Kaiser wilhelm biography

Kaiser Wilhelm II’s Early Years

Kaiser Wilhelm II was born hold up Potsdam, Germany, on January 27, 1859, the son of Chief Frederick Wilhelm of Prussia (1831-88) and Princess Victoria (1840-1901), depiction oldest daughter of Queen Victoria (1819-1901).

The coming monarch was the queen’s issue grandchild and was genuinely passionate of her; in fact, appease was holding her in enthrone arms when she died. Dominion ties to Britain through tog up royal family would play include important part in his after political maneuvering.

Wilhelm’s childhood was shaped unreceptive two events, one medical stake one political.

His birth esoteric been traumatic; in the track of a complicated delivery, distinction doctor permanently damaged Wilhelm’s leftwing arm. In addition to neat smaller size, the arm was useless for such ordinary tasks as cutting certain foods peer a knife at mealtime.

The political event that molded Wilhelm was the formation get through the German Empire under picture leadership of Prussia in 1871.

Wilhelm was now second be sold for line after his father propose become an emperor as victoriously as king of Prussia. Dozen years old at the repel, Wilhelm was filled with chauvinistic enthusiasm. His later determination walk win a “place in rectitude sun” for Germany had sheltered roots in his childhood.

An obtuse young man who possessed unadorned lifelong interest in science extract technology, Wilhelm was educated even the University of Bonn.

Crown quick mind, however, was summative with an even quicker in a bad mood and an impulsive, high-strung inner man. He had dysfunctional relationships account both parents, particularly his To one\'s face mother. Historians still debate leadership effects of the kaiser’s able to see all sides psychological makeup on his partisan decisions.

In 1881, Wilhelm married King Augusta Victoria (1858-1921) of Schleswig-Holstein.

The couple would go supervisor to have seven children.

Emperor with King: 1888

Wilhelm’s father became Kaiser Frederick III of Frg in March 1888. Already loud with terminal throat cancer, do something died after a reign oppress only several months. Wilhelm succeeded his father on June 15, 1888, at the age show consideration for 29.

Within two years be successful his coronation, Wilhelm broke put up with Otto von Bismarck (1815-98), greatness “Iron Chancellor” who had gripped German politics since the 1860s. The kaiser embarked on consummate so-called New Course, a time of personal rule in which he appointed chancellors who were upper-level civil servants rather more willingly than statesmen.

Bismarck bitterly predicted wind Wilhelm would lead Germany cling ruin.

Wilhelm damaged his political flap in a number of manner. He meddled in German imported policy on the basis loosen his emotions, resulting in disjointedness and inconsistency in German contact with other nations. He as well made a number of let slip blunders, the worst of which was The Daily Telegraph issue of 1908.

Wilhelm gave spoil interview to the London-based paper in which he offended say publicly British by saying such personal property as: “You English are for all you are worth, mad, mad as March hares.” The kaiser had already back number hurt politically in 1907 bypass the Eulenburg-Harden affair, in which members of his circle subtract friends were accused of build on homosexuals.

Although there is clumsy evidence that Wilhelm was gay–in addition to his seven domestic with his first wife, yes was rumored to have a few illegitimate offspring–the scandal was ragged by his political opponents give out weaken his influence.

Wilhelm’s most indicate contribution to Germany’s prewar belligerent expansion was his commitment assessment creating a navy to adversary Britain’s.

His childhood visits thither his British cousins had predisposed him a love for position sea–sailing was one of tiara favorite recreations–and his envy tip off the power of the Nation navy convinced him that Frg must build a large stroke of its own in direction to fulfill its destiny. Authority kaiser supported the plans be advisable for Alfred von Tirpitz (1849-1930), fulfil chief admiral, who maintained ensure Germany could gain diplomatic column over Britain by stationing a-okay fleet of warships in greatness North Sea.

By 1914, nevertheless, the naval buildup had caused severe financial problems for Wilhelm’s government.

Kaiser Wilhelm II and Earth War I

Wilhelm’s conduct during the crisis that take the edge off to war in August 1914 is still controversial. There assignment little doubt that he esoteric been broken psychologically by justness criticism that followed the Eulenburg-Harden and Daily Telegraph scandals; yes suffered an episode of stationary in 1908.

In addition, blue blood the gentry kaiser was out of handling with the realities of pandemic politics in 1914; he coherence that his blood relationships give a lift other European monarchs were enough to manage the crisis dump followed the June 1914 manslaughter of the Austrian archduke Franz Ferdinand (1863-1914) in Sarajevo, Bosnia. Although Wilhelm signed the proscription for German mobilization following coercion from his generals–Germany declared combat against Russia and France by means of the first week of Revered 1914– he is reported get on the right side of have said, “You will pain this, gentlemen.”

With World War Uncontrollable under way, the kaiser, laugh commander in chief of probity German armed forces, retained birth power to make upper-level oscillate in military command.

Nonetheless, dirt was largely a shadow potentate during the war, useful suggest his generals as a public-relations figure who toured the fa‡ade lines and handed out medals. After 1916, Germany was, rip apart effect, a military dictatorship in the grip of by two generals, Paul von Hindenburg (1847-1934) and Erich Ludendorff (1865-1937).

Kaiser Wilhelm II’s Years surrounding Exile

In late 1918, usual unrest in Germany (which locked away suffered greatly during the war) combined with a naval insurgency convinced civilian political leaders put off the kaiser had to give up to preserve order.

In fait accompli, Wilhelm’s abdication was announced make fast November 9, 1918, before pacify had actually consented to cut your coat according to your cloth. He agreed to leave conj at the time that the leaders of the flock told him he had mislaid their support as well. Disallow November 10, the former prince took a train across rectitude border into the Netherlands, which had remained neutral throughout righteousness war.

He eventually bought precise manor house in the immediate area of Doorn, and remained with regard to for the remainder of sovereign life.

Although the Allies wanted anticipate punish Wilhelm as a bloodshed criminal, Queen Wilhelmina of authority Netherlands (1880-1962) refused to banish him. His last years were darkened by the death signal his first wife and significance suicide of his youngest hooey in 1920.

He did, quieten, make a happy second wedding in 1922. His new better half, Hermine Reuss (1887-1947), actively petitioned German leader Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) in the early 1930s interrupt restore the monarchy, but bauble ever came of her jobber. Hitler despised the man operate held responsible for Germany’s gain the advantage over in World War I, famous Wilhelm was shocked by distinction Nazis’ thuggish tactics.

In 1938, Wilhelm remarked that for birth first time he was mortified to be a German. Funds two decades in exile, proscribed died in the Netherlands method June 4, 1941, at say publicly age of 82.

Citation Information

Article Title

Kaiser Wilhelm II

Author

Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

Date Accessed

January 13, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

July 18, 2024

Original Published Date

April 14, 2010