History Characters / KaiserreichGermany

* ShortLivedLeadership: If Schleicher fails to secure his position as Reichskanzler, he can quickly get removed from office by the Reichstag, with events noting history will barely remember him or his ([[MajorMinorCharacter potentially pretty consequential]]) brief time in office.

* EmergencyAuthority: Kurt von Schleicher answers the socialist revolution occuring in Brunswick with an Enabling Act giving him unprecedented powers and and suspending the ability to start a vote of no confidence against him.

* ShortLivedLeadership: If Schleicher fails to secure his position as Reichskanzler, he can quickly get removed from office by the Reichstag.

* TheGoodKing: In contrast to his real life reputation, which is usually not the most flattering one, in KR, history remembered Wilhelm more fondly for leading the German people towards the victory in Weltkrieg and achieving for Germany a place under the sun.

%% With the recently announced completed rework due to be released in late 2023, much of the existing lore and tropes %% will be retconned. With this in mind, care should be taken when adding or editing examples to label them as
%% pre- or post-rework in order to prevent confusion and contradictory information.

* {{Kaiserreich}}: After their victory in the First World War, the German Empire continued instead of becoming a republic and later a fascist dictatorship. That said, the actual political structure of the Reich is more likely than not to change, for good (the 1937 or 1941 elections can continue the Kaiserreich's evolution into a more Westminster-style parliamentary democracy by Wilhelm sticking to the post-Weltkrieg tradition of choosing a chancellor from the winning coalition despite being faced with a coalition whose ideology he dislikes) or ill (Kurt von Schleicher's scheming can undermine the Reichstag and set up a dictatorial junta).

[[folder:Erich Ludendorff]]
A German general who played a key role in Germany's victory in the First World War. In 1916, Ludendorff was placed at the head of the German war effort and established himself as a true dictator with his friend von Hindenburg. Supported by the industrial world and the reactionaries of the DVLP, he was opposed by the rest of Germany. Ludendorff was forced into retirement in 1923 because of a public fraud scandal.

* AllThereInTheManual: Having been forced into retirement in 1923, Erich Ludendorff played no further role in Germany in 1936. Most of the information about him is only available in the description of German political parties, in some events and on the Kaiserreich Wiki.
* AllohistoricalAllusion: In OTL, Ludendorff supported Hitler's Nazi Party in the early 1920s. In this timeline, Ludendorff allied himself with the DVLP, a party similar to the Nazi Party and known for its antisemitic rhetoric.
* AntiClimax: In the rework, the end of his dictatorship soon after the war. During the war, he had gradually taken charge of most civilian government agencies in the name of improving the war effort, becoming a ''de facto'' dictator. Much like Bismarck, he occasionally offered his resignation as head of the military as a show of force and support, and the Kaiser refused to dismiss him from his military post as he was seen as indispensable. But after the war, also much like Bismarck, he had outlived his usefulness and the next time he offered to resign, Wilhelm accepted. And as Ludendorff was a military officer who was not elected to any civilian position, and had taken charge of civilian affairs to improve the military situation, he had no public legitimacy to fall back on, and his dictatorship ended with the stroke of a pen.
* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: In OTL, Erich Ludendorff was the dictator of Germany from 1916 to 1918 and participated in Hitler's failed putsch in 1923. In Kaiserreich, he became a dictator who ruled Germany with an iron fist from 1916 to 1923.
* LetNoCrisisGoToWaste: Ludendorff took advantage of the First World War to become the dictator of Germany.
* ReluctantRetiree: Erich Ludendorff was forced into retirement by a public fraud scandal in 1923. Otherwise he would have continued his career as a dictator.

[[folder:Alfred von Tirpitz]]
->'''Party:''' Deutsche Vaterlandspartei[[note]]The DVLP (German Fatherland Paty), was formed in late 1917 to represent the jingoist, anti-democratic and radical nationalist political class, with it being strongly aligned to the Alldeutscher Verband. The DVLP was the most prominent supporter of the Ludendorff dictatorship, though there was some differences in opinion over economic issues. When the Ludendorff dictatorship was removed, Alfred von Tirpitz was picked by Wilhelm as his successor, with him creating a Great Coalition of right-<wing parties to solve the issues brought on by the Ludendorff dictatorship. This moderation of the party caused a lot of upset from the right-wing of the party, manifesting itself when they took over the party in the wake of the death of von Tirpitz. However, this takeover caused many supporters of the DVLP to abandon the party in favour of the DKP and DRP. The DVLP advocates for pan-Germanism, anti-parliamentarianism, anti-socialism and anti-semitism.[[/note]]
The Chancellor of Germany from 1923 to 1930, Alfred von Tirpitz was a major figure in contemporary German history. As Ludendorff's successor, von Tirpitz ushered his country into a golden age, be it economically, scientifically or politically. Under his leadership, Germany expanded its colonial empire in Africa and China. Considered a new Bismarck, he died suddenly in 1930.

* EvilColonialist: He was a great supporter of colonisation and expanded the German colonial empire in Africa and Asia.
* HistoricalBadassUpgrade: In real life, Alfred von Tirpitz is considered to be one of those responsible for Germany's defeat. He was a supporter of the policy of excessive submarine warfare that led the United States to enter the war. Moreover, his political career after the war was limited to a term as a member of the Reichstag between 1924 and 1928. In Kaiserreich, Alfred von Tirpitz became Chancellor of Germany from 1923 to 1930 and led his country into a new golden age.
* ALighterShadeOfBlack: Although Tirpitz was an ultranationalist and militarist, he distanced himself from the antisemitic right wing of the DVLP, which led to a split in the party between the more moderate and the more radical.
* PosthumousCharacter: Since Alfred von Tirpitz died in 1930, 6 years before the beginning of the game, he is only mentioned in some events.

[[folder:Kurt von Schleicher]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_ger_kurt_von_schleicher_2.png]]
->'''Role:''' Prussian Minister of War, Reichskanzler[[note]]Head of Government[[/note]] (1936 election)
->'''Party:''' Kabinett Schleicher[[note]]Schleicher Cabinet[[/note]], Deutschnationale Einheitsfront[[note]]German National Unity Front[[/note]] (Establish the National Unity Front focus)
->'''Ideology:''' Authoritarian Democracy, Paternal Autocracy
%%Kurt von Schleicher is a mysterious figure in German politics. A general in the German army, he is also involved in the political life of his native country. A staunch anti-socialist, von Schleicher also claims to want to fight against the Junkers, but many question his true intentions and believe him to be plotting to restore the Ludendorff dictatorship under him. The general maintains unclear links with many figures in the German aristocracy, such as the Crown Prince. In any case, Kurt von Schleicher's name is circulating as a potential new Reich Chancellor.

%%* ZeroPercentApprovalRating: Kaiser Wilhelm II can appoint Kurt von Schleicher as Reich Chancellor even though his party has no support in German society.
* AllohistoricalAllusion: Kurt von Schleicher can pass an 'Enabling Act' marking the first step towards a dictatorship.
%%* AllohistoricalAllusion: Kurt von Schleicher is able to set up a secret police force, the Verdeckte Reichspolizei or Verpo. This is a clear reference to the Gestapo, the Nazi regime's secret police created in 1933.
* EmergencyAuthority: Kurt von Schleicher answers the socialist revolution occuring in Brunswick with an Enabling Act giving him unprecedented powers and and suspending the ability to start a vote of no confidence against him.
%%* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: Von Schleicher is an ambiguous figure in German history. A reactionary military man, he played a role in the Nazis' rise to power by supporting a coalition government that included Hitler. However, von Schleicher realised how dangerous the Nazis were and tried to break up the party when he became Chancellor between 1932 and 1933, but failed. He paid with his life during the Night of the Long Knives. In Kaiserreich, since the Nazis do not exist, Kurt von Schleicher is a reactionary who wants to restore the powers of the army and the German aristocracy over the parliamentary system.
%%* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: After being appointed chancellor, Kurt von Schleicher will ban all French cultural and political organisations in Germany (mainly in the former French territories of Alsace and Lorraine) in the hope of stopping French nationalism.
%%* PragmaticVillainy: Although von Schleicher secretly works to strengthen the power of the army and the aristocracy, he is not hostile to democracy. As long as it does not oppose him.
* RedScare: Schleicher motivates his policies in order to deal with the threat posed by the French Commune and its ideology.
%%* SecretCircleOfSecrets: As soon as he comes to power, Kurt von Schleicher surrounds himself with a mysterious group of military officers, which arouses the suspicion of a large number of Germans that fear the return of the Ludendorff dictatorship.
%%* SecretPolice: One of Kurt von Schleicher's first measures is the creation of a secret police, the Verdeckte Reichspolizei.
* ShortLivedLeadership: If Schleicher fails to secure his position as Reichskanzler, he can quickly get removed from office by the Reichstag.

[[folder:Hermann Müller]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_ger_hermann_muller.png]]
->'''Role:''' Reichskanzler[[note]]Head of Government[[/note]] (von Schleicher removed)
->'''Party:''' Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands[[note]]Social Democratic Party of Germany[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Social Democracy
Reichskanzler of the Democratic Union coalition.

* TimedMission: The ''Demand for Action'' timed mission demands from the player it fulfills the objectives of the ''Liegnitz Programme''. Should the player fail to do so before the countdown reaches 0, the SPD will rebel against its own government and enforce a more aggressive outlook, causing the collapse of the government and its replacement by a liberal one.

[[folder:Ewald von Kleist-Schmenzin]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_ger_ewald_von_kleist_schmenzin.png]]
->'''Role:''' Oberpräsident of Pomerania, Reichskanzler[[note]]Head of Government[[/note]] (von Schleicher removed)
->'''Party:''' Kabinett Kleist-Schmenzin[[note]]Kleist-Schmenzin Cabinet[[/note]]

Reichskanzler of the Schwarz-Weiß-Rot coalition.

[[folder:Kuno Graf von Westarp]]
->'''Role:''' Reichskanzler[[note]]Head of Government[[/note]] (Kleist-Schmenzin succession, [=DkP=] dominant or Post-Welkrieg election)
->'''Party:''' DNVB - Moderate
->'''Ideology:''' Authoritarian Democracy

[[folder:Ulrich von Hassell]]
->'''Role:''' Reichskanzler[[note]]Head of Government[[/note]] (Kleist-Schmenzin succession, DVLP dominant or Post-Welkrieg election)
->'''Party:''' DNVB - Rechte

[[folder:Max Bauer '''(UNMARKED SPOILERS)''']]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_ger_max_bauer.png]]
->'''Role:''' Head of State (Bauer putsch)
->'''Party:''' [=RdnR=]
->'''Ideology:''' Paternal Autocracy, National Populism (Keep the junta)
----
* AllohistoricalAllusion: Bauer can opt to not restore the Kaiser and instead maintain himself as the sole leader of his totalitarian Germany (switching him to National Populism), just like UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler refused any restoration of the Hohenzollern dynasty.
* ANaziByAnyOtherName: Bauer establishes a totalitarian nationalist dictatorship and seeks to greatly expand Germany's territory. His focus tree also contains several references to OTL Nazi Germany.
* PersecutedIntellectuals: One focus of Bauer's tree is to disband the universities.
* ThePurge: Bauer will institute a "Black Terror" after taking power.
* ShoutOut: One focus of his tree is named Film/TriumphOfTheWill.

