Books on the Hohenzollerns

He could've remarked on a foolish decision FIII made (many considered his loyalty, completely unrepaid, to his father when there was a chance to force WI into keeping his threat to abdicate back in the 1860s/1870s to be such a decision) rather than considering FIII himself a fool. No one is perfect and there's no doubt that FIII and Vicky both made some bad decisions along the way.

Yes, especially when it came to child-rearing it would seem. But then, we all make mistakes along the way...

That is an interesting point! Where did they go wrong or how come they made such a mess of rearing their eldest son? Mind you, I think that unfortunately some children can be difficult, irrespective of what the parents do or don't do and I also think young Willy spent a great deal of time with his grandfather, Wilhelm I, although I stand open to correction on that one.

Part of the problem was they didn't rear their eldest son. Much of his upbringing was dictated by Wilhelm I and those around him. Similarly with Charlotte and Henry. Wilhelm and Augusta had done a good job with Fritz's upbringing but the climate and their position was different by the time it came to Willy's schooling.

Thanks Grandduchessella! I though that Wilhelm I had a large say in the education of his grandson, but I was not sure. Thank you for confirming my suspicions. I know it was galling for Vicky to see how her eldest son developed (I think she mentioned it in letters to her mother), but did Fritz ever comment on it?

I think that in William's early years, Fritz and Vicky were able to have their way in his education, for example, the school in Kassel he attended with Henry for three years. But, that influence seems to have been short -ived. At 18, William got way ahead of himself in terms of self import, due in large part to the attention his grandfather gave him and the fact that his grandfather seems to have taken the reins of control out of the hands of Fritz and Vicky. Vicky probably made a tactical error in begging QV to aware William the Order of Garter when he was only 18 and not a sovereign (or immediate heir) but I think Vicky may have thought this would have endeared William to her, but it seems to have added to his own sense of false superiority.

I have been going through the book carefully and have not yet found any negative assessment of FIII .  However, I leave for England  at the end of the week and may not get all the way through! Theo is a wonderful narrative historian and I am enjoying re-reading The Kaisers. I suggest anyone interested in the Hohenzollerns at least give it a go... and if anyone finds the "foolish" citations, please direct me to them.

I have the 1971 Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc. edition and it is called The Kaisers.

I read it some time ago, but I will try to find any "foolish" criticism by the author.  But I agree with Robert that Theo Aronson is one of the best narrative biographers and historians.  I always find his books informative and a pleasure to read.

I have four of his books and would like to have more.  But I like to try to get the original printings and so can not always afford them.  For example A Family of Kings.  I have a reprint, but dearly love to get an original but the are usually only found in Denmark and/or South Africa and can cost over $100 US.

I remember reading a book on the 1st World War (Europe's Last Summer...I think.) And the author mentioned that some of the best work to examine in regards to European politics, leaders, and policies/events from 1800-2000, are generally any book written in the post-Fritz era, that being the historian-author Fritz.

But I think you guys have convinced me enough to check out this book.  It does seem interesting despite its age.   

I left for England before finishing my re-read, but I did get about 90% through it. I found no negative comments about FII.

Thank you very much! 

Here is a list of german princes who served in imperial navy

SKH Heinrich Prinz von Preussen 1862-1929 Grossadmiral
SKH Waldemar Prinz von Preussen  1889-1945
SKH Sigsimund Prinz von Preussen 1896-1978
SKH Adalbert Prinz von Preussen 1884-1948
SD Franz Joseph Prinz von Hohenzollern 1891-1964

SH Friedrich-Wilhelm Herzog von Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1871-1897)
SD Christian Prinz von Hessen-Philippsthal (1887-1971)
SD Heinrich XXVI Prinz Reuss j.L., Graf von Plauen (1857-1913)
SD Heinrich XXXII Prinz Reuss j.L. (1878-1935)
SD Heinrich XXXVII Prinz Reuss j.L. (1888-1964)
SD Hugo Prinz von Schwarzburg-Sondershausen,Korvette Kapitän (1839-1871)
SD Albrecht Prinz zu Schaumburg-Lippe (1900-1984)
SE Oskar Graf von Platen-Hallermund (1865-1957), Yacht Hohenzollern

As you can notice, they were generally the 3rd sons of their families, distants relatives

Don't hesitate, correct this list if there is a mistake, or add some I forgot
I found these infos on the site gallica http://gallica.bnf.fr/

i have look for this book for 3 years.

This may help you out.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/0904387771/ref=sr_1_olp_50?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1213711135&sr=1-50

Louise

Thank you, that's interesting. Among the main branch of the Hohenzollerns, only Heinrich and his sons, and Adalbert; did none of the grandsons of the Kaiser ever serve in the navy?

Prince Franz Joseph of Hohenzollern must presumably have been a fairly distant relation of the Kaiser. He served in S.M.S Emden and wrote a book about the remarkable adventures of the men of that ship has been translated in to English (Emden : My Experiences in S.M.S. Emden — London: Herbert Jenkins, 1928 ). Those who survived from the ship were allowed to add -Emden to their name, so he ended up as Prince Franz Joseph of Hohenzollern-Emden! He married one of the daughters of the last King of Saxony (Alix).