Postcard of Kaiser Wilhelm II and Kaiser Franz Joseph, in the Secessionist style. Kaiser Wilhelm is wearing the uniform and shako of the Death's Head Hussars.
Völkerkrieg (people's war)1914; In Treue FestPeople's WarFirm in Loyalty
"After lunch, when I again called attention to the seriousness of the situation, the Kaiser authorised me to inform our gracious Majesty that we might in this case, as in all others, rely upon Germany's full support. He must, as he said before, first hear what the Imperial Chancellor has to say, but he did not doubt in the least that Herr von Bethmann Hollweg would agree with him. Especially as far as our action against Serbia was concerned. But it was his (Kaiser Wilhelm's) opinion that this action must not be delayed. Russia's attitude will no doubt be hostile, but to this he had been for years prepared, and should a war between Austria-Hungary and Russia be unavoidable, we might be convinced that Germany, our old faithful ally, would stand at our side. Russia at the present time was in no way prepared for war, and would think twice before it appealed to arms. But it will certainly set other powers on to the Triple Alliance and add fuel to the fire in the Balkans. He understand perfectly well that His Apostolic Majesty in his well-known love of peace would be reluctant to march into Serbia; but if we had really recognised the necessity of warlike action against Serbia, he (Kaiser Wilhelm) would regret if we did not make use of the present moment, which is all in our favor."
The "blank cheque" that Kaiser Wilhelm provided Austria-Hungary. Excerpt from the July 5, 1914 report of Count Szögyény, Austro-Hungarian Ambassador to Germany, to Austro-Hungarian Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Berchtold on his meeting with Kaiser Wilhelm earlier in the day.
July, 1914; the Outbreak of the First World War; Selected Documents by Imanuel Geiss (Editor), pp. 76, 77, copyright © 1967 Imanuel Geiss, publisher: Charles Scribner's Sons, publication date: 1967
blank check, blank cheque, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Kaiser Wilhelm, , Wilhelm II