!!! Puppet Leaders
[[folder:Erwin von Witzleben]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_ger_erwin_von_witzleben.png]]
->'''Role:''' General, Head of State (Dictatorship puppet state)
->'''Party:''' Nationalkomitee Freies Deutschland[[note]]National Committee for a Free Germany[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Paternal Autocracy
Erwin von Witzleben is a German general and a potential Chief of Staff of the German military and Chief of the Heer, the German army. He can also become the leader of a puppeted Germany if it capitulates to a dictatorship.

* AllohistoricalAllusion: In Kaiserreich, Erwin von Witzleben is a potential supreme commander of the German armed forces, a position he should have had historically if the 20 July 1944 coup against Adolf Hitler had been successful.
* HistoricalDowngrade: Historically, Erwin von Witzleben was a major figure in the German resistance to Hitler. A former field marshal in the German Army, he took part in the coup of the 20 July 1944 against Adolf Hitler and was to become the supreme commander of the Wehrmacht if successful. After this failure, von Witzleben was arrested by the Nazis and executed on 8 August 1944. In the game, Erwin von Witzleben is a simple general in a Germany where Hitler was just a soldier who died in 1920.

[[folder:Friedrich Paulus]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_friedrich_paulus_kr.png]]
->'''Role:''' Head of State (Non-socialist puppet state)
->'''Party:''' Nationalkomitee Freies Deutschland[[note]]National Committee for a Free Germany[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Authoritarian Democracy
Friedrich Paulus can become the leader of a rival German government and/or of a puppeted Germany.
-----
* AllohistoricalAllusion: The real Paulus, after surrendering at Stalingrad, joined the Soviet-sponsored, anti-Nazi National Committee for a Free Germany before becoming an East German citizen. In Kaiserreich this is upgraded to possibly becoming the leader of a (non-socialist) puppeted Germany.

[[folder:Marie-Pierre Koenig]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_fra_marie_pierre_koenig_kr.png]]
->'''Role:''' Head of State (Commune of France puppet state)
->'''Party:''' Kommunistische Arbeiter-Partei Deutschlands - Vereinigte[[note]]Communist Workers’ Party of Germany - United[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Radical Socialism
Marie-Pierre Koenig is a general of the Commune of France, who is in charge of the German Socialist occupation government and waits until a proper government can be created before returning back to France.

* AllohistoricalAllusion: In OTL Koenig was military governor of the French occupation zone in Germany after the end of [=WW2=] and can occupy a similar position in Kaiserreich.

[[folder:Georgy Zhukov]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_rus_georgiy_zhukov.png]]
->'''Role:''' Head of State (Socialist Russia puppet state)
->'''Party:''' Kommunistische Arbeiterpartei Deutschlands[[note]]Communist Workers' Party of Germany[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Radical Socialism

* AllohistoricalAllusion: In OTL Zhukov was military governor of the Soviet occupation zone in Germany right after the end of [=WW2=] and can occupy the same position in Kaiserreich.

[[folder:Willi Münzenberg]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_willi_munzenberg_3.png]]
->'''Role:''' Chairman[[note]]Head of State[[/note]] (Münzenberg becomes leader of Socialists)
->'''Party:''' Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands[[note]]Communist Party of Germany[[/note]], Kommunistische Arbeiter-Partei Deutschlands - Vereinigte[[note]]Communist Workers’ Party of Germany - United[[/note]], Bund der Kommunisten[[note]]The League of Communists is a minor radical tendency within the German far left, born out of the Hamburg tendency of the KAPD and originally led by Heinrich Laufenberg and Fritz Wolffheim — two trade union leaders and party leaders in Hamburg. They advocate for what they call "national communism" and "national syndicalism", and have sympathies towards German nationalism.[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Radical Socialism, Syndicalism, Totalism
A German Socialist political activist who leads the Free German Socialist Republic after the election with KAPD is underway.

* AuthorityInNameOnly: Münzenberg is placed in power only temporarily until a leader aligning with Germany's overlord ideology can be chosen.

!! ''The Politicians''
[[folder:Hjalmar Schacht]]
->'''Party:''' Nationalliberale Partei[[note]]National Liberal Party: Created in 1866, the NLP began as the most prominent German party, becoming a main backer of the Bismarck chancellorship, however after Bismarck's turn the right, the party's influence has been continuously waning. The NLP was mainly powerless in the Reichstag during the Weltkrieg, though cooperating with the left-wing parties at times. When the DVLP was created, some thought the NLP would get usurped by them, but Stresemann was able to keep the NLP independent, with him leading the NLP to be neutral on the Ludendorff dictatorship.\\
After Ludendorff's fall and the rise of Tirpitz, the NLP joined Tirpitz's great coalition, with it supporting German colonialism, expansion of the military, and liberal economic policies in the government. Stresemann was able to make the NLP flourish, thus his death in 1929 strongly weakened the NLP. Dingeldey led the NLP in its worst election result ever, causing his resignation, and him unable to give the NLP a position in the government. Dingeldey was replaced by Reichsbankpräsident Hjalmar Schacht as leader, with Julius Curtius being the chancellor candidate of the NLP. The NLP has strong support among industry giants and the more well-off, though some of them have been moving away from the NLP, looking for a new champion of their interests.[[/note]]
->'''Ideology''' Market Liberalism
A German economist, Hjalmar Schacht is the current head of the Reichsbank and the leader of the NLP, one of the main liberal parties in Germany.

* HistoricalVillainDowngrade: In our reality, Hjalmar Schacht was the Minister of Economy of Nazi Germany from 1934 to 1937. He played a key role in the rearmament of Germany even though he went into opposition to Hitler from 1937. In the world of Kaiserreich, Schacht is a liberal economist and politician who has nothing to do with the Nazi party equivalent, the DVLP.
* MegaCorp: {{Downplayed|Trope}} -- As leader of the NLP, Schacht is the champion of the big German companies. However, in 1936, some of them are tempted to find another representative.

[[folder:Franz von Papen]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_franz_von_papen.png]]
->'''Party:''' Zentrumspartei[[note]]Created in 1870, the Zentrum (Centre) has always represented the interests of German Catholics. The party was the main enemy of Bismarck during the Kulturkampf, with it later becoming more and more integrated into day-to-day ruling. The Zentrum was a main architect of the Reichstag’s Peace Resolution of 1917, under the guise of the leader of the parliamentary faction, Matthias Erzberger. The Zentrum was opposed to the Ludendorff dictatorship, though it refrained from supporting protests. The party tried to widen its appeal in 1923, however this failed massively, causing the rise of the centrist Wilhelm Marx, however he was unable to turn the fortunes of the party, with the Zentrum losing another election in 1932.\\
With both the leftists and centrists within the party discredited, the right-wing under the leadership of Franz von Papen took over, pursuing an unitarian vision, which caused many defections from the party, with him also causing the left-wing of the party to jump ship and form the CSRP. The party is strongly aligned to the DKP, however there Heinrich Brüning is leading the opposition towards von Papen’s leadership, wanting a return to the original federalist elements of the Zentrum, with him also wishing to reunite the Zentrum with its splinter parties.[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Social Conservatism
Franz von Papen, a German politician and diplomat, is a prominent member of the Zentrumspartei. President of this conservative party since 1932, he has engaged in a rapprochement with the DKP, to the great displeasure of the moderate members of the Zentrum.

* HistoricalDowngrade: In OTL, Franz von Papen was Chancellor of Germany in 1932 for just over 5 months. In Kaiserreich, he was never chancellor and is only the leader of the Zentrum.
* HistoricalVillainDowngrade: In our reality, Franz von Papen played a key role in Hitler's rise to power and was his vice-chancellor from 1933 to 1934. In Kaiserreich, von Papen is a conservative politician close to the reactionary elements of the DKP.
* TheRival: To Heinrich Brüning. The latter criticizes him for being close to the DKP and heads the moderate wing of the Zentrum, thus becoming his main opponent within the party itself.

[[folder:Heinrich Brüning]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_heinrich_bruning.png]]
->'''Party:''' Zentrumspartei[[note]]Created in 1870, the Zentrum (Centre) has always represented the interests of German Catholics. The party was the main enemy of Bismarck during the Kulturkampf, with it later becoming more and more integrated into day-to-day ruling. The Zentrum was a main architect of the Reichstag’s Peace Resolution of 1917, under the guise of the leader of the parliamentary faction, Matthias Erzberger. The Zentrum was opposed to the Ludendorff dictatorship, though it refrained from supporting protests. The party tried to widen its appeal in 1923, however this failed massively, causing the rise of the centrist Wilhelm Marx, however he was unable to turn the fortunes of the party, with the Zentrum losing another election in 1932.\\
With both the leftists and centrists within the party discredited, the right-wing under the leadership of Franz von Papen took over, pursuing an unitarian vision, which caused many defections from the party, with him also causing the left-wing of the party to jump ship and form the CSRP. The party is strongly aligned to the DKP, however there Heinrich Brüning is leading the opposition towards von Papen’s leadership, wanting a return to the original federalist elements of the Zentrum, with him also wishing to reunite the Zentrum with its splinter parties.[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Social Conservatism
A German politician, Heinrich Brüning leads the moderate wing of the conservative party Zentrum. Deeply opposed to Franz von Papen, the party president, he tries to reunite the Zentrum with those who have left the party in previous years.

* HistoricalDowngrade: In OTL, Heinrich Brüning was the Chancellor of Germany from 1930 to 1932 and played a key role in German history in trying to cope with the Great Depression. In Kaiserreich he is only the leader of the moderate wing of the Zentrum and is therefore a minor political figure.
* InternalReformist: If Brüning is opposed to the Zentrum's alignment with the DKP, he tries to change this within the party itself, instead of leaving it like many other politicians.
* TheRival: To Franz von Papen. Heinrich Brüning is opposed to von Papen's policy of rapprochement with the DKP and is his main opponent in the Zentrum.

