Who was the leader/leaders of Germany during WW1 & give a brief outline of other politcal parties/groups that existed at this time.

The leadership of Germany during WWI included Kaiser
Wilhelm II and the German Chancellor, Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg.  Wilhelm became
Kaiser in 1888 upon the death of Frederick III.  In 1909 he appointed Bethmann-Hollweg
Chancellor.  Bethmann-Hollweg was a supporter of Wilhelm II, and was the real ruler as
Wilhelm II’s behavior became erratic.  As WWI began, Bethmann-Hollweg’s power and
influence began to wane and the power of the German military grew. In July of 1917
Bethmann-Hollweg was force to resign and Germany became in reality a military
dictatorship under the control of General Paul von Hindenburg and Colonel Erich
Ludendorff.