Kaiser germany

Wilhelm IIkaiser germany, the German kaiser emperor and king of Prussia from towas one of the most recognizable public figures of World War I

An estimated twenty million people died. As the war drew to a close in , German supplies and troops were exhausted from four years of warfare. In contrast, by , the British had improved their tactics and equipment and the United States of America had arrived to support the Allied powers on the battlefields. Losing the war caused far reaching upheaval in Germany. In November the war drew to a close as allied troops advanced. In response, the Imperial Navy, previously loyal to the Kaiser, mutinied.

Kaiser germany

Through his mother, he was the eldest of the 42 grandchildren of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. Frederick died just 99 days later, and his son succeeded him as Wilhelm II. In March , the young Wilhelm II dismissed Chancellor Otto von Bismarck and assumed direct control over his nation's policies, embarking on a bellicose "New Course" to cement Germany's status as a leading world power. Over the course of his reign, the German colonial empire acquired new territories in China and the Pacific such as Jiaozhou Bay , the Northern Mariana Islands , and the Caroline Islands and became Europe's largest manufacturer. However, Wilhelm often undermined such progress by making tactless and threatening statements towards other countries without first consulting his ministers. Likewise, his regime did much to alienate itself from other great powers by initiating a massive naval build-up , contesting French control of Morocco , and building a railway through Baghdad that challenged Britain's dominion in the Persian Gulf. By the second decade of the 20th century, Germany could rely only on significantly weaker nations such as Austria-Hungary and the declining Ottoman Empire as allies. Despite strengthening Germany's position as a great power by building a powerful navy and promoting scientific innovation, Wilhelm's tactless public statements and erratic foreign policy greatly antagonized the international community and are considered by many to have substantially contributed to the fall of the German Empire. In , his diplomatic brinksmanship culminated in Germany's guarantee of military support to Austria-Hungary during the July Crisis which plunged all of Europe into World War I. A lax wartime leader, Wilhelm left virtually all decision-making regarding strategy and organisation of the war effort to the German Army 's Great General Staff. By August , this broad delegation of power gave rise to a de facto military dictatorship that dominated the country's policies for the rest of the conflict. Despite emerging victorious over Russia and obtaining significant territorial gains in Eastern Europe, Germany was forced to relinquish all its conquests after a decisive defeat on the Western Front in the autumn of Losing the support of his country's military and many of his subjects, Wilhelm was forced to abdicate during the German Revolution of — which converted Germany into an unstable democratic state known as the Weimar Republic.

He also released his soldiers and officials in both Prussia and the empire from their oath of loyalty to him. Had Bismarck stayed he would not have helped, kaiser germany.

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During his rule, Germany's relations with Britain, France and Russia became strained. After realizing that Germany would lose the war, Wilhelm abdicated the throne in November and fled to the Netherlands, where he died in Wilhelm was born with a withered arm. Some historians believe that his insecurity over this handicap fueled his later erratic behavior. His parents, particularly his British mother, tried to provide Wilhelm with a liberal education and a love of England. But Frederick III would only rule for 99 days. Wilhelm II succeeded his father, becoming kaiser of Germany at the tender age of The young kaiser dreamed of building Germany into a major naval, colonial and economic power.

Kaiser germany

A specifically chosen term, it was introduced with the 1 January constitution and lasted until the official abdication of Wilhelm II on 9 November Frederick Wilhelm believed that only the German princes had the right to make such an offer, in accordance with the traditions of the Holy Roman Empire. Wilhelm accepted this title grudgingly on 18 January, having preferred "Emperor of Germany" German : Kaiser von Deutschland. However, that would have signaled a territorial sovereignty unacceptable to the South German monarchs, as well as a claim to lands outside his realm Austria , Switzerland , Luxembourg , etc. He was afraid that it would overshadow the Prussian crown. Under the imperial constitution, the empire was a federation of states under the permanent presidency of the king of Prussia. He erroneously believed that he ruled the empire in personal union with Prussia. With the war's end, he conceded that he could not remain emperor, but initially thought he could at least retain his Prussian crown. Realizing his situation was untenable, Wilhelm went into exile in the Netherlands later that night. It was not until 28 November that Wilhelm formally acknowledged he had lost both of his crowns for good and gave up all claim to "the throne of Prussia and to the German imperial throne connected therewith.

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Archived from the original on 18 March After the outbreak of the German Revolution , Wilhelm could not make up his mind whether to abdicate. As a direct consequence, Russia began a general mobilisation to attack Austria in defence of Serbia. At the opening of the Reichstag on 6 May , the Kaiser stated that the most pressing issue was the further enlargement of the bill concerning the protection of the labourer. Upon the fall of Paris a month later, Wilhelm sent another telegram: "Under the deeply moving impression of France's capitulation I congratulate you and all the German armed forces on the God-given prodigious victory with the words of Kaiser Wilhelm the Great of the year 'What a turn of events through God's dispensation! It is all the more outrageous that this crime has been committed by a nation that takes pride in its ancient culture. He also sketched plans for grand buildings and battleships when he was bored. Naval War College Review 26 1: 28—41, online. Beginning in , Bismarck began advocating that Kaiser Wilhelm send his grandson on diplomatic missions, a privilege denied to the Crown Prince. Wilhelm II

Through his mother, he was the eldest of the 42 grandchildren of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.

Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein. Journal of Contemporary History 25 2—3 : — In Wilhelm reorganised top-level control of the navy by creating a Naval Cabinet Marine-Kabinett equivalent to the German Imperial Military Cabinet which had previously functioned in the same capacity for both the army and navy. Robert M. The Knights of England. Hermine Reuss of Greiz. Princess Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach He was wildly jealous of the British, wanting to be British, wanting to be better at being British than the British were, while at the same time hating them and resenting them because he never could be fully accepted by them". Wilhelm was now second in line after his father to become an emperor as well as king of Prussia. Mutiny among the ranks of his beloved Kaiserliche Marine , the imperial navy, profoundly shocked him. He said, "I am firmly confident that, with the help of God, the bravery of the German Army and Navy and the unquenchable unanimity of the German people during those hours of danger, victory will crown our cause. Main articles: Anglo-German naval arms race and Alfred von Tirpitz. Beginning in , Bismarck began advocating that Kaiser Wilhelm send his grandson on diplomatic missions, a privilege denied to the Crown Prince. The Literary Digest.