[[folder:Heinrich Claß]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_heinrich_class_kr.png]]
->'''Party:''' Deutsche Vaterlandspartei[[note]]The DVLP (German Fatherland Paty), was formed in late 1917 to represent the jingoist, anti-democratic and radical nationalist political class, with it being strongly aligned to the Alldeutscher Verband. The DVLP was the most prominent supporter of the Ludendorff dictatorship, though there was some differences in opinion over economic issues. When the Ludendorff dictatorship was removed, Alfred von Tirpitz was picked by Wilhelm as his successor, with him creating a Great Coalition of right-<wing parties to solve the issues brought on by the Ludendorff dictatorship. This moderation of the party caused a lot of upset from the right-wing of the party, manifesting itself when they took over the party in the wake of the death of von Tirpitz. However, this takeover caused many supporters of the DVLP to abandon the party in favour of the DKP and DRP. The DVLP advocates for pan-Germanism, anti-parliamentarianism, anti-socialism and anti-semitism.[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' National Populism
Heinrich Claß is a German politician who is one of the leaders of the DVLP, a nationalistic, anti-democratic and anti-Semitic far-right party. Since the death of Chancellor von Tirpitz in 1930, the DVLP has been a mere reflection of what it once was. The antisemitic rhetoric of its leadership, including Claß, caused many moderate party members to defect to the DKP and DRP.

* AllohistoricalAllusion: {{Downplayed|Trope}} -- The DVLP has many similarities with the Nazi party, be it in antisemitic rhetoric, anti-parliamentarianism or pan-Germanism. However, if Heinrich Claß is the equivalent of Adolf Hitler in Kaiserreich, he is far from the status of the latter in OTL at the same time.
* DemocracyIsBad: Claß is far from being a great admirer of democracy as he is openly opposed to socialism and parliamentarianism.
* EvilOldFolks: At the beginning of the game, Heinrich Claß is 67 years old.
* ANaziByAnyOtherName: Claß is an extreme right-wing nationalist and anti-Semite who advocates the unification of all Germanic peoples.
* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: Heinrich Claß and the DVLP are best known for their virulent antisemitism.

!!''The Military''
[[folder:August von Mackensen]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_august_mackensen_kr.png]]

December 6th, 1849, in Leipnitz, Province of Saxony, Kingdom of Prussia\\
Military Career: \\
The oldest general in the Imperial German Army, known as 'the Last Hussar', August Mackensen came from a middle-class upbringing in rural Prussia. His father, an agricultural administrator, hoped for his son to follow the same career path, but he instead volunteered for the Prussian army and served with distinction in the Franco-Prussian War. In the years following the war, Mackensen broke expectations one after the other, bypassing the three-year preparation period for the General Staff and later serving as an adjutant to Wilhelm II himself, the first commoner to do so. On the Kaiser's 40th birthday, he was ennobled, becoming August von Mackensen, and was assigned to command XVII Army Corps - a prestigious position, as Crown Prince Wilhelm now served under him. \\
During the Weltkrieg, he was one of Germany's most successful and prestigious commanders, assigned to front after front in Europe - Galicia, Serbia, and finally Romania, shattering Entente resistance in all three campaigns. He returned to Germany a war hero and a Generalfeldmarschall, and continued to serve in the Army thenceforth. By now, however, von Mackensen is over eighty years old, his sharpness has dulled and his body is no longer as able as it once was - most assume retirement is coming soon, the only thing that matters is when.[[/labelnote]]
August von Mackensen is a living legend in Germany. A veteran of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, he continued his military career until he became one of the main leaders of the German army during the Weltkrieg. After the war, von Mackensen became the head of the German army despite his old age. But at the age of 87 in 1936, the Generalfeldmarschall's physical and mental capacities are no longer what they were and many feel that von Mackensen should retire soon.

* ImprobableAge: Despite being 87 years old, Mackensen is one of the leading German field marshals and head of the Deutsches Heer.
* OldSoldier: August von Mackensen fought in the Franco-Prussian War before becoming one of the leading German generals of the Weltkrieg.
* RedBaron: The Generalfeldmarschall is known as "The Last Hussar".
* WarHero: In addition to his service in the Franco-Prussian War, Mackensen served with distinction during the Weltkrieg and distinguished himself in campaigns in Galicia, Serbia and Romania.

[[folder:Rupprecht von Bayern]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_rupprecht_bayern_kr.png]]
->'''In-Game Biography''' [[labelnote:Click to Show]]Born:\\
May 18th, 1869, in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria\\
Military Career: \\
The incumbent King of Bavaria, Rupprecht Maria Luitpold Ferdinand, is also one of the most decorated commanders of the Imperial German Army during the Weltkrieg. Trained as an infantry officer in the Bavarian Army, he eventually rose to command the Bavarian I Army Corps, all while travelling extensively, taking up carpentry, and fulfilling his duties as a prince of the Bavarian royal family. In 1913, he became the heir apparent of the Kingdom, and a year later, he was assigned to lead the German Sixth Army during the Schlieffen Plan. Though his assignment was made due to his royal status, he proved to be an able and innovative commander. At the same time, however, he used his military command to push for Bavarian interests - refusing to withdraw his army from the Western Front to defend Prussia and thus forcing the General Staff to move troops from Belgium instead. \\
In July 1916, he was promoted to Generalfeldmarschall and was assigned to command the Army Group Rupprecht, a rank he has held onto until today. In 1921, after the passing of his father, Ludwig III of Bavaria, Rupprecht was crowned as the new King of Bavaria, and since then reigns as a constitutional monarch with respect for the laws and institutions of his homeland. Though having to occupy two chairs at once may seem exhausting for some, the King seems none worse for wear, and dutifully awaits Germany's next great war.[[/labelnote]]
King of Bavaria, Rupprecht von Bayern is also a Generalfeldmarschall of the Deutsches Heer. Heir to King Ludwig III of Bavaria, he was put in charge of various armies as a nobleman when the Weltkrieg broke out. However, Rupprecht von Bayern quickly proved that he was one of the best generals in the German army. He was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal in 1916 and became King of Bavaria in 1921. Since then, Rupprecht von Bayern has been a monarch committed to Bavarian institutions and is ready to defend the interests of his kingdom within Germany.

* TheGoodKing: Rupprecht von Bayern is genuinely concerned with the interests of Bavaria and respects the constitutional status of his kingdom.
* OldSoldier: The heir to the Bavarian throne served with distinction during the Weltkrieg and became one of the most decorated officers in the German army. Now the 60-year-old continues to exercise his commands in the Deutsches Heer.

[[folder:Gerd von Rundstedt]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_gerd_von_rundstedt_kr_8.png]]

December 12th, 1875, in Aschersleben, Province of Saxony, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire\\
Military Career:\\
Born to a dynasty of Prussian nobility whose men all served in the military since Frederick the Great, Gerd von Rundstedt did not stray from this tradition – his path since maturity strayed little from the ordinary Prussian noble officer, first the Kadettenanstalt Oranienstein, then Royal Prussian Main Cadet Institute at Groβ-Lichterfelde, in Berlin. Commissioned as an infantry officer, he made a good impression on his superiors for outstanding ability and so began to climb the ranks. At the beginning of the Weltkrieg, he was the 22nd Division’s Chief of Staff – throughout the course of the war, he saw little action, mostly serving in various staff positions, but with a high reputation among his peers.\\
After the war, he used his good impression and connections to climb the ranks again, ultimately reaching the rank of Generaloberst. A competent and experienced commander respected by pretty much everyone in the General Staff, von Rundstedt is also perhaps the most apolitical – no matter what the topic or issue may be, his view is that the Army must stay out of any political affairs. After all, Prussian field marshals never mutiny.[[/labelnote]]
Gerd von Rundstedt is a German general of the Deutsches Heer who is appreciated by his colleagues for his skills and experience. Moreover, he is considered to be the most apolitical officer in the German General Staff.

* GenerationXerox: Von Rundstedt followed the family tradition and made a career in the German armed forces like all the men of his family.
* HistoricalVillainDowngrade: The real Gerd von Rundstedt had no connection with the NSDAP, but nonetheless turned a blind eye on the massacres committed by his troops on the Eastern Front. After the war, he was prosecuted for his role in the extermination of Jews in the East and the summary execution of British prisoners of war in the West. In the world of Kaiserreich, von Rundstedt is an apolitical officer who serves a regime at peace that is not involved in war crimes or crimes against humanity.
* MyCountryRightOrWrong: Being apolitical, Gerd von Rundstedt serves his country first and foremost and considers that a Prussian officer never mutinies, no matter who rules Germany.
* OldSoldier: {{Downplayed|Trope}} -- Von Rundstedt served during the Weltkrieg. However, he worked in staff positions and did not fight at the front.

[[folder:Albert Kesselring]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_albert_kesselring_kr.png]]
A general of the German army, Albert Kesselring is a potential leader of the German Air Force.

* AllohistoricalAllusion: Albert Kesselring's career is similar to the one he had at OTL. A general in the German army, he joined in 1933 a Luftwaffe that was being created.
* HistoricalVillainDowngrade: Like so many other German generals, Albert Kesselring was involved in the war crimes of Nazi Germany. He was accused of ordering the execution of Italian civilians at the end of the war. In Kaiserreich, Kesselring serves an imperial regime at peace and quite different from Nazi Germany.

[[folder:Erich Hoepner]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_erich_hoepner_kr_3.png]]
The German general Erich Hoepner is a potential Chief of Staff of the German military and Chief of the Heer, the German army.

* HistoricalDowngrade: Erich Hoepner is a controversial historical figure. General of the Nazi army, he participated in the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 and collaborated with the Einsatzgruppen. However, Hoepner later joined the German resistance to Hitler and was executed by the Nazis for his role in the July 20, 1944 coup. In any case, in Kaiserreich, Erich Hoepner is a mere general, far from the role he had in our history.

[[folder:Erich von Manstein]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_erich_von_manstein_kr_0.png]]
->'''In-Game Biography''' [[labelnote:Click to Show]]Born:\\
November 24th, 1887, in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire\\
Military Career: \\
Born as von Lewinski, Erich von Manstein comes from the family of a noble Prussian general with Kashubian heritage, and is the nephew of Paul von Hindenburg. Much like the rest of his extended family, he followed a career in the military. After six years in the cadet corps in Plön and Groβ-Lichtefelde, he was commissioned into the Third Foot Guards Regiment – and reached the Weltkrieg as an infantry lieutenant enrolled in the Prussian War Academy. The war put an end to his studies and sent him to the front – both East and West, in several front and several world-renown campaigns, ending with the victorious march into France in 1919. \\
After the end of the war, Manstein remained in the army and continued climbing the ranks, having shown his talent and intelligence in the years prior. As a newly inducted member of the General Staff, he toured countries across Europe to study their military facilities and breakthroughs in new tactics, all while developing his own. Regarded as an innovative commander with a knack for unorthodox strategies, he is one of the main proponents of combined arms, mobile warfare in the German army.[[/labelnote]]
A German general, Erich von Manstein is a veteran of the First World War and a newcomer in the German General Staff. In the years following the war, he travelled around Europe studying the military tactics of other countries. Since then, von Manstein has been a proponent of reforming the Deutsches Heer to place greater emphasis on mobile warfare. He is a potential Chief of Staff of the German military.
-----
* HistoricalVillainDowngrade: In our reality, Erich von Manstein was one of Hitler's best generals. Moreover, he participated in Nazi Germany's war crimes. For example, his French biographer, historian Benoît Lemay, proved in 2006 that von Manstein ordered several units of his 11th army to help the Einsatzgruppen to exterminate the Jews in Crimea in 1941-1942. In the world of Kaiserreich, Erich von Manstein is an ordinary German general who committed no crime.
* InternalReformist: Von Manstein stands out from his peers by his desire to modernise the German art of war.

