Wilhelm II and his Officers (c. 1915) The German Kaiser was not only the head of the Imperial government, but also commander-in-chief of the armed forces. This postcard from c. 1915 shows Kaiser Wilhelm II (seated, front) surrounded by his leading officers. They include: (standing, from left to right) Bernhard von Bülow, August von Mackensen, Helmuth J. L. von Moltke, Crown Prince Wilhelm of Prussia, Hermann von Francois, Erich Ludendorff, Erich von Falkenhayn, Karl von Einem, Hans von Beseler, Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg (the federal chancellor), Josias von Heeringen; (seated, from left to right) Crown Prince Ruprecht von Bavaria, Duke Albrecht von Württemberg, Alexander von Kluck, Otto von Emmich, Count Gottlieb von Haeseler, Paul von Hindenburg, and Alfred von Tirpitz.