William II. Emperor of Germany, 1888-1918, eldest son of Frederick III and grandson of Queen Victoria of England. Was born in 1859. He was educated at Cassel and Bonn. Soon after his accession, he took a strong and independent attitude toward political affairs. This led to differences of opinion resulting, in 1890, in the dismissal of Prince Bismarck as chancellor. In foreign affairs, William II continued the policy of Bismarck in maintaining the Triple Alliance with Austria and Italy. He abandoned, however, efforts to continue close relations with Russia. Entering energetically into the field of world politics, he determined to secure for Germany a "place in the sun." With this object in view, he urged colonial expansion, cultivated a relationship with Turkey, and pushed German interests in Asia Minor. He upheld the "divine right" of kings, opposed socialism, insisted upon the creation of a great navy, and constantly increased the army. He proclaimed, "It is in the army that my confidence rests." After the war with Japan had revealed Russia's weakness, William II strongly supported Austria's policies in the Balkans. When Austria, rejecting Serbia's reply to her drastic ultimatum, declared war against Serbia, July 28, 1914, William declined to intervene and almost immediately declared war on Russia and France. On August 4, German troops violated the neutrality of Belgium, and began a series of atrocities which finally aroused all the great nations of the world to take up arms against Germany. Deaf to all humane appeal, William II continued to justify the barbarities of his army as necessary punishments inflicted in "defense" of the fatherland. Following terrible defeats in the campaign of July-November, 1918, the German high command compelled the signing of an armistice on November 11th. Coincident with this event, William II abdicated all rights to his throne, fled from Germany, and took refuge in Holland.

---