[[folder:Heinz Guderian]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_heinz_guderian_kr_6.png]]
A German general, Heinz Guderian is a potential Chief of Staff of the German military.

* HistoricalVillainDowngrade: Like so many other generals of the German army in our reality, Heinz Guderian was involved in the crimes of the Nazi regime. During the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, his troops carried out numerous massacres without any protest from Guderian. In Kaiserreich, where Germany was not controlled by the Nazis, the general is not involved in any war crimes or crimes against humanity.

[[folder:Erich Raeder]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_erich_raeder_kr_3.png]]
An admiral of the German navy, Erich Raeder is a potential supreme commander of the German Navy

* HistoricalVillainDowngrade: While in our reality Erich Raeder played an important role in the rearmament of Germany and in Adolf Hitler's military plans, in Kaiserreich he is a mere admiral who is far from any plans to commit war crimes or crimes against humanity.
* InSpiteOfANail: Erich Raeder can become supreme commander of the German Navy like in real life from 1928 to 1943.

[[folder:Karl Dönitz]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_karl_donitz_kr.png]]
->'''Party:''' Zentrumspartei[[note]]Created in 1870, the Zentrum (Centre) has always represented the interests of German Catholics. The party was the main enemy of Bismarck during the Kulturkampf, with it later becoming more and more integrated into day-to-day ruling. The Zentrum was a main architect of the Reichstag’s Peace Resolution of 1917, under the guise of the leader of the parliamentary faction, Matthias Erzberger. The Zentrum was opposed to the Ludendorff dictatorship, though it refrained from supporting protests. The party tried to widen its appeal in 1923, however this failed massively, causing the rise of the centrist Wilhelm Marx, however he was unable to turn the fortunes of the party, with the Zentrum losing another election in 1932. \\
With both the leftists and centrists within the party discredited, the right-wing under the leadership of Franz von Papen took over, pursuing an unitarian vision, which caused many defections from the party, with him also causing the left-wing of the party to jump ship and form the CSRP. The party is strongly aligned to the DKP, however there Heinrich Brüning is leading the opposition towards von Papen’s leadership, wanting a return to the original federalist elements of the Zentrum, with him also wishing to reunite the Zentrum with its splinter parties.[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Social Conservatism
Karl Dönitz is a German admiral as well as a member of the Zentrum, a Catholic political party. He is one of Germany's potential economy ministers if the Zentrum comes to power and a potential leader of the German Navy.

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: The Protestant Dönitz can become a high-ranking member of Zentrum, an almost exclusively Catholic party both in real life and in the mod.
* HistoricalVillainDowngrade: In the game, Karl Dönitz is just an admiral and member of a conservative party, whereas his real life counterpart was a major actor of the Nazi war effort during World War II, leading the Kriegsmarine from 1943 on. Moreover, he was a fervent anti-Semite and supporter of Hitler, and even succeeded Hitler as President of the Reich for a few days in May 1945.

!! ''The Socialists''
[[folder:Wilhelm Pieck]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_wilhelm_pieck_i.png]]
->'''Party:''' Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands[[note]]Communist Party of Germany[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Radical Socialism
A German Marxist political activist who leads the Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands

[[folder:Rudolf Rocker]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_rudolf_rocker_i.png]]
->'''Party:''' Kommunistische Arbeiterpartei Deutschlands/Kommunistische Arbeiter-Union Deutschlands[[note]]The KAPD (Communist Workers' Party) was formed in April 1920 as a split from the KPD based upon tactical and political differences, with the most important one being the KAPD's strong council-communist bent, anti-parliamentarianism and their tactics of 'leadership by example', decried as adventurist by the KPD majority. The KAPD's primary ally is the KAUD, formed in 1931 as a merger of the anti-trade union organisation AAUD (Allgemeine Arbeiter-Union Deutschland, General Workers' Union of Germany) and the AAUD-E (Allgemeine Arbeiter-Union - Einheitsorganisation, General Workers' Union of Germany - Unitary Organisation). Both the KAPD and KAUD express their support for 'Unionen', unions that are formed based upon economic regions, not trades, unlike the traditional 'Gewerkschaften'. These 'Unionen' are made out of factory organisations (Betriebsorganisationen, BO). They also both support the formation of a unitary organisation for the proletariat, however most agree that this is not possible currently and thus are willing to maintain the KAPD as a 'necessary evil' (the AAUD-E demanded immediate unification and thus split from the AAUD in 1921, which however after becoming fully decimated re-unified with the AAUD). The organisations insist that the revolution is not a task of a party, but the task of the proletariat, seeing the KAPD's role as merely being a catalyst for their action, with the task of the KAUD being meanwhile to fight against the traditional trade unions and take control of the workplaces.[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Syndicalism
A German Anarcho-Syndicalist political activist who leads the Kommunistische Arbeiter-Union Deutschlands.

[[folder:Ernst Thälmann]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_ernst_thalmann.png]]
->'''Party:''' Bund der Kommunisten[[note]]League of Communists[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Totalism
A German Communist political activist who leads the Bund der Kommunisten

[[folder:Paul Frölich]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_paul_frolich.png]]
->'''Role:''' Chairman[[note]]Head of State[[/note]] (Rhenish Socialist puppet)
->'''Party:''' Kommunistische Arbeiter-Partei Deutschlands - Rheinische[[note]]Communist Workers’ Party of Germany - Rhenish[[/note]]

A German Socialist political activist who can lead the Rhenish Socialist Republic if Germany is taken over by Socialists and splits off the Rhineland

[[folder:Kurt Eisner]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_kurt_eisner.png]]
->'''Role:''' Chairman[[note]]Head of State[[/note]] (South German Socialist puppet)
->'''Party:''' Kommunistische Arbeiter-Partei Deutschlands - Süddeutsche[[note]]Communist Workers’ Party of Germany - South German[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Radical Socialism, Syndicalism, Totalism
A German Socialist political activist who can lead the South German Federation if Germany is taken over by Socialists and splits off South Germany
----
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Franz Jacob]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_franz_jacob.png]]
->'''Role:''' Chairman[[note]]Head of State[[/note]] (North German Socialist puppet)
->'''Party:''' Kommunistische Arbeiter-Partei Deutschlands - Norddeutsche[[note]]Communist Workers’ Party of Germany - North German[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Radical Socialism, Syndicalism, Totalism
A German Socialist political activist who can lead the North German Federation if Germany is taken over by Socialists and splits off North Germany
----
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Karl Liebknecht]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_karl_liebknecht_4.png]]
->'''Role:''' Chairman[[note]]Head of State[[/note]] (East German Socialist puppet)
->'''Party:''' Kommunistische Arbeiter-Partei Deutschlands - Ostdeutsche[[note]]Communist Workers’ Party of Germany - East German[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Radical Socialism, Syndicalism, Totalism
A German Socialist political activist who can lead the East German Union if Germany is taken over by Socialists and splits off East Germany
----
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Erich Wollenberg]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_ger_erich_wollenberg_0.png]]
->'''Role:''' Chairman[[note]]Head of State[[/note]] (East Prussian Socialist puppet)
->'''Party:''' Kommunistische Arbeiter-Partei Deutschlands - Ostpreußischer[[note]]Communist Workers’ Party of Germany - East Prussian[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Radical Socialism, Syndicalism, Totalism
A German Communist political activist who can lead the East Prussian Union if Germany is taken over by Socialists and splits off East Prussia
----
[[/folder]]

!! ''Other Characters''
[[folder:Adolf Hitler]]
An Austrian soldier who fought in the Imperial German Army during the Weltkrieg. He died during the war and his memoirs were collected into a book called ''[[Literature/MeinKampf Unser Kampf]]'', which has posthumously turned him into a national hero.
----
* DifferentWorldDifferentMovies: ''Literature/MeinKampf'' (known as ''Unser Kampf''[[note]]Meaning ''Our Fight'' or ''Our Struggle''[[/note]]) in the Kaiserreich world is a diary of a patriotic and conscientious German soldier rather than a collection of Hitler's political rants.
* HistoricalDowngrade: Due to his death in 1920, Hitler was nowhere as influential as his real life counterpart.
* HistoricalVillainDowngrade: From one of the the cruelest dictators of the 20th century to an ordinary German soldier, who is widely regarded as a national hero.
* PosthumousCharacter: Hitler died during the German intervention in Russia in 1920.
* PropagandaHero: As the main hero of Creator/LeniRiefenstahl's movie adaptation of his diary, Hitler is presented in Germany as an exemplary German soldier.
[[/folder]]

->'''Role:''' Head of State (Socialist puppet)

->'''Role:''' Chairman[[note]]Head of State[[/note]] (Munzenberg becomes leader of Socialists)

[[folder:Georgy Zhukov]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_rus_georgiy_zhukov.png]]
->'''Role:''' Head of State (Socialist Russia puppet state)
->'''Party:''' Kommunistische Arbeiterpartei Deutschlands[[note]]Communist Workers' Party of Germany[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Radical Socialism
----
* AllohistoricalAllusion: In OTL Zhukov was military governor of the Soviet occupation zone in Germany right after the end of [=WW2=] and can occupy the same position in Kaiserreich.
[[/folder]]

->'''Role:''' Chairman[[note]]Head of State[[/note]] (Socialist puppet state)
%%->'''Party:''' Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands[[note]]Communist Party of Germany[[/note]], Kommunistische Arbeiterpartei Deutschlands/Kommunistische Arbeiter-Union Deutschlands[[note]]The KAPD (Communist Workers' Party) was formed in April 1920 as a split from the KPD based upon tactical and political differences, with the most important one being the KAPD's strong council-communist bent, anti-parliamentarianism and their tactics of 'leadership by example', decried as adventurist by the KPD majority. The KAPD's primary ally is the KAUD, formed in 1931 as a merger of the anti-trade union organisation AAUD (Allgemeine Arbeiter-Union Deutschland, General Workers' Union of Germany) and the AAUD-E (Allgemeine Arbeiter-Union - Einheitsorganisation, General Workers' Union of Germany - Unitary Organisation). Both the KAPD and KAUD express their support for 'Unionen', unions that are formed based upon economic regions, not trades, unlike the traditional 'Gewerkschaften'. These 'Unionen' are made out of factory organisations (Betriebsorganisationen, BO). They also both support the formation of a unitary organisation for the proletariat, however most agree that this is not possible currently and thus are willing to maintain the KAPD as a 'necessary evil' (the AAUD-E demanded immediate unification and thus split from the AAUD in 1921, which however after becoming fully decimated re-unified with the AAUD). The organisations insist that the revolution is not a task of a party, but the task of the proletariat, seeing the KAPD's role as merely being a catalyst for their action, with the task of the KAUD being meanwhile to fight against the traditional trade unions and take control of the workplaces.[[/note]], Bund der Kommunisten[[note]]League of Communists[[/note]]
%%->'''Ideology:''' Radical Socialism, Syndicalism, Totalism
A German Socialist political activist who can lead the Free German Socialist Republic if Germany is taken over by Socialists

German Kaiser and King of Prussia, Wilhelm's nearly five-decade reign has seen the German Empire go from strength to strength, with its triumph in the Weltkrieg securing his place in history and in his people's hearts as a hero without peer. While he wields much more personal power than his rival in the British Empire's Westminster-style constitutional monarchies, in the decades since the war the Kaiser has largely stepped out of the political limelight, leaving the details of governance to the Chancellor and the legislature.

