Kaiser Wilhelm II

[HerrKaiser]

It is most true that Wilhelm was not the complete fool and war monger portrayed by history of 100 years. Like most of history's wars and conflicts, the sides always seem to disagree on who said what to whom and who started "it". There are plenty of correspondences that show Wilhelm begging for peace; in fact, his chief representative in London was in TEARS, begging the government of Great Britain not to mobilize against Germany in August 1914. In fact, situations got beyond the control of both Willie and Nicky and their ministers took the reigns from them, no question. Had either monarch had more direct control of the situations, the somewhat minor (comparatively) issues during the summer of 1914 may likely have never escalated to the disaster of WWI. The social changes that resulted after the war would have likely emerged as a result of a more peaceful and and extended process.
The attitudes of the Wilhemine era are changing especially in Germany, Israel and Norway. In 2006, an international conference is being planned to re-study and re-consider the reign of William both culturally, socially and politically. It should be interesting!

[grandduchessella]

It is most true that Wilhelm was not the complete fool and war monger portrayed by history of 100 years. Like most of history's wars and conflicts, the sides always seem to disagree on who said what to whom and who started "it". There are plenty of correspondences that show Wilhelm begging for peace; in fact, his chief representative in London was in TEARS, begging the government of Great Britain not to mobilize against Germany in August 1914. In fact, situations got beyond the control of both Willie and Nicky and their ministers took the reigns from them, no question. Had either monarch had more direct control of the situations, the somewhat minor (comparatively) issues during the summer of 1914 may likely have never escalated to the disaster of WWI. The social changes that resulted after the war would have likely emerged as a result of a more peaceful and and extended process.
The attitudes of the Wilhemine era are changing especially in Germany, Israel and Norway. In 2006, an international conference is being planned to re-study and re-consider the reign of William both culturally, socially and politically. It should be interesting!

To me it always seems ironic that Wilhelm gets so much blame for WW1 while Franz Josef seems to get none. Sure, Willy egged him on to take harsh measures in retaliation for FF's assassination, but FJ had been a monarch for 40 yrs longer and was capable of making his own decisions even at his advanced age. It was HE who ultimately decided to tender the Serbs an unreasonable offer which he must've known would trigger a domino affect due to the various alliances. I mean, the man had been around for almost 70 YEARS. He ultimately could've told Wilhelm to butt out but he didn't and it was Austria which tipped off the war IMO. Maybe it's just easier to beat up on someone who strutted around banging the war drum rather than a old man who'd suffered so many losses and didn't live until the end of the war.

[HerrKaiser]

It is indeed ironic, but the losers always get the blame and when one of the losers is left "standing", all the blame seems to go his/her way.

However, it is worse for William. He actually did not push for Austria's demands on Serbia. W wanted Serbia to be punished, but everyone, including William felt the ulitmatums were too extensive for any country to submit to. William tried, in fact, to get FJ to lessen the demands, but to no avail. What William did do in response, was to get Serbia to agree, thereby avoiding a war. It is a famous quote by William, "We have achieved a moral victory (and war is avoided)". The Serbian crisis was smoothed over, but when Russia mobizied troops on the Serb border and France responded by supporting Russia, Germany followed with a so-called "defensive" troop placement at the French border....but had to walk across Belgium! The Belgium territorial breach gave England a reason to declare war. A total mess among nations who were like pressure cookers without the steam release regulator working well. In spite of what was the power of the monarchies, by 1914 the real power in capital, industrial giants, and war technology created WWI. I think there was little Willie or Nicky or Franz Joseph could do to actually cause or stop the war.

[Karentje]

I'm not one of those who think Willy and Germany are to blame totally for WWI, HOWEVER I do think (naturally) that he wasn't altogether blameless either. By invading Belgium - or walking through it, depending on your point of view - against the wishes of the Belgian government (duh!), the kaiser wilfully violated Belgium's neutrality. He must have known that in doing so, he practically forced England (and Belgium) to go to war. As a Belgian myself, I can't say I appreciate his decision much and I don't find it particularly peace-loving.

Karentje

[Silja]

Certainly the violation of Belgium was unforgivable. But this didn't mean Britain was "forced" to go to war. It came in handy to them. The British, as any other nation, never cared for Belgium but only for their own interests. And then they thought going to war might serve their own interests. Reminds me a bit of Kuwait and the American war on Irak.

