Books on the Hohenzollerns

The John Rohl series is about as in-depth as you can get. He's written 3 (?) volumes so far. The first deals with the Kaiser from birth to his becoming Emperor--and it's about 800+ pages alone. I don't know how far the 2nd goes. There is a 3rd book by Rohl but I'm not sure if it's solely on Wilhelm and his relationship with his government or the 3rd part. I've only gotten to read the first so far--they are very expensive so your library or inter-library loan is the way to go.

The books, Vols 1 & 2 in the series:

Young Wilhelm: Kaiser's Early Life, 1859-1888 ISBN: 0521497523

Wilhelm II the Kaisers Personal Monarchy, 1888-1900 ISBN: 0521819202
Book Description: Cambridge University Press. (1310 pages) The most detailed account ever written of the first half of Kaiser Wilhelm II's reign.Kaiser Wilhelm II (1859-1941) was the last ruler of Imperial Germany and a key figure in German history as it followed its fatal course from Bismarck to Hitler. This book provides the most detailed account ever written of the first half of his reign.Kaiser Wilhelm II (1859-1941) was a key figure in German history as it followed its fatal course from Bismarck to Hitler. This book provides the most detailed account ever written of the first half of his reign. It is concerned primarily with the question of who controlled Germany's powerful machinery of government, with how its domestic and foreign policy was decided upon, and with the question of the continuity - or inevitability - of German history from the foundation of the Second Reich by Bismarck to Hitler's Third Reich.Kaiser Wilhelm II (1859-1941) ruled Imperial Germany from his accession in 1888 to his enforced abdication in 1918 at the end of the First World War. This book, based on a wealth of previously unpublished archival material, provides the most detailed account ever written of the first half of his reign. Following on from John Röhl's definitive and highly acclaimed Young Wilhelm: The Kaiser's Early Life, 1859-1888 (1998), the volume demonstrates the monarch's dynastic arrogance and the wounding abuse he showered on his own people as, step by step, he built up his personal power. His thirst for glory, his overweening nationalism and militarism and his passion for the navy provided the impetus for a breathtaking long-term goal: the transformation of the German Reich into the foremost power in the world. Urgent warnings from all sides, both against the revival of a semi-absolute Personal Monarchy on the threshold to the twentieth century and against the challenge his goal of 'world power' implied for the existing World Powers Great Britain, France and Russia were brushed aside by the impetuous young ruler with his faithful military retinue and blindly devoted court favourites. Soon the predicted consequences - constitutional crisis at home and diplomatic isolation abroad - began to make their alarming appearance.Preface to the English edition; Preface to the German edition; 1. The accession; 2. The first state visits; 3. The Kaiser and his mother; 4. An ominous family quarrel; 5. The young Kaiser: a sketch drawn from nature; 6. First steps in foreign affairs; 7. The pillars of imperial power; 8. The domination of the Bismarcks; 9. The Bismarck crisis begins; 10. The Kaiser, the Chancellor and the Kartell; 11. Constitutional conflicts; 12. Bismarck's fall from power; 13. The haphazard transition: from the Bismarcks to the New Course; 14. In Bismarck's footsteps: the conduct of foreign policy under the New Course; 15. The dualism of power; 16. The fall of the Court Generals; 17. The School Bill crisis and the fragmentation of power; 18. Dynastic diplomacy; 19. The rude awakening; 20. The predictable disaster: Wilhelm II and the 'public soul' of Germany; 21. Caprivi's dismissal; 22. Head of the family; 23. The Kaiser and the 'Newest Course'; 24. An enemy of the people; 25. Wilhelm and world politics; 26. Great Britain and the spectre of encirclement; 27. Endgame: the breakthrough to decisive personal power; 28. Personal Monarchy: Wilhelm II at the summit of power; 29. The Kaiser, art and architecture; 30. The challenge: from continental policy to Weltpolitik; 31. The Kaiser and England; 32. Wilhelm and the birth of the German battle fleet; 33. 'Young Germany, your Kaiser ' or what was wrong with Wilhelm II?; List of archival sources; Select bibliography; Index.'. his scholarship is profound and beyond reproach. This biography of the last German Kaiser is a monument not only to its mercurial subject, but also to a highly distinctive academic career.' Times Literary Supplement'This biography is definitive by being exhaustive. . This is a wonderful example of scholarship.