* EarnYourHappyEnding: While the hardest path for Germany, the Democratic Union path is the only path for the country that can turn Germany into an actual democracy.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[labelnote:War Ensign/Flag of the German Empire]]https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kr_german_empire.png]][[/labelnote]]

->'''Party:''' Nationalkomitee Freies Deutschland[[note]]National Committee for a Free Germany[[/note]], [[spoiler:DVP (Secret republican path)]], [[spoiler:RdnR (Bauer Putsch)]]
->'''Ideology:''' Authoritarian Democracy, [[spoiler:Market Liberalism (Secret republican path)]], [[spoiler:Paternal Autocracy (Bauer Putsch)]]

%%[[folder:Kuno Graf von Westarp]]
%%->'''Party:''' Deutschkonservative Partei[[note]]The [=DkP=] (German Conservative Party) was founded in 1876, being extremely influential during the Bismarck era, leading the shift towards protectionism. However, after 1912 the party was unable to become the leading party of the right, which caused the formation of the DVLP, which usurped a lot of DKP members. The DKP was initially a supporter of the Ludendorff dictatorship, but turned against it in the 1920s.\\
After the 1923 elections, the DKP under Ernst von Heydebrand und der Lasa and Kuno Graf von Westarp reluctantly joined the Great Coalition of von Tirpitz. After the 1928 elections, Kuno von Westarp, under the pressure of the growing DVLP began the process of modernising the DkP to also attract urban right wing voters and reform into a conservative-tent party. With it even backing an expansion of social welfare, though it also is in favour of cutting spending, except for agricultural subsidies. After the surprising death of von Tirpitz in 1930, the Kaiser picked von Westarp as his successor. Following two years of uneventful rule, the German electorate voted to let von Westarp be the new administrator and keeper of its wealth. Kuno von Westarp has done as was demanded, and the last few years have been quiet, with as little change as possible. The party continues to support the centralization of the Empire and strictly opposes voting reforms.[[/note]]
%%->'''Ideology:''' Authoritarian Democracy
%%A German politician, Kuno Graf von Westarp lead the conservative DKP party since 1923. In 1928, he modernised his party to attract the urban electorate and supported some expansion of social security. Von Westarp became Chancellor of Germany in 1930 following the death of von Tirpitz. Re-elected in 1932, the chancellor lives in the shadow of his predecessor and is content to maintain the status quo.
%%----
%%* HistoricalBadassUpgrade: {{Downplayed|Trope}} – In OTL, Kuno von Westarp was a German conservative politician who led the DNVP from 1926 to 1928 before leaving politics in 1933. In the world of Kaiserreich, von Westarp has been the Chancellor of Germany since 1930. Although he is simply preserving the status quo inherited from von Tirpitz, his political career is far more important in Kaiserreich than in our reality.
%%[[/folder]]

[[folder:Max Bauer '''(UNMARKED SPOILERS)''']]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_ger_max_bauer.png]]
->'''Role:''' Head of State (Secret Bauer putsch path)
->'''Party:''' [=RdnR=]
->'''Ideology:''' Paternal Autocracy, National Populism (Keep the junta)

* AllohistoricalAllusion: Bauer can opt to not restore the Kaiser and instead maintain himself as the sole leader of his totalitarian Germany (switching him to National Populism), just like UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler refused any restoration of the Hohenzollern dynasty.
* ANaziByAnyOtherName: Bauer establishes a totalitarian nationalist dictatorship and seeks to greatly expand Germany's territory. His focus tree also contains several references to OTL Nazi Germany.
* PersecutedIntellectuals: One focus of Bauer's tree is to disband the universities.
* ThePurge: Bauer will institute a "Black Terror" after taking power.
* ShoutOut: One focus of his tree is named Film/TriumphOfTheWill.

!!! Puppet Leaders
[[folder:Erwin von Witzleben]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_ger_erwin_von_witzleben.png]]
->'''Role:''' General, Head of State (Dictatorship puppet state)
->'''Party:''' Nationalkomitee Freies Deutschland[[note]]National Committee for a Free Germany[[/note]]

Erwin von Witzleben is a German general and a potential Chief of Staff of the German military and Chief of the Heer, the German army. He can also become the leader of a puppeted Germany if it capitulates to a dictatorship.

* AllohistoricalAllusion: In Kaiserreich, Erwin von Witzleben is a potential supreme commander of the German armed forces, a position he should have had historically if the 20 July 1944 coup against Adolf Hitler had been successful.
* HistoricalDowngrade: Historically, Erwin von Witzleben was a major figure in the German resistance to Hitler. A former field marshal in the German Army, he took part in the coup of the 20 July 1944 against Adolf Hitler and was to become the supreme commander of the Wehrmacht if successful. After this failure, von Witzleben was arrested by the Nazis and executed on 8 August 1944. In the game, Erwin von Witzleben is a simple general in a Germany where Hitler was just a soldier who died in 1920.

[[folder:Friedrich Paulus]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_friedrich_paulus_kr.png]]
->'''Role:''' Head of State (Non-socialist puppet state)
->'''Party:''' Nationalkomitee Freies Deutschland[[note]]National Committee for a Free Germany[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Authoritarian Democracy
Friedrich Paulus can become the leader of a rival German government and/or of a puppeted Germany.
-----
* AllohistoricalAllusion: The real Paulus, after surrendering at Stalingrad, joined the Soviet-sponsored, anti-Nazi National Committee for a Free Germany before becoming an East German citizen. In Kaiserreich this is upgraded to possibly becoming the leader of a (non-socialist) puppeted Germany.

[[folder:Willi Münzenberg]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_willi_munzenberg_3.png]]
->'''Role:''' Chairman[[note]]Head of State[[/note]] (Socialist puppet state)
%%->'''Party:''' Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands[[note]]Communist Party of Germany[[/note]], Kommunistische Arbeiterpartei Deutschlands/Kommunistische Arbeiter-Union Deutschlands[[note]]The KAPD (Communist Workers' Party) was formed in April 1920 as a split from the KPD based upon tactical and political differences, with the most important one being the KAPD's strong council-communist bent, anti-parliamentarianism and their tactics of 'leadership by example', decried as adventurist by the KPD majority. The KAPD's primary ally is the KAUD, formed in 1931 as a merger of the anti-trade union organisation AAUD (Allgemeine Arbeiter-Union Deutschland, General Workers' Union of Germany) and the AAUD-E (Allgemeine Arbeiter-Union - Einheitsorganisation, General Workers' Union of Germany - Unitary Organisation). Both the KAPD and KAUD express their support for 'Unionen', unions that are formed based upon economic regions, not trades, unlike the traditional 'Gewerkschaften'. These 'Unionen' are made out of factory organisations (Betriebsorganisationen, BO). They also both support the formation of a unitary organisation for the proletariat, however most agree that this is not possible currently and thus are willing to maintain the KAPD as a 'necessary evil' (the AAUD-E demanded immediate unification and thus split from the AAUD in 1921, which however after becoming fully decimated re-unified with the AAUD). The organisations insist that the revolution is not a task of a party, but the task of the proletariat, seeing the KAPD's role as merely being a catalyst for their action, with the task of the KAUD being meanwhile to fight against the traditional trade unions and take control of the workplaces.[[/note]], Bund der Kommunisten[[note]]League of Communists[[/note]]
%%->'''Ideology:''' Radical Socialism, Syndicalism, Totalism
A German Socialist political activist who can lead the Free German Socialist Republic if Germany is taken over by Socialists

* AuthorityInNameOnly: Münzenberg is placed in power only temporarily until a leader aligning with Germany's overlord ideology can be chosen.

[[folder:Georgy Zhukov]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_rus_georgiy_zhukov.png]]
->'''Role:''' Head of State (Socialist Russia puppet state)
->'''Party:''' Kommunistische Arbeiterpartei Deutschlands[[note]]Communist Workers' Party of Germany[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Radical Socialism
----
* AllohistoricalAllusion: In OTL Zhukov was military governor of the Soviet occupation zone in Germany right after the end of [=WW2=] and can occupy the same position in Kaiserreich.

!! ''The Politicians''
[[folder:Hjalmar Schacht]]
->'''Party:''' Nationalliberale Partei[[note]]National Liberal Party: Created in 1866, the NLP began as the most prominent German party, becoming a main backer of the Bismarck chancellorship, however after Bismarck's turn the right, the party's influence has been continuously waning. The NLP was mainly powerless in the Reichstag during the Weltkrieg, though cooperating with the left-wing parties at times. When the DVLP was created, some thought the NLP would get usurped by them, but Stresemann was able to keep the NLP independent, with him leading the NLP to be neutral on the Ludendorff dictatorship.\\
After Ludendorff's fall and the rise of Tirpitz, the NLP joined Tirpitz's great coalition, with it supporting German colonialism, expansion of the military, and liberal economic policies in the government. Stresemann was able to make the NLP flourish, thus his death in 1929 strongly weakened the NLP. Dingeldey led the NLP in its worst election result ever, causing his resignation, and him unable to give the NLP a position in the government. Dingeldey was replaced by Reichsbankpräsident Hjalmar Schacht as leader, with Julius Curtius being the chancellor candidate of the NLP. The NLP has strong support among industry giants and the more well-off, though some of them have been moving away from the NLP, looking for a new champion of their interests.[[/note]]
->'''Ideology''' Market Liberalism
A German economist, Hjalmar Schacht is the current head of the Reichsbank and the leader of the NLP, one of the main liberal parties in Germany.

