Kaiser Wilhelm Ii New Interpretations

As assessment of the Kaiser's character and its implications on Imperial German history.

Kaiser Wilhelm II is one