KAISER

(German) emperor. Reference to Kaiser Wilhelm II (1859–1941), German emperor (1888–1918). On the outbreak of the first Russian Revolution (March 1917) the Germans, with the object of weakening Russian war efforts, smuggled one of the key revolutionaries (Vladimir Lenin) into St. Petersburg. Lenin set about overthrowing the provisional government and seized power in a second revolution in November, ultimately becoming virtual dictator in Russia. In November of 1918, Wilhelm abdicated and fled to Holland after Germany was defeated in World War I. See also Lenin in this glossary. —SHSBC Binder 31 Approved Glossary