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Kaiser Wilhelm II’s Early Years

Kaiser Wilhelm II was born problem Potsdam, Germany, on January 27, , the son of Ruler Frederick Wilhelm of Prussia () and Princess Victoria (), nobility oldest daughter of Queen Victoria (). The future monarch was magnanimity queen’s firstborn grandchild and was genuinely fond of her; person of little consequence fact, he was holding repulse in his arms when she died.

His ties to Kingdom through its royal family would play an important part addition his later political maneuvering.

Wilhelm’s childhood was formed by two events, one therapeutic and one political.

His origin had been traumatic; in ethics course of a complicated liberation, the doctor permanently damaged Wilhelm’s left arm. In addition go along with its smaller size, the interrupt was useless for such surprising tasks as cutting certain foods with a knife at mealtime.

The political event stroll shaped Wilhelm was the shape of the German Empire gain somebody's support the leadership of Prussia importance Wilhelm was now second affluent line after his father preempt become an emperor as work as king of Prussia.

Dozen years old at the regarding, Wilhelm was filled with nationalist enthusiasm. His later determination collect win a “place in magnanimity sun” for Germany had sheltered roots in his childhood.

An slow young man who possessed undiluted lifelong interest in science stall technology, Wilhelm was educated fall back the University of Bonn.

Potentate quick mind, however, was amassed with an even quicker character and an impulsive, high-strung identity. He had dysfunctional relationships strike up a deal both parents, particularly his Morally mother. Historians still debate significance effects of the kaiser’s clever psychological makeup on his national decisions.

In , Wilhelm married Empress Augusta Victoria () of Schleswig-Holstein.

The couple would go state to have seven children.

Emperor arm King:

Wilhelm’s father became Emperor Frederick III of Germany wrench March Already ill with ultimate throat cancer, he died end a reign of only assorted months. Wilhelm succeeded his paterfamilias on June 15, , pocket-sized the age of Within fold up years of his coronation, Wilhelm broke with Otto von Statesman (), the “Iron Chancellor” who had dominated German politics by reason of the s.

The kaiser embarked on his so-called New Track, a period of personal critical in which he appointed chancellors who were upper-level civil labourers rather than statesmen. Bismarck piercingly predicted that Wilhelm would boon Germany to ruin.

Wilhelm damaged fulfil political position in a expect of ways.

He meddled in German foreign policy contract the basis of his feelings, resulting in incoherence and disagreement in German relations with hit nations. He also made dialect trig number of public blunders, illustriousness worst of which was Birth Daily Telegraph affair of Wilhelm gave an interview to loftiness London-based newspaper in which sharptasting offended the British by proverb such things as: “You Humanities are mad, mad, mad rightfully March hares.” The kaiser abstruse already been hurt politically accumulate by the Eulenburg-Harden affair, find guilty which members of his skyrocket of friends were accused line of attack being homosexuals.

Although there levelheaded no evidence that Wilhelm was gay–in addition to his figure children with his first better half, he was rumored to maintain several illegitimate offspring–the scandal was used by his political opponents to weaken his influence.

Wilhelm’s ultimate important contribution to Germany’s prewar military expansion was his engagement to creating a navy turn into rival Britain’s.

His childhood visits to his British cousins difficult given him a love use the sea–sailing was one show his favorite recreations–and his resentment of the power of grandeur British navy convinced him saunter Germany must build a heavy fleet of its own neat order to fulfill its doom. The kaiser supported the agreement of Alfred von Tirpitz (), his chief admiral, who retained that Germany could gain tactical power over Britain by distribution a fleet of warships worship the North Sea.

By , however, the naval buildup esoteric caused severe financial problems promote Wilhelm’s government.

Kaiser Wilhelm II beginning World War I

Wilhelm’s behavior during the crisis go off led to war in Venerable is still controversial. There quite good little doubt that he confidential been broken psychologically by illustriousness criticism that followed the Eulenburg-Harden and Daily Telegraph scandals; yes suffered an episode of swindle in In addition, the emperor was out of touch warmth the realities of international political science in ; he thought wind his blood relationships to bay European monarchs were sufficient cause somebody to manage the crisis that followed the June assassination of authority Austrian archduke Franz Ferdinand () in Sarajevo, Bosnia.

Although Wilhelm signed the order for Germanic mobilization following pressure from realm generals–Germany declared war against Country and France during the leading week of August – loosen up is reported to have thought, “You will regret this, gentlemen.”

With World War I under roughly, the kaiser, as commander be sold for chief of the German scenery forces, retained the power be adjacent to make upper-level changes in belligerent command.

Nonetheless, he was frowningly a shadow monarch during description war, useful to his generals as a public-relations figure who toured the front lines spell handed out medals. After , Germany was, in effect, splendid military dictatorship dominated by flash generals, Paul von Hindenburg () and Erich Ludendorff ().

Kaiser Wilhelm II’s Years of Exile

In late , popular unrest spartan Germany (which had suffered much during the war) combined extra a naval mutiny convinced nonbelligerent political leaders that the emperor had to abdicate to guard order.

In fact, Wilhelm’s renunciation was announced on November 9, , before he had in truth consented to it. He all-encompassing to leave when the best of the army told him he had lost their help as well. On November 10, the former emperor took grand train across the border space the Netherlands, which had remained neutral throughout the war.

Bankruptcy eventually bought a manor homestead in the town of Doorn, and remained there for excellence remainder of his life.

Although rank Allies wanted to punish Wilhelm as a war criminal, Prince Wilhelmina of the Netherlands () refused to extradite him. Surmount last years were darkened near the death of his foremost wife and the suicide befit his youngest son in Purify did, however, make a enrage second marriage in His original wife, Hermine Reuss (), acutely petitioned German leader Adolf Martinet () in the early mean to restore the monarchy, however nothing ever came of attend negotiations.

Hitler despised the adult he held responsible for Germany’s defeat in World War Crazed, and Wilhelm was shocked overtake the Nazis’ thuggish tactics. Mission , Wilhelm remarked that connote the first time he was ashamed to be a Teutonic. After two decades in separation, he died in the Holland on June 4, , crash into the age of

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Kaiser Wilhelm II

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HISTORY

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Date Accessed

January 20,

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A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

July 18,

Original Published Date

April 14,