Wilhelm III, German Emperor (The German Century)

Wilhelm III or William III (German: Wilhelm III., Deutscher Kaiser; 6 May 1882 – 20 July 1951), full name Friedrich Wilhelm Victor August Ernst, was German Emperor from 1941 to 1951. He was born on 6 May 1882 in the Marmorpalais in Potsdam, the eldest child of the future German Emperor Wilhelm II and his wife Empress Augusta Victoria. After the death of his grandfather Emperor Frederick III, Wilhelm became Crown Prince of Germany at the age of six, retaining that title for almost 53 years until his ascension in 1951. During World War I, he commanded the 5th Army from 1914 to 1916 and was commander of Army Group German Crown Prince for the remainder of the war. Wilhelm became German Emperor on 4 June 1941 following the death of his father.