* HistoricalVillainDowngrade: In our reality, Hjalmar Schacht was the Minister of Economy of Nazi Germany from 1934 to 1937. He played a key role in the rearmament of Germany even though he went into opposition to Hitler from 1937. In the world of Kaiserreich, Schacht is a liberal economist and politician who has nothing to do with the Nazi party equivalent, the DVLP.
* MegaCorp: {{Downplayed|Trope}} -- As leader of the NLP, Schacht is the champion of the big German companies. However, in 1936, some of them are tempted to find another representative.

[[folder:Franz von Papen]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_franz_von_papen.png]]
->'''Party:''' Zentrumspartei[[note]]Created in 1870, the Zentrum (Centre) has always represented the interests of German Catholics. The party was the main enemy of Bismarck during the Kulturkampf, with it later becoming more and more integrated into day-to-day ruling. The Zentrum was a main architect of the Reichstag’s Peace Resolution of 1917, under the guise of the leader of the parliamentary faction, Matthias Erzberger. The Zentrum was opposed to the Ludendorff dictatorship, though it refrained from supporting protests. The party tried to widen its appeal in 1923, however this failed massively, causing the rise of the centrist Wilhelm Marx, however he was unable to turn the fortunes of the party, with the Zentrum losing another election in 1932.\\
With both the leftists and centrists within the party discredited, the right-wing under the leadership of Franz von Papen took over, pursuing an unitarian vision, which caused many defections from the party, with him also causing the left-wing of the party to jump ship and form the CSRP. The party is strongly aligned to the DKP, however there Heinrich Brüning is leading the opposition towards von Papen’s leadership, wanting a return to the original federalist elements of the Zentrum, with him also wishing to reunite the Zentrum with its splinter parties.[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Social Conservatism
Franz von Papen, a German politician and diplomat, is a prominent member of the Zentrumspartei. President of this conservative party since 1932, he has engaged in a rapprochement with the DKP, to the great displeasure of the moderate members of the Zentrum.

* HistoricalDowngrade: In OTL, Franz von Papen was Chancellor of Germany in 1932 for just over 5 months. In Kaiserreich, he was never chancellor and is only the leader of the Zentrum.
* HistoricalVillainDowngrade: In our reality, Franz von Papen played a key role in Hitler's rise to power and was his vice-chancellor from 1933 to 1934. In Kaiserreich, von Papen is a conservative politician close to the reactionary elements of the DKP.
* TheRival: To Heinrich Brüning. The latter criticizes him for being close to the DKP and heads the moderate wing of the Zentrum, thus becoming his main opponent within the party itself.

[[folder:Heinrich Brüning]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_heinrich_bruning.png]]
->'''Party:''' Zentrumspartei[[note]]Created in 1870, the Zentrum (Centre) has always represented the interests of German Catholics. The party was the main enemy of Bismarck during the Kulturkampf, with it later becoming more and more integrated into day-to-day ruling. The Zentrum was a main architect of the Reichstag’s Peace Resolution of 1917, under the guise of the leader of the parliamentary faction, Matthias Erzberger. The Zentrum was opposed to the Ludendorff dictatorship, though it refrained from supporting protests. The party tried to widen its appeal in 1923, however this failed massively, causing the rise of the centrist Wilhelm Marx, however he was unable to turn the fortunes of the party, with the Zentrum losing another election in 1932.\\
With both the leftists and centrists within the party discredited, the right-wing under the leadership of Franz von Papen took over, pursuing an unitarian vision, which caused many defections from the party, with him also causing the left-wing of the party to jump ship and form the CSRP. The party is strongly aligned to the DKP, however there Heinrich Brüning is leading the opposition towards von Papen’s leadership, wanting a return to the original federalist elements of the Zentrum, with him also wishing to reunite the Zentrum with its splinter parties.[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Social Conservatism
A German politician, Heinrich Brüning leads the moderate wing of the conservative party Zentrum. Deeply opposed to Franz von Papen, the party president, he tries to reunite the Zentrum with those who have left the party in previous years.

* HistoricalDowngrade: In OTL, Heinrich Brüning was the Chancellor of Germany from 1930 to 1932 and played a key role in German history in trying to cope with the Great Depression. In Kaiserreich he is only the leader of the moderate wing of the Zentrum and is therefore a minor political figure.
* InternalReformist: If Brüning is opposed to the Zentrum's alignment with the DKP, he tries to change this within the party itself, instead of leaving it like many other politicians.
* TheRival: To Franz von Papen. Heinrich Brüning is opposed to von Papen's policy of rapprochement with the DKP and is his main opponent in the Zentrum.

[[folder:Heinrich Claß]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_heinrich_class_kr.png]]
->'''Party:''' Deutsche Vaterlandspartei[[note]]The DVLP (German Fatherland Paty), was formed in late 1917 to represent the jingoist, anti-democratic and radical nationalist political class, with it being strongly aligned to the Alldeutscher Verband. The DVLP was the most prominent supporter of the Ludendorff dictatorship, though there was some differences in opinion over economic issues. When the Ludendorff dictatorship was removed, Alfred von Tirpitz was picked by Wilhelm as his successor, with him creating a Great Coalition of right-<wing parties to solve the issues brought on by the Ludendorff dictatorship. This moderation of the party caused a lot of upset from the right-wing of the party, manifesting itself when they took over the party in the wake of the death of von Tirpitz. However, this takeover caused many supporters of the DVLP to abandon the party in favour of the DKP and DRP. The DVLP advocates for pan-Germanism, anti-parliamentarianism, anti-socialism and anti-semitism.[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' National Populism
Heinrich Claß is a German politician who is one of the leaders of the DVLP, a nationalistic, anti-democratic and anti-Semitic far-right party. Since the death of Chancellor von Tirpitz in 1930, the DVLP has been a mere reflection of what it once was. The antisemitic rhetoric of its leadership, including Claß, caused many moderate party members to defect to the DKP and DRP.

* AllohistoricalAllusion: {{Downplayed|Trope}} -- The DVLP has many similarities with the Nazi party, be it in antisemitic rhetoric, anti-parliamentarianism or pan-Germanism. However, if Heinrich Claß is the equivalent of Adolf Hitler in Kaiserreich, he is far from the status of the latter in OTL at the same time.
* DemocracyIsBad: Claß is far from being a great admirer of democracy as he is openly opposed to socialism and parliamentarianism.
* EvilOldFolks: At the beginning of the game, Heinrich Claß is 67 years old.
* ANaziByAnyOtherName: Claß is an extreme right-wing nationalist and anti-Semite who advocates the unification of all Germanic peoples.
* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: Heinrich Claß and the DVLP are best known for their virulent antisemitism.

!!''The Military''
[[folder:August von Mackensen]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_august_mackensen_kr.png]]
->'''In-Game Biography''' [[labelnote:Click to Show]]Born:\\
December 6th, 1849, in Leipnitz, Province of Saxony, Kingdom of Prussia\\
Military Career: \\
The oldest general in the Imperial German Army, known as 'the Last Hussar', August Mackensen came from a middle-class upbringing in rural Prussia. His father, an agricultural administrator, hoped for his son to follow the same career path, but he instead volunteered for the Prussian army and served with distinction in the Franco-Prussian War. In the years following the war, Mackensen broke expectations one after the other, bypassing the three-year preparation period for the General Staff and later serving as an adjutant to Wilhelm II himself, the first commoner to do so. On the Kaiser's 40th birthday, he was ennobled, becoming August von Mackensen, and was assigned to command XVII Army Corps - a prestigious position, as Crown Prince Wilhelm now served under him. \\
During the Weltkrieg, he was one of Germany's most successful and prestigious commanders, assigned to front after front in Europe - Galicia, Serbia, and finally Romania, shattering Entente resistance in all three campaigns. He returned to Germany a war hero and a Generalfeldmarschall, and continued to serve in the Army thenceforth. By now, however, von Mackensen is over eighty years old, his sharpness has dulled and his body is no longer as able as it once was - most assume retirement is coming soon, the only thing that matters is when.[[/labelnote]]
August von Mackensen is a living legend in Germany. A veteran of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, he continued his military career until he became one of the main leaders of the German army during the Weltkrieg. After the war, von Mackensen became the head of the German army despite his old age. But at the age of 87 in 1936, the Generalfeldmarschall's physical and mental capacities are no longer what they were and many feel that von Mackensen should retire soon.

* ImprobableAge: Despite being 87 years old, Mackensen is one of the leading German field marshals and head of the Deutsches Heer.
* OldSoldier: August von Mackensen fought in the Franco-Prussian War before becoming one of the leading German generals of the Weltkrieg.
* RedBaron: The Generalfeldmarschall is known as "The Last Hussar".
* WarHero: In addition to his service in the Franco-Prussian War, Mackensen served with distinction during the Weltkrieg and distinguished himself in campaigns in Galicia, Serbia and Romania.

[[folder:Rupprecht von Bayern]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_rupprecht_bayern_kr.png]]
->'''In-Game Biography''' [[labelnote:Click to Show]]Born:\\
May 18th, 1869, in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria\\
Military Career: \\
The incumbent King of Bavaria, Rupprecht Maria Luitpold Ferdinand, is also one of the most decorated commanders of the Imperial German Army during the Weltkrieg. Trained as an infantry officer in the Bavarian Army, he eventually rose to command the Bavarian I Army Corps, all while travelling extensively, taking up carpentry, and fulfilling his duties as a prince of the Bavarian royal family. In 1913, he became the heir apparent of the Kingdom, and a year later, he was assigned to lead the German Sixth Army during the Schlieffen Plan. Though his assignment was made due to his royal status, he proved to be an able and innovative commander. At the same time, however, he used his military command to push for Bavarian interests - refusing to withdraw his army from the Western Front to defend Prussia and thus forcing the General Staff to move troops from Belgium instead. \\
In July 1916, he was promoted to Generalfeldmarschall and was assigned to command the Army Group Rupprecht, a rank he has held onto until today. In 1921, after the passing of his father, Ludwig III of Bavaria, Rupprecht was crowned as the new King of Bavaria, and since then reigns as a constitutional monarch with respect for the laws and institutions of his homeland. Though having to occupy two chairs at once may seem exhausting for some, the King seems none worse for wear, and dutifully awaits Germany's next great war.[[/labelnote]]
King of Bavaria, Rupprecht von Bayern is also a Generalfeldmarschall of the Deutsches Heer. Heir to King Ludwig III of Bavaria, he was put in charge of various armies as a nobleman when the Weltkrieg broke out. However, Rupprecht von Bayern quickly proved that he was one of the best generals in the German army. He was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal in 1916 and became King of Bavaria in 1921. Since then, Rupprecht von Bayern has been a monarch committed to Bavarian institutions and is ready to defend the interests of his kingdom within Germany.

