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Wilhelm II. deutscher
Kaiser und König von Preußen
(27.01.1859 - 04.06.1941)
place of birth: Potsdam, Brandenburg
Königreich
Preußen: Seine
Majestät der Kaiser und König;
Oberster Kriegsherr
Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert von Preußen,
was Queen Victoria's eldest grandchild. Wilhelm (William) was a
descendant of the Hohenzollern Dynasty; at the age of 29 he was crowned
Wilhelm II, becoming the last German Emperor and King of Prussia. Wilhelm, also referred to as William, did not like Bismarck,
however (main conflict was over social policy), and thus dismissed him in 1890. A birth
defect rendered his left arm embarrassingly withered and useless.
He became obsessed with mysticism and thoroughly believed in rule by divine
right.
His loathing of England was due to an extreme inferiority complex
and was fueled by the hatred of his English mother, whom he placed
under house arrest upon his father's death.
Kaiser Wilhelm II gloried in the
Prussian Army's militaristic traditions, and his policies of
German aggrandizement paved the way to war in 1914. During the war,
his influence declined and once Hindenburg
& Ludendorff had come into full power, he had lost most of his
effective power. He was forced to abdicate in
November 1918 and was exiled to the Netherlands. Wilhelm II
was described by his uncle, King Edward VII, as the 'most
brilliant failure in history'. The Kaiser died on 4 June
1941 in exile in Doorn, Netherlands.
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deutscher
Kaiser ................ |
15.06.1888
- 28.11.1918 |
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König
von Preußen ........... |
15.06.1888
- 28.11.1918 |
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Generalfeldmarschall ..... |
03.05.1900 |
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Großkreuz
des EK ............ |
11.12.1916 |
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Pour
le Mérite .................... |
15.02.1915
(Eichenlaub: 12.05.1915) |
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"A
difficult hour has broken over Germany. Envious people
everywhere force us to a justifiable defense. The sword is
forced into our hands. I hope that if, in the final hour,
my efforts to bring our opponents to insight and to peace
do not succeed, we, with God's help will wield the sword
in such a way that we can then, with honors, sheath it
more firmly. A war would demand from the German people
enormous sacrifices in property and blood. But we would
show our enemies what it means to attack Germany. And now
I bid you go with God to church, kneel before Him and ask
that He will help our good army!"
Kaiser Wilhelm II
Berlin, 1 August 1914 |
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