Difference between revisions of "Kaiser Wilhelm II"
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| − | '''Kaiser Wilhelm II''' (27 January 1859 – 4 June 1941) was king of [[Prussia]] and [[Germany | + | '''Kaiser Wilhelm II''' (27 January 1859 – 4 June 1941) was king of [[Prussia]] and emperor of [[Germany]] from June 1888 to November 1918. He fled to the Netherlands at the end of the war, after his abdication due to political pressure in the midst of Germany's surrender in [[World War I]]. |
| − | Wilhelm was a prominent figure in late | + | Wilhelm was a prominent figure in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He pursued an aggressive foreign policy known as ''Weltpolitik,'' literally "world policy." It is to be distinguished from the ''Realpolitik'' practiced by Bismark, a form of balance of power politics. Wilhelm hoped to persuade Britain to withdraw from European affairs. If he could accomplish this, he imagined that the German army could then defeat both France and Russia, allowing him to emerge with a "Napoleanic supremacy."<ref name=rohl>Röhl, John C. G., [https://books.google.com/books?id=FN9GAgAAQBAJ&dq= Wilhelm II: Into the Abyss of War and Exile, 1900–1941] (2014), p. xxviii</ref> He built up the German navy hoping that this would intimidate Britain. The British countered with a buildup of their own and by forming a "Triple Entente" with France and Russia. Thus the German buildup had an effect opposite to what was intended. |
| − | + | Weltpolitik was a policy that pushed Germany to the brink of war repeatedly. The Bosnian crisis of 1908-1909 was followed by the Agadir crisis of 1911 and by the Balkan crisis of 1912-1913. As a constitutional monarch, Wilhelm did not take the initiative on any of these occasions. Instead, he responded to proposals put to him by his chancellor, military chief, or foreign secretary. However, the Kaiser had the final say on all significant matters, including appointments.<ref name=rohl /> | |
| − | Wilhelm II was obsessed with militarism, having had a say in many German military issues of the time. He was also a manic depressive, which influenced his decisions considerably, and lead to inconsistent and erratic policies. His power was undermined by 1916, with generals Ludendorff and | + | In November 1912, Wilhelm approved a proposal to support Austria-Hungary against Serbia even if this led to war with both France and Russia. This proposal was presented to the Kaiser jointly by Bethmann Hollweg, the chancellor; Moltke, the army chief of staff; and Kiderlen, the foreign secretary. In December, the Kaiser was informed that Britain would likely side with France in the event of such a war. The Kaiser responded by ordering a "postponement of the great fight" until the summer of 1914 so that additional preparations could be made.<ref name=rohl>Röhl, John C. G., [https://books.google.com/books?id=FN9GAgAAQBAJ&dq= Wilhelm II: Into the Abyss of War and Exile, 1900–1941] (2014), p. xxviii</ref> A meeting of the German Imperial War Council on December 8, 1912 was identified as decisive by German historian Fritz Fischer.<ref>Fischer, Fritz, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=wIE5mgEACAAJ&dq= Germany's Aims in the First World War]'', W. W. Norton, 1968.</ref> Events played out much as the Kaiser anticipated at this meeting, resulting in World War I. The murder of Austro-Hungarian Archduke Francis Ferdinand provoke a final diplomatic crisis in July 1914. When he realized that the British intended to side with the French after all, Wilhelm attempted to reverse course. His last minute change of heart proved to be too little, too late.<ref name=rohl /> |
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| + | Wilhelm II was obsessed with militarism, having had a say in many German military issues of the time. He was also a manic depressive, which influenced his decisions considerably, and lead to inconsistent and erratic policies. His power was undermined by 1916, with generals Ludendorff and Hindenburg taking control of many wartime affairs. | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 11:10, May 27, 2016
Kaiser Wilhelm II (27 January 1859 – 4 June 1941) was king of Prussia and emperor of Germany from June 1888 to November 1918. He fled to the Netherlands at the end of the war, after his abdication due to political pressure in the midst of Germany's surrender in World War I.
Wilhelm was a prominent figure in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He pursued an aggressive foreign policy known as Weltpolitik, literally "world policy." It is to be distinguished from the Realpolitik practiced by Bismark, a form of balance of power politics. Wilhelm hoped to persuade Britain to withdraw from European affairs. If he could accomplish this, he imagined that the German army could then defeat both France and Russia, allowing him to emerge with a "Napoleanic supremacy."[1] He built up the German navy hoping that this would intimidate Britain. The British countered with a buildup of their own and by forming a "Triple Entente" with France and Russia. Thus the German buildup had an effect opposite to what was intended.
Weltpolitik was a policy that pushed Germany to the brink of war repeatedly. The Bosnian crisis of 1908-1909 was followed by the Agadir crisis of 1911 and by the Balkan crisis of 1912-1913. As a constitutional monarch, Wilhelm did not take the initiative on any of these occasions. Instead, he responded to proposals put to him by his chancellor, military chief, or foreign secretary. However, the Kaiser had the final say on all significant matters, including appointments.[1]
In November 1912, Wilhelm approved a proposal to support Austria-Hungary against Serbia even if this led to war with both France and Russia. This proposal was presented to the Kaiser jointly by Bethmann Hollweg, the chancellor; Moltke, the army chief of staff; and Kiderlen, the foreign secretary. In December, the Kaiser was informed that Britain would likely side with France in the event of such a war. The Kaiser responded by ordering a "postponement of the great fight" until the summer of 1914 so that additional preparations could be made.[1] A meeting of the German Imperial War Council on December 8, 1912 was identified as decisive by German historian Fritz Fischer.[2] Events played out much as the Kaiser anticipated at this meeting, resulting in World War I. The murder of Austro-Hungarian Archduke Francis Ferdinand provoke a final diplomatic crisis in July 1914. When he realized that the British intended to side with the French after all, Wilhelm attempted to reverse course. His last minute change of heart proved to be too little, too late.[1]
Wilhelm II was obsessed with militarism, having had a say in many German military issues of the time. He was also a manic depressive, which influenced his decisions considerably, and lead to inconsistent and erratic policies. His power was undermined by 1916, with generals Ludendorff and Hindenburg taking control of many wartime affairs.
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Röhl, John C. G., Wilhelm II: Into the Abyss of War and Exile, 1900–1941 (2014), p. xxviii
- ↑ Fischer, Fritz, Germany's Aims in the First World War, W. W. Norton, 1968.