1894; caught between Russia's loyalty to Serbia and his desire to avoid a Europe-wide war.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand -

Nephew of Austria's emperor Francis Joseph; keen to strengthen Austrian army but wary of antagonizing Serbia.

Kaiser Wilhelm II