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How did Wilhelm II and Bethmann Hollweg respond after Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated?

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Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany in military uniform, wearing a fur hat with a prominent skull emblem and various medals and decorations on his chest. — Wilhelm II Wilhelm II, the last German emperor.

Following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in June 1914, William II and Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg responded by urging Austria-Hungary to take strong, decisive measures against Serbia.12

Recognizing that the stability of their only reliable ally was at risk, they pledged unconditional support to Austria-Hungary should a conflict escalate into a broader war. German leadership viewed this as a strategic necessity; they were pessimistic about the long-term power balance against the Triple Entente and believed that if a general European conflict were inevitable, it was preferable for it to occur sooner rather than later.312

While they initially hoped for a localized conflict that would result in a quick Austrian victory, they were prepared for a wider war if Russia intervened. Furthermore, the German government believed that if the war were framed as a defense against tsarist Russia, the German public would be more likely to rally behind the war effort.12