World Leaders in 1914 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Woodrow Wilson

Wilson bowed to public pressure and the US navy occupied Vera Cruz for a couple of months. This was to show the dictator, Victoriano Huerta, that he had better do something about the bandit Francisco Villa. When Villa killed 17 Americans in New Mexico in 1916, General Pershing lead the expedition into central Mexico to try and catch him.
Wilson issued a proclamation of neutrality in the European War on the 4th of August. Nevertheless, he ordered 800,000 rifles and some new battleships but made no other preparations for war. The view of Secretary of State Bryan was that the nation had needed no preparation, as it could "raise a million men between sunrise and sunset."
Theodore Roosevelt was President earlier in the century.

Answer: Count Stürgkh

Karl von Stürgkh, who was born in 1859, came to power on 3rd November 1911. He was shot on 21st October 1916 by Dr. Friedrich Adler, while still in office. Whereas Stürgkh was the most vocal for war, Istvan Tisza, the Hungarian premier, was the strongest voice against. Nicola Pasic was the leader of Serbia.

Answer: Tsar Nicholas II

Nicholas II was, to all practical intents and purposes, the last Tsar of Russia. (After his abdication in 1917 his brother Michael succeeded him nominally for a couple of days or so). Nicholas II mobilized fully only against Austria-Hungary. Ivan Goremykin lead the duma, with Krivoshein as his Agriculture Minister at the outbreak of war. Kerenski was one of the few who were opposed to the war in the Duma.

He was, briefly, the Russian Premier in 1917 but was ousted by the Bolshevists. He fled the country and spent the rest of his life in the US. Rasputin was a monk whose influence on Alexandra Feodorovna (the Tsarina), caused the British to aid his assassination in 1916. Rasputin wanted Russia to make peace with Germany.

Answer: Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg

Bethmann-Hollweg was Chancellor from July 1909 to July 1917. The German Emperor Wilhelm II always referred to him as the "Civilian Chancellor", as all the previous Chancellors had come from a military families. These included Otto von Bismarck, who was Chancellor of Prussia from 1862-90 and of Germany from 1871-90.

The Bethmann family had made their money from banking in the 18th century. His Grandmother was a Hollweg. General von Moltke was the head of the German forces. (He should never be confused with his much abler and more illustrious uncle, Moltke, who lived from 1800-91).

He died suddenly at a celebration in the Reichstag building in 1916. Seitz was the governor of German South-West Africa (now Namibia) in 1914.

Answer: Raymond Poincaré

Poincaré was born in Bar-le-Duc on 20th August 1860. He was elected the ninth President of France on 17th of January 1913. He was elected President four times before his death in 1934.
René Viviani was Premier. Adolphe Messimy was Minister of War. Foch was a famous French commander, who at the start of the war commanded the XX. Corps based at Nancy.

Answer: Antonio Salandra

Salandra was born at Troia in 1853 and was Premier between April 1914 and June 1916. Following the death of San Guiliano, Sonnino became Foreign Minister in October 1914. Benito Mussolini was expelled from the Milan Socialist party, when they declared neutrality - Mussolini wanted Italy to fight on the side of the Entente. On 24th May 1915 Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary, but gained very little for its efforts.

Answer: Herbert H. Asquith

Asquith was born in 1852 and became Prime Minister in 1908 until 1916 when Lloyd George took over. At the start of the war Asquith's two main advisors were Churchill and Kitchener. Churchill was First Lord of the Admiralty, and Kitchener Secretary of State for War. Kitchener was actually British agent and consul-general in Egypt, which made him virtual ruler of Egypt.

He was on leave when war was declared, Asquith seconded him, and Kitchener took up his post at the War Office on 6th August.

Answer: Sir Robert Borden

Borden was born in Nova Scotia in 1854. He became Premier in 1912 and held the post until he resigned due to ill health in 1920. Born in Scotland, Fisher became Prime Minister of Australia for the third time in 1914, succeeding Joseph Cook. Buxton was Governor-General and High Commissioner of South Africa in September 1914, succeeding Lord Gladstone. Lord Hardinge was Viceroy of India.

Answer: Yoshihito (the Taisho Emperor)

Known as Taisho emperor in English, Yoshihito was born in 1876 and ruled between 1912 and 1926. He was the 123rd emperor of Japan. Okuma Shigenobu was the Prime Minister. He sent an ultimatum to Germany demanding that all German leave Japanese waters; Japan also demanded Kiaochow. Germany refused and Japan blockaded Kiaochow Bay, and on the 2nd September a Japanese division under Lieutenant-General Kamio landed at Lungkow. Hirohito was the eldest son of Yoshihito and Emperor during WW2.

Answer: Mehmed V

Also known as Mahommed V or Prince Memed Reshad Effendi, he was born in 1844 and succeeded his brother in 1909 when Abdul Hamid II was forced into exile. Enver Pasha as Minister of War was more responsible for taking the Ottoman Empire to war than the Sultan.

The two German warships the "Breslau" and "Goeben" were allowed to fly the Turkish flag while bombarding Russian Black Sea ports on 29th October 1914. Britain and France declared war on Turkey on 5th November. Suleiman I was Sultan between 1520 and 1566 and Osman III between 1754 and 1757.