* TheGoodKing: Rupprecht von Bayern is genuinely concerned with the interests of Bavaria and respects the constitutional status of his kingdom.
* OldSoldier: The heir to the Bavarian throne served with distinction during the Weltkrieg and became one of the most decorated officers in the German army. Now the 60-year-old continues to exercise his commands in the Deutsches Heer.

[[folder:Gerd von Rundstedt]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_gerd_von_rundstedt_kr_8.png]]

December 12th, 1875, in Aschersleben, Province of Saxony, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire\\
Military Career:\\
Born to a dynasty of Prussian nobility whose men all served in the military since Frederick the Great, Gerd von Rundstedt did not stray from this tradition – his path since maturity strayed little from the ordinary Prussian noble officer, first the Kadettenanstalt Oranienstein, then Royal Prussian Main Cadet Institute at Groβ-Lichterfelde, in Berlin. Commissioned as an infantry officer, he made a good impression on his superiors for outstanding ability and so began to climb the ranks. At the beginning of the Weltkrieg, he was the 22nd Division’s Chief of Staff – throughout the course of the war, he saw little action, mostly serving in various staff positions, but with a high reputation among his peers.\\
After the war, he used his good impression and connections to climb the ranks again, ultimately reaching the rank of Generaloberst. A competent and experienced commander respected by pretty much everyone in the General Staff, von Rundstedt is also perhaps the most apolitical – no matter what the topic or issue may be, his view is that the Army must stay out of any political affairs. After all, Prussian field marshals never mutiny.[[/labelnote]]
Gerd von Rundstedt is a German general of the Deutsches Heer who is appreciated by his colleagues for his skills and experience. Moreover, he is considered to be the most apolitical officer in the German General Staff.

* GenerationXerox: Von Rundstedt followed the family tradition and made a career in the German armed forces like all the men of his family.
* HistoricalVillainDowngrade: The real Gerd von Rundstedt had no connection with the NSDAP, but nonetheless turned a blind eye on the massacres committed by his troops on the Eastern Front. After the war, he was prosecuted for his role in the extermination of Jews in the East and the summary execution of British prisoners of war in the West. In the world of Kaiserreich, von Rundstedt is an apolitical officer who serves a regime at peace that is not involved in war crimes or crimes against humanity.
* MyCountryRightOrWrong: Being apolitical, Gerd von Rundstedt serves his country first and foremost and considers that a Prussian officer never mutinies, no matter who rules Germany.
* OldSoldier: {{Downplayed|Trope}} -- Von Rundstedt served during the Weltkrieg. However, he worked in staff positions and did not fight at the front.

[[folder:Albert Kesselring]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_albert_kesselring_kr.png]]
A general of the German army, Albert Kesselring is a potential leader of the German Air Force.

* AllohistoricalAllusion: Albert Kesselring's career is similar to the one he had at OTL. A general in the German army, he joined in 1933 a Luftwaffe that was being created.
* HistoricalVillainDowngrade: Like so many other German generals, Albert Kesselring was involved in the war crimes of Nazi Germany. He was accused of ordering the execution of Italian civilians at the end of the war. In Kaiserreich, Kesselring serves an imperial regime at peace and quite different from Nazi Germany.

[[folder:Erich Hoepner]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_erich_hoepner_kr_3.png]]
The German general Erich Hoepner is a potential Chief of Staff of the German military and Chief of the Heer, the German army.
----
* HistoricalDowngrade: Erich Hoepner is a controversial historical figure. General of the Nazi army, he participated in the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 and collaborated with the Einsatzgruppen. However, Hoepner later joined the German resistance to Hitler and was executed by the Nazis for his role in the July 20, 1944 coup. In any case, in Kaiserreich, Erich Hoepner is a mere general, far from the role he had in our history.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Erich von Manstein]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_erich_von_manstein_kr_0.png]]

November 24th, 1887, in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire\\
Military Career: \\
Born as von Lewinski, Erich von Manstein comes from the family of a noble Prussian general with Kashubian heritage, and is the nephew of Paul von Hindenburg. Much like the rest of his extended family, he followed a career in the military. After six years in the cadet corps in Plön and Groβ-Lichtefelde, he was commissioned into the Third Foot Guards Regiment – and reached the Weltkrieg as an infantry lieutenant enrolled in the Prussian War Academy. The war put an end to his studies and sent him to the front – both East and West, in several front and several world-renown campaigns, ending with the victorious march into France in 1919. \\
After the end of the war, Manstein remained in the army and continued climbing the ranks, having shown his talent and intelligence in the years prior. As a newly inducted member of the General Staff, he toured countries across Europe to study their military facilities and breakthroughs in new tactics, all while developing his own. Regarded as an innovative commander with a knack for unorthodox strategies, he is one of the main proponents of combined arms, mobile warfare in the German army.[[/labelnote]]
A German general, Erich von Manstein is a veteran of the First World War and a newcomer in the German General Staff. In the years following the war, he travelled around Europe studying the military tactics of other countries. Since then, von Manstein has been a proponent of reforming the Deutsches Heer to place greater emphasis on mobile warfare. He is a potential Chief of Staff of the German military.
-----
* HistoricalVillainDowngrade: In our reality, Erich von Manstein was one of Hitler's best generals. Moreover, he participated in Nazi Germany's war crimes. For example, his French biographer, historian Benoît Lemay, proved in 2006 that von Manstein ordered several units of his 11th army to help the Einsatzgruppen to exterminate the Jews in Crimea in 1941-1942. In the world of Kaiserreich, Erich von Manstein is an ordinary German general who committed no crime.
* InternalReformist: Von Manstein stands out from his peers by his desire to modernise the German art of war.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Heinz Guderian]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_heinz_guderian_kr_6.png]]
A German general, Heinz Guderian is a potential Chief of Staff of the German military.

* HistoricalVillainDowngrade: Like so many other generals of the German army in our reality, Heinz Guderian was involved in the crimes of the Nazi regime. During the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, his troops carried out numerous massacres without any protest from Guderian. In Kaiserreich, where Germany was not controlled by the Nazis, the general is not involved in any war crimes or crimes against humanity.

[[folder:Erich Raeder]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_erich_raeder_kr_3.png]]
An admiral of the German navy, Erich Raeder is a potential supreme commander of the German Navy

* HistoricalVillainDowngrade: While in our reality Erich Raeder played an important role in the rearmament of Germany and in Adolf Hitler's military plans, in Kaiserreich he is a mere admiral who is far from any plans to commit war crimes or crimes against humanity.
* InSpiteOfANail: Erich Raeder can become supreme commander of the German Navy like in real life from 1928 to 1943.

[[folder:Karl Dönitz]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_karl_donitz_kr.png]]
->'''Party:''' Zentrumspartei[[note]]Created in 1870, the Zentrum (Centre) has always represented the interests of German Catholics. The party was the main enemy of Bismarck during the Kulturkampf, with it later becoming more and more integrated into day-to-day ruling. The Zentrum was a main architect of the Reichstag’s Peace Resolution of 1917, under the guise of the leader of the parliamentary faction, Matthias Erzberger. The Zentrum was opposed to the Ludendorff dictatorship, though it refrained from supporting protests. The party tried to widen its appeal in 1923, however this failed massively, causing the rise of the centrist Wilhelm Marx, however he was unable to turn the fortunes of the party, with the Zentrum losing another election in 1932. \\
With both the leftists and centrists within the party discredited, the right-wing under the leadership of Franz von Papen took over, pursuing an unitarian vision, which caused many defections from the party, with him also causing the left-wing of the party to jump ship and form the CSRP. The party is strongly aligned to the DKP, however there Heinrich Brüning is leading the opposition towards von Papen’s leadership, wanting a return to the original federalist elements of the Zentrum, with him also wishing to reunite the Zentrum with its splinter parties.[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Social Conservatism
Karl Dönitz is a German admiral as well as a member of the Zentrum, a Catholic political party. He is one of Germany's potential economy ministers if the Zentrum comes to power and a potential leader of the German Navy.

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: The Protestant Dönitz can become a high-ranking member of Zentrum, an almost exclusively Catholic party both in real life and in the mod.
* HistoricalVillainDowngrade: In the game, Karl Dönitz is just an admiral and member of a conservative party, whereas his real life counterpart was a major actor of the Nazi war effort during World War II, leading the Kriegsmarine from 1943 on. Moreover, he was a fervent anti-Semite and supporter of Hitler, and even succeeded Hitler as President of the Reich for a few days in May 1945.

!! ''The Socialists''
[[folder:Wilhelm Pieck]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_wilhelm_pieck_i.png]]
->'''Party:''' Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands[[note]]Communist Party of Germany[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Radical Socialism
A German Marxist political activist who leads the Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands
----

[[folder:Rudolf Rocker]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_rudolf_rocker_i.png]]
->'''Party:''' Kommunistische Arbeiterpartei Deutschlands/Kommunistische Arbeiter-Union Deutschlands[[note]]The KAPD (Communist Workers' Party) was formed in April 1920 as a split from the KPD based upon tactical and political differences, with the most important one being the KAPD's strong council-communist bent, anti-parliamentarianism and their tactics of 'leadership by example', decried as adventurist by the KPD majority. The KAPD's primary ally is the KAUD, formed in 1931 as a merger of the anti-trade union organisation AAUD (Allgemeine Arbeiter-Union Deutschland, General Workers' Union of Germany) and the AAUD-E (Allgemeine Arbeiter-Union - Einheitsorganisation, General Workers' Union of Germany - Unitary Organisation). Both the KAPD and KAUD express their support for 'Unionen', unions that are formed based upon economic regions, not trades, unlike the traditional 'Gewerkschaften'. These 'Unionen' are made out of factory organisations (Betriebsorganisationen, BO). They also both support the formation of a unitary organisation for the proletariat, however most agree that this is not possible currently and thus are willing to maintain the KAPD as a 'necessary evil' (the AAUD-E demanded immediate unification and thus split from the AAUD in 1921, which however after becoming fully decimated re-unified with the AAUD). The organisations insist that the revolution is not a task of a party, but the task of the proletariat, seeing the KAPD's role as merely being a catalyst for their action, with the task of the KAUD being meanwhile to fight against the traditional trade unions and take control of the workplaces.[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Syndicalism
A German Anarcho-Syndicalist political activist who leads the Kommunistische Arbeiter-Union Deutschlands.

