Wilhelm II of Germany

Wilhelm II of Germany (born Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert von Preußen 27 January, 1859–4 June 1941), was the last German Emperor (Kaiser) and the last King (König) of Prussia, ruling from 1888 to 1918.

Reign

His rule was noted for his militaristic push to assert German power. He sought to expand German colonial holdings, "a place in the sun". Under the Tirpitz Plan, through the Naval Bills of 1897 and 1900, the German navy was built up to contend with that of the United Kingdom. The Kaiser had long been envious of his grandmother's (Queen Victoria) Empire and Navy. In 1889 he said to Francis Joseph of Austria-Hungary that "the day of Austria-Hungarian mobilisation, for whatever cause, will be the day of German mobilisation too." His personality and policies oscillated between antagonizing and amusing Britain, France, and Russia. He dismissed Otto von Bismarck in 1890 and abandoned the Chancellor's careful policies, replacing him with Leo Graf von Caprivi, who in turn was replaced by Prince Chlodwig zu Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst in 1894. He was followed by Prince Bernhard von Bülow in 1900 and Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg in 1909. All of these Chancellors were senior civil servants and not politicians like Bismarck. Wilhelm wanted to preclude the emergence of another Bismarck.

Related Topics:
Militaristic - Tirpitz - 1897 - 1900 - United Kingdom - Queen Victoria - 1889 - Francis Joseph - Austria-Hungary - Otto von Bismarck - 1890 - Leo Graf von Caprivi - Prince Chlodwig zu Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst - Bernhard von Bülow - Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg

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Despite his attitude it is difficult to say that he sought World War I, although he did little to halt it. The contemporary British reference to World War I as the Kaiser's War is now seen as unfair and unjustified in its false suggestions that Wilhelm was personally responsible for the conflict. Nevertheless, his blatant militarism and push to endorse the German military establishment and industry (most notable the Krupp corporation) forced his empire into an armaments race with competing European powers. Once this race gained sufficient momentum, war seemed inevitable.

Related Topics:
World War I - Krupp

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He had allied with Austria-Hungary and encouraged their hard-line in the Balkans, and although he lost his nerve at the last minute it was too late, and he soon recovered to push his generals for great achievements. During the war he was Commander in Chief but he soon lost all control of German policy and his popularity plunged.

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