Kaiser and his Court: Wilhelm II and the Government of Germany ISBN: 0521565049

Book Description: A personal and political analysis of the reign of Kaiser Wilhelm II using new archival sources.This book analyses the extraordinary personality of Kaiser Wilhelm II, his anti-semitism, the nature of his rule, and the neo-absolutist culture of Berlin court society.Within a couple of decades of taking over from Bismark Kaiser Wilhelm II had led the German Reich into world war and collapse. How did the Kaiser come to have so much power? Using new archival sources, this book analyses the Kaiser and the nature of his rule. After providing an original character-sketch of the Kaiser, the book examines the Kaiser's friends and favourites, the neo-absolutist culture of the court and of Berlin court society, and the nature of his relationship with the court and with the administrative corps in Prussia and the Reich. A final chapter reveals for the first time the extent of the exiled Kaiser's anti-semitism.Kaiser Wilhelm II, Queen Victoria's eldest grandchild, took over the running of the powerful German Reich from Bismarck and within a couple of decades had led it into world war and collapse. How did the Kaiser come to have so much power? Why was there no one to help him steer a less disastrous course? This book analyses these crucial questions with the help of a wealth of new archival sources. The book begins with a character-sketch of the Kaiser which provides new and alarming insights into his personality. It then looks, crucially, at the Kaiser's friends and favourites, the neo-absolutist culture of the court and of Berlin court society, and at the nature of his relationship with the court on the one hand and with the administrative 'pyramid' in Prussia and the Reich on the other. The book makes clear that these bureaucrats and diplomats had neither the means nor the will to oppose the overwhelming determination of the Kaiser and his close friends and advisers in directing the policies of the most dynamic and volatile state in Europe. The dangerous consequences of this situation led to the brink of world war as early as December 1912. A final chapter reveals for the first time the appalling extent and nature of the exiled Kaiser's anti-semitism.Preface to the English edition; Introduction; 1. Kaiser Wilhelm II: a suitable case for treatment?; 2. Philipp Eulenburg, the Kaiser's best friend; 3. The Kaiser's court; 4. The 'kingship mechanism' in the Kaiserreich; 5. Higher civil servants in Wilhelmine Germany; 6. The splendour and impotence of the German diplomatic service; 7. Dress rehearsal in December: military decision-making on the eve of the First World War; 8. Kaiser Wilhelm II and German anti-semitism.'The Kaiser and his Court is solid and speculative; it is cautious and provocative. It is brilliant history.' Washington Times'. superbly researched and fluently written.' Andrew Roberts, The Sunday Telegraph'. cool, spare, scholarly. But for all that, John Röhl has written a startling, even sensational book . (his) brilliant study chillingly reveals Kaiser Wilhelm II as a grandparent of the great horrors of the twentieth century.' Peter Bradshaw, The Evening Standard

Kaiser Wilhelm II: New Interpretations ISBN: 0521019907

Description: (333 pages) As assessment of the Kaiser's character and its implications on Imperial German history.This book contains the findings of a dozen historians who met in the Kaiser's palace on Corfu in 1979 to discuss the significance of Kaiser Wilhelm II's character, which had previously been virtually ignored by German historians. They examine his background, his role in decision-making and his relationship to the social and cultural values of his era.Kaiser Wilhelm II is one of the most fascinating figures in European history and yet he has been virtually ignored by German historians. Recently, the conviction has been growing, in Germany as well as America and Britain, that the huge advances made in the social and economic history of Imperial Germany must now be complemented by deeper research into the Kaiser's character. This book contains the findings of a dozen historians who met in the Kaiser's palace on Corfu in 1979.Kaiser Wilhelm II (1859-1941) is one of the most fascinating figures in European history. Inheriting the 'mightiest throne on earth' in 1888, he played a central part in fashioning the policies which culminated in the catastrophe of 1914-18, the collapse of the Reich, and his own abdication. To an extraordinary extent he was also representative of his epoch: brilliant, bizarre, aggressive, insecure. Yet German historians have virtually ignored him. They have written the history of the Kaiserreich without the Kaiser, of Wilhelminism without Wilhelm, leaving the field to the amateurs. Recently, the conviction has been growing, in Germany as well as in American and Great Britain, that the huge advances achieved in the social and economic history of Imperial Germany must now be complemented by deeper research into the Kaiser's character, his role in decision-making, and his relationship to the social and cultural values of his era. In September 1979, a dozen historians met in the Kaiser's palace on Corfu to discuss these questions: this book contains their findings.List of illustrations; Introduction John C. G. Röhl; 2. Kaiser Wilhelm II and his parents: an inquiry into the psychological roots of German policy towards England before the First World War Thomas A. Kohut; 3. History as family chronicle: Kaiser Wilhelm II and the dynastic roots of the Anglo-German antagonism Lamar Cecil; 4. The Kaiser and the British: the state visit to Windsor, November 1907 Jonathan Steinberg; 5. The Kaiser and German Weltpolitik: reflexions on Wilhelm II's place in the making of German foreign policy Paul Kennedy; 6. Kaiser Wilhelm II in the context of his military and naval entourage Wilhelm Deist; 7. Kaiser Wilhelm II and the 'Liebenberg Circle' Isabel V. Hull; 8. The decisive relationship: Kaiser Wilhelm II and Chancellor Bernhard von Bülow, 1900-1905 Kathy Lerman; 9. The Daily Telegraph affair and its aftermath: the Kaiser, Bülow and the Reichstag, 1908-1909 Terence F. Cole; 10. Images of Kaiserdom: German attitudes to Kaiser Wilhelm II Elisabeth Fehrenbach; 11. The Kaiser in his epoch: some reflections on Wilhelmine society, sexuality and culture Nicolaus Sombart; Index.