[[folder:Ernst Thälmann]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_ernst_thalmann.png]]
->'''Party:''' Bund der Kommunisten[[note]]League of Communists[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Totalism
A German Communist political activist who leads the Bund der Kommunisten

[[folder:Paul Frölich]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_paul_frolich.png]]
->'''Role:''' Chairman[[note]]Head of State[[/note]] (Rhenish Socialist puppet)
->'''Party:''' Kommunistische Arbeiter-Partei Deutschlands - Rheinische[[note]]Communist Workers’ Party of Germany - Rhenish[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Radical Socialism, Syndicalism, Totalism
A German Socialist political activist who can lead the Rhenish Socialist Republic if Germany is taken over by Socialists and splits off the Rhineland

[[folder:Kurt Eisner]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_kurt_eisner.png]]
->'''Role:''' Chairman[[note]]Head of State[[/note]] (South German Socialist puppet)
->'''Party:''' Kommunistische Arbeiter-Partei Deutschlands - Süddeutsche[[note]]Communist Workers’ Party of Germany - South German[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Radical Socialism, Syndicalism, Totalism
A German Socialist political activist who can lead the South German Federation if Germany is taken over by Socialists and splits off South Germany

[[folder:Franz Jacob]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_franz_jacob.png]]
->'''Role:''' Chairman[[note]]Head of State[[/note]] (North German Socialist puppet)
->'''Party:''' Kommunistische Arbeiter-Partei Deutschlands - Norddeutsche[[note]]Communist Workers’ Party of Germany - North German[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Radical Socialism, Syndicalism, Totalism
A German Socialist political activist who can lead the North German Federation if Germany is taken over by Socialists and splits off North Germany

[[folder:Karl Liebknecht]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_karl_liebknecht_4.png]]
->'''Role:''' Chairman[[note]]Head of State[[/note]] (East German Socialist puppet)
->'''Party:''' Kommunistische Arbeiter-Partei Deutschlands - Ostdeutsche[[note]]Communist Workers’ Party of Germany - East German[[/note]]
->'''Ideology:''' Radical Socialism, Syndicalism, Totalism
A German Socialist political activist who can lead the East German Union if Germany is taken over by Socialists and splits off East Germany

[[folder:Erich Wollenberg]]
[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_ger_erich_wollenberg_0.png]]
->'''Role:''' Chairman[[note]]Head of State[[/note]] (East Prussian Socialist puppet)
->'''Party:''' Kommunistische Arbeiter-Partei Deutschlands - Ostpreußischer[[note]]Communist Workers’ Party of Germany - East Prussian[[/note]]

A German Communist political activist who can lead the East Prussian Union if Germany is taken over by Socialists and splits off East Prussia

!! ''Other Characters''
[[folder:Adolf Hitler]]
An Austrian soldier who fought in the Imperial German Army during the Weltkrieg. He died during the war and his memoirs were collected into a book called ''[[Literature/MeinKampf Unser Kampf]]'', which has posthumously turned him into a national hero.

* DifferentWorldDifferentMovies: ''Literature/MeinKampf'' (known as ''Unser Kampf''[[note]]Meaning ''Our Fight'' or ''Our Struggle''[[/note]]) in the Kaiserreich world is a diary of a patriotic and conscientious German soldier rather than a collection of Hitler's political rants.
* HistoricalDowngrade: Due to his death in 1920, Hitler was nowhere as influential as his real life counterpart.
* HistoricalVillainDowngrade: From one of the the cruelest dictators of the 20th century to an ordinary German soldier, who is widely regarded as a national hero.
* PosthumousCharacter: Hitler died during the German intervention in Russia in 1920.
* PropagandaHero: As the main hero of Creator/LeniRiefenstahl's movie adaptation of his diary, Hitler is presented in Germany as an exemplary German soldier.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[labelnote:War Ensign/Flag of the German Empire ([[spoiler:Bauer]])]]https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kr_german_empire.png]][[/labelnote]]

->'''Role:''' Oberpräsident of Pomerania, Reichskanzler[[note]]Head of Government[[/note]] (1936 election, DVLP majority or von Schleicher removed)
%%->'''Party:''' [[note]][[/note]]

[[caption-width-right:350:[[labelnote:War Ensign]]https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kr_german_empire.png]][[/labelnote]]

[[caption-width-right:156:[[labelnote:Wilhelm in civilian garb]]https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_ger_wilhelm_iv_civilian_6.png]][[/labelnote]]
->'''Role:''' Monarch[[note]]Head of State[[/note]] (Overlord keeps monarchy in Puppet Germany or [[spoiler:Secret republican path, Empire restored]]), [[spoiler:Reichpräsident[[note]]Head of State[[/note]] (Secret republican path)]]
->'''Party:''' Nationalkomitee Freies Deutschland[[note]]National Committee for a Free Germany[[/note]], [[spoiler:DVP (Secret republican path)]]
->'''Ideology:''' Authoritarian Democracy, [[spoiler:Market Liberalism (Secret republican path)]]

->'''Role:''' Prussian Minister of War, Reichskanzler[[note]]Head of Government[[/note]] (1936 election, inconclusive result)

->'''Role:''' Reichskanzler[[note]]Head of Government[[/note]] (1936 election, SPD majority or von Schleicher removed)

* TimedMission: The ''Demand for Action'' timed mission demands from the player it fulfills the objectives of the ''Liegnitz Programme''. Should the player fail to do so before the countdown reaches 0, the SPD will rebel against its own government and enforce a more aggressive outlook.

->'''Ideology:''' Paternal Autocracy, National Populism

* AllohistoricalAllusion: Bauer can opt to not restore the Kaiser and instead maintain himself as the sole leader of his totalitarian Germany, just like UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler refused any restoration of the Hohenzollern dynasty.

->'''Official Name:''' German Empire, German Republic ([[spoiler:secret republican path]]), Free Socialist Republic of Germany (Socialist puppet state)

** The first focus of the socialist puppet state's tree is named "Risen From The Ruins" after the national anthem of OTL East Germany.

->'''Party:''' NFD, [[spoiler:DVP (Secret republican path)]]

->'''Party:''' NFD

->'''Party:''' NFD

Reichskanzler of the Schwarz-Weiß-Rot coalition in the German Rework.

[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_erwin_von_witzleben_kr.png]]

[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_gerd_von_rundstedt_kr.png]]

[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_erich_hoepner_kr.png]]

[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_erich_von_manstein_kr.png]]

[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_heinz_guderian_kr.png]]

[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_erich_raeder_kr.png]]

[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_germany_karl_liebknecht_0.png]]

[[quoteright:156:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/portrait_ger_erich_wollenberg.png]]

A German Socialist political activist who can lead the East Prussian Union if Germany is taken over by Socialists and splits off East Prussia

** Under the SPD [[spoiler:a Republic will be declared but it is possible after winning the war for Wilhelm IV to get himself elected president and restore the Empire.]]

->'''Role:''' Military Commander, Monarch[[note]]Head of State[[/note]] (Wilhelm II succession)

** He becomes available as a general during the [=2WK=] after an event in the rework, with average stats. Through a combination of events[[labelnote:spoiler]]First triggering the secret republican path, which itself involves taking Germany to below 50% surrender limit, having fewer divisions than both France ''or'' Russia, and having an unoccupied naval base. An event will then trigger with the Kaiser and his family evacuating Germany, where Crown Prince Wilhelm can remain behind and continue the fight.[[/labelnote]], Wilhelm can [[spoiler: be elected as president of the new German Republic, with his fame as a war hero making the job his for the taking. He can then choose to remain president or reestablish the monarchy.[[/spoiler]]

* AuthorityInNameOnly: Münzenberg is placed in power only temporary until a leader aligning with Germany's overlord ideology can be chosen.

->'''Official Name:''' German Empire, German Republic ([[spoiler:Secret republican path]]), Free Socialist Republic of Germany (Socialist puppet state)

* MechanicallyUnusualClass: Germany since the rework has what is easily the most unusual way of dealing with Black Monday. A huge majority of affected countries have a specific recovery focus tree that will over time reduce the debuffs. A few others have minigames that tie into their political situation, managing numbers for one faction or the other. But Germany has a ''card game'' to solve Black Monday, where the player must play cards representing financial solutions where every round presents a new "crisis", with a score that the cards must match or beat to win the round. However, playing cards [[CastFromHitPoints accumulates debt]], and the player will lose if debt gets too high. A small focus tree allows the player to add new cards to their deck and reduce their overall debt levels. And in this game, [[WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries card games]] really ''are'' [[SeriousBusiness serious business]]: Losing means defaulting on your national debt, giving Germany the single biggest debuff in the game.

* WonTheWarLostThePeace: Much more so in the rework. Victory in the west is a much closer affair and results in a treaty very close to a ''status quo ante bellum''. In the east, the victory over Russia is as total as before, but with other recent reworks of Reichspakt nations like Poland and Ukraine allowing for more alternate paths, their hold over their client states is tenuous as best. It takes less than a decade after the Weltkrieg for the mood of brimming confidence of a continental hegemon to again be replaced with one of being a potential target surrounded by enemies and rivals.

* RedScare: Von Schleicher motivates his policies in order to deal with the threat posed by the French Commune and its ideology.

[[folder:Max Bauer]]
->'''Role:''' [[spoiler:Head of State (Secret Bauer putsch path)]]

* AllohistoricalAllusion: [[spoiler:Bauer can opt to not restore the Kaiser and instead maintain himself as the sole leader of his totalitarian Germany, just like UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler refused any restoration of the Hohenzollern dynasty.]]
* ANaziByAnyOtherName: [[spoiler:Bauer establishes a totalitarian nationalist dictatorship and seeks to greatly expand Germany's territory. His focus tree also contains several references to OTL Nazi Germany.]]
* ShoutOut: [[spoiler:One focus of his tree is named Film/TriumphOfTheWill.]]
* PersecutedIntellectuals: [[spoiler:One focus of Bauer's tree is to disband the universities.]]
* ThePurge: [[spoiler:Bauer will institute a "Black Terror" after taking power.]]

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: Zentrum, both in real life and in the mod, was almost exclusively Catholic. Despite this, the Protestant Dönitz can become a high-ranking member

* InSpiteOfANail: Karl Dönitz can become supreme commander of the German Navy, a position he historically held from 1943 to 1945.

->'''Official Name:''' German Empire, Free Socialist Republic of Germany (Socialist puppet state)

->'''Role:''' Monarch[[note]]Head of State[[/note]] (Overlord keeps monarchy in Puppet Germany or [[spoiler:Secret path, Empire restored]]), [[spoiler:Reichpräsident[[note]]Head of State[[/note]] (Secret path)]]
->'''Party:''' NFD, [[spoiler:DVP (Secret path)]]
->'''Ideology:''' Authoritarian Democracy, [[spoiler:Market Liberalism (Secret path)]]

->'''Role:''' [[spoiler:Head of State (Secret path)]]