[HerrKaiser]

That is absolutely a good analogy. And, Wilhelm did everything he could to "soothe" the Belgian government for the trespass. It is hard for us today to look at a sitation nearly 100 years ago and understand the attitudes completely. Even better analogy to Kuwait/Iraq would be if the U.S. flew war planes over Mexico to protect itself from terrorists coming our way through Mexico. It would not be very appealing to the Mexican nation, but I would not think such an act would cause a world war. Also, it is normal in legal justice the concept of "no harm, no foul", meaning even if an entity is "victimized", if indeed, there is no harm done, then there ought be no or little penalty to the supposed perpetrator. I do believe that if Wilhelm was truly in charge and George and he had a better relationship plus the English government was less worried about German industrial growth and power, the Belgian situation could have been avoided. The bottomline may indeed be....was several million lives worth the trespass? No. That was only the excuse.

[Karentje]

And, Wilhelm did everything he could to "soothe" the Belgian government for the trespass.

What did he actually do to soothe them then?
And don't you think you're going a bit too far in trying to exonerate Willy? He knew perfectly well he was pushing the limits, knew what the international reaction to this 'trespass' would be and had to be in a way.  How is a country, any country, to respond to armed troops 'passing by' with the intent of attacking another neighbouring country. Allowing a crime,or not trying to stop it when you can = becoming an accomplice to that crime. Willy nor Germany was naive enough to think they could get away with the 'trespass', and I don't think they wanted to, it was a clear provocation.
We do need to keep in mind of course that no one at the time realised just what they were getting in to.

Karentje

[Silja]

You may be right. In the same way, however, Nicholas knew that as soon as Russia would come to Serbia's aid against Austria, Germany would support Austria. So everybody, not just Wilhelm, knew what would happen.

By the way, on the occasion of the anniversary of Franz Ferdinand and his wife's assassination several documentaries were shown on TV in Germany. In one it was said that probably the Russian secret service had a hand in the planning of the assassination and that the Russian archives are still closed with regard to this  particular matter. Any comments?

[Eurohistory]

I believe allied propaganda was responsible for turning Kaiser Wilhelm into a caricature, just as German-Austrian propaganda did the same thing for the rulers of Russia, Serbia and Britain. Much reminas to be examined, without the ardour of political intrigue and propaganda.

Arturo Beéche

[Eurohistory]

Anyone in their rightful mind must have been horrified by what Hitler and his goons turned beautiful Germany into.

Arturo Beéche

[James_Davidov]

ust back to what the Kaiser filled his days with; I read he had a steady habit of waking early and cutting down a tree in the Doorn estate, this resulted in massive open areas around the small castle, which remain today.  
As for his death and burial, I found this from Hindley’s trusty ‘royal families of Europe’ book… “In his lonely Dutch retreat, the ageing monarch also dreamed of the past…and even of the future.  His daughter records: ‘Events in Germany occupied him incessantly, though not to the extent of actually intervening personally.  Such thoughts had been banished from his mind forever.’  In fact, this was not quite accurate.  For instance, a startling passage in the ex-emperor’s will clearly showed that he was never reconciled to the demise of the House of Hohenzollern.  ‘Should God decree’, it runs, ‘That I should be recalled from this world at the time when there is no restoration of the Monarchy in Germany and that I should go to my eternal rest while in exile, then I am to be provisionally buried in Doorn’’”

[grandduchessella]

It was interesting how quickly Wilhelm adapted to 'civilian' life after spending his entire life, especially his adulthood in uniform. There are tons of photos and paintings of him in almost every conceivable uniform--army, navy, German, Russian, etc...Yet, there are virtually none after exile. Granted, he no longer had a military, but no one could've stopped him from dressing up in one anyone. Instead, with his dapper suits he looked quite the English country gentleman. I think he also looked much better with his moustache & beard rather than his huge handlebar one which was the subject of so much mockery. He also seemed much happier with the relinquishment of power--he seems to be more relaxed and smiling in his later pictures.

[grandduchessella]

Some photos of his residence at Doorn
Exterior:

[grandduchessella]

Some of the interior . Note in the one of his study, the saddle-like seat--this apparently helped him sit comfortable due to the problem with balance caused by his withered arm. It's to his credit what a good horseman he became with the problems inherent with balancing on and controlling a horse.

(with sketch of Dona above bed)

(note deLazslo's portraits of Wilhelm and Dona)

[James_Davidov]

Iv seen a couple of Images of Doorn, but most are of him in the garden.  Obviously it wasn't a castle at all, which is what I usually hear it referenced to as, maybe people just presumed.  

At school my history teacher told me that Wilhelm was such a good horseman due to his parents training him rather harshly.  Due to his arm, he would fall easily, but they insisted on him being placed right back on the horse as soon as this happened, over and over again until he 'got it right'.  It seems really cruel, but when you consider he was going to be the Kaiser one day, they had to ensure he wouldn't be prohibited, despite his disability.  I still feel sorry for him though, I was bucked really badly when I was little, and refused to ride for years!