Does anyone know of any (English) books or websites on the Kaiser's army and navy? I'm particularly looking for descriptions and/or photos of the uniforms of the troops. Thanks!

Bonsoir Noirfemme,

Here are a few reference links ; I'd start by the first two :

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If you want to see period photos of uniform, I'd suggest that dealer's website :
www.imperialgermanphotographs.de
There's EXCELLENT reference here.

This one is GREAT as well :
http://www.kaisersbunker.com/
(scroll down to the "uniform" section)
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Those if you want to know more :

Lots of info about the Prussian army organization here (in German) :
http://www.preussenweb.de/preussstart.htm

For vintage uniform plates (i.e. drawings in color), browse these :
http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgtitle_tree.cfm?title_id=750385&level=2&tword=

Excellent stuff here - but it's getting more technical ! :
http://www.pickelhauben.net/

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Last, if you're interested in Cavalry uniforms (hussars), I have a German Hussars page on my own website :
http://www.hussards-photos.com/

Should get you started 
Bonsoir,
Jérôme

Dear members,

Who haves this book. Is this a coffee table book?

Die Hohenzollern in Lebensbilder, Peter Mast.

[European Royal History Journal]

I found it dreadfully boring with photos one has seen many many times before.

Arturo Beéche

Ok I have been doing a lot of reading this last month or so and i was excited to put my hands on this book (before reading it) and after reading it i found a few little errors but not enough or more so than any other book , but what greatly bothered me was the way he portrayed Emperor Fredreich III as an idiot.  Anyone else read this book ?  Feel the same way?

I have not read this book; I am currently reading King, Kaiser, Tsar.

but, it is very strange to portray Fritz as an idiot. He was quite the opposite. At minimum, QV and Vicky, both definitely capable of spotting idiots, adored him and considered him the great hope for the future of Europe, in many ways. Bisamarck and WII may have been unkind and demeaning about Fritz, but theirs was a political agenda having little to do with the realities of smarts, sensiblities, and character.

Now I have a bias about the author and the contents of the book! Try to read it anyway.

I have the book as well but it has been some time since I last read it.  However, I do not think Mr. Aronson was unsympathetic to FIII at all.   On the contrary, I think he was quite objective. If there was any bias on Aronson's part, it was against WII, but even there he is pretty even-handed, I feel. I knew Aronson personally, and he often expressed great admiration for FIII & Vicky and what a loss he was because of his untimely death.  As for Wilhelm II, the book was published in 1971, long before the trend to re-evaluate and perhaps rehabilitate him began.

Without finding the exact passage, i know that he referred to him as a fool atleast 2 times, I was just shocked b/c i have never seen Fritz referred to as such.

Also there was one part of the book i had never read before either, it wasn't in the Empress Fred..... letters, nor in Uncomman woman by Pakula, but Aronson stated that right before Fritz's death, Vicky appeared before Bismark with a Signed and Sealed order demaning bismark to turn over to Vicky, a huge portion of Wilhelm's estate that very day as well as the younger 3 girls dowry's too.  I had never heard it told that way, it makes me admire Vicky even more.


I Also agree with the statement that Fritz's death was Tragic, and how germany might have been different we'll never know, and Vicky is one of my favorites of all time, I find her life to be one of the biggest mistakes and wastes of Germany in the last 300 years.  It was truly Germany's loss.

I have taken the book down and started to re-read it. Have not found anything as yet either. However, I know for a fact that Theo admired FIII BTW, what edition do you have? Mine is just THE KAISERS [no 3]

I have never read the book myself (unfortunately) but I was just wondering in what context Friedrich III was referred to a "a fool"....I find it difficult to imagine how anyone could describe him in those terms as he was indeed (at least in my humble opinion) a great loss to Germany. Thus I would be curious to know that background to the rather surprising statement.

Thanks in advance!

I have already returned my copy that i read, ( got it through interlibrary loan), So i can't find the exact page but I know i read it.  I wasn't making any personal comments on Mr. Aronson, i guess what i was trying to say and if i misled the statement i'm sorry, i was just stating that I was shocked b/c i had never seen any negative statements against FIII.

No need to worry about it. I shall find the quotes- eventually and I think we will find that Aronson was quoting someone else. He was never judgemental of his subjects- even the ones he truly did not care for!