The leaders of the Central Powers: Wilhelm II of Germany, Franz Joseph I of Austria, Mehmet V of Turkey, and Ferdinand I of Bulgaria
The Central Powers was an alliance established on 28 June 1914 between the German Empire and Austria-Hungary, with the Ottoman Empire joining the alliance on 2 August 1914 and Bulgaria joining the alliance on 14 October 1915. The Central Powers consisted of a mere four member states, but they controlled extensive territories, with Germany controlling colonies in Africa and the Pacific and the Turks controlling lands in the Middle East in addition to Asia Minor. The Central Powers was dissolved on 11 November 1918 after being defeated by the Triple Entente during World War I.