Wilhelm II Biography
| Born as | Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert |
| Known as | William II |
| Occup. | Statesman |
| From | Germany |
| Spouse | Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein |
| Born | January 27, 1859
Berlin, Germany |
| Died | June 4, 1941
Doorn, Netherlands |
| Cause | Natural causes |
| Aged | 82 years |
Kaiser Wilhelm II, born Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert von Preußen, was born upon January 27, 1859, in Potsdam, near Berlin, Germany. He was the oldest grand son of
Queen Victoria and the very first kid of Frederick III, German Emperor, and also Victoria, Princess Royal of the United Kingdom. He would certainly mature to become the last German Emperor and King of Prussia, leading his nation through a period of quick automation as well as militarization that would certainly culminate in World War I.
Wilhelm's childhood was incredibly sheltered, dominated by military self-control and a strict education and learning. He developed a strong inner voice and a desire to be regarded as a real leader. His deformity, a withered left arm arising from a terrible breech birth, more influenced his self-worth and decision to show his well worth.
On June 15, 1888, following the deaths of his daddy as well as grandpa, Wilhelm came to be Kaiser at the age of 29. An enthusiastic as well as impulsive leader, he sought to insist Germany's power on the world phase through aggressive diplomacy as well as a rapid development of its armed forces. Wilhelm's relationships with his British cousins,
King George V and Tsar
Nicholas II, were progressively strained leading up to World War I.
In the early 20th century, Wilhelm's priests urged him to promote an aggressive diplomacy, inciting the Moroccan Crisis in 1905 and also bring about tensions with various other European powers. While the crisis was at some point solved, it highlighted Germany's resolution to become a significant power as well as exacerbated existing stress in between nations.
In 1914, the murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by a Serbian nationalist set the wheels of battle in motion. Regardless of Wilhelm's hesitation to go into a full-blown war, his nation's mobilization and also critical alliances with Austria-Hungary as well as the Ottoman Empire caused the break out of World War I.
Wilhelm's role in the war was mostly symbolic, with military decisions being up to German generals
Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff. By the end of the war in 1918, Germany was facing imminent loss, and also the nation remained in social as well as political chaos.
Realizing that his abdication might aid produce tranquility, Wilhelm abdicated on November 9, 1918, getting away to the Netherlands to look for asylum. The Treaty of Versailles, checked in 1919, placed the blame for the battle on Germany as well as its allies, removing the country of its colonies and enforcing serious punitive damages.
In exile, Wilhelm lived silently for the remainder of his life, often sharing resentment and also remorse over his role in World War I. His imagine returning to power were never ever understood, as the progressively fascist nation led by
Adolf Hitler did not look for to recover the monarchy.
Kaiser Wilhelm II died in his Dutch home of Huis Doorn on June 4, 1941, at the age of 82, widely regarded as a deeply problematic leader whose pompousness and also impetuosity added to the episode of World War I and the ultimate collapse of the German Empire.
Our collection contains 11 quotes who is written / told by Wilhelm.
Related authors: Adolf Hitler (Criminal), John Tillotson (Theologian), Bill Pascrell (Politician), Nicholas II (Royalty), Frederick II (Royalty), Theodor Herzl (Journalist), King George V (Royalty), Queen Victoria (Royalty), Lawrence Taylor (Athlete), Paul von Hindenburg (President)
Source / external links:
