Who was the leader of Germany during World War I?
1 Answer
The straightforward answer ought to be the Kaiser Wilhelm II....but...
Explanation:
The Kaiser (for Caesar in honor of the great Roman leader) was a very impulsive and somewhat tactless leader tending to inspire, in general, not a lot of admiration or even respect.
[The Kaiser]
In reality during WWI, and in particular after the big victory against the Russians at the Battle of Tannenberg, the real leaders of Germany became the two top generals: Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff.
[Hindenburg]
[Ludendorff]
They not only decided the course of war but even the politics and economy of Germany, basically, transforming the nation in a "Total War" dedicated entity under their direct control.
It is interesting to note that at the end of the war when disaster loomed the two generals simply "handed back" the power and in particular the blame to the Kaiser (then forced to abdicate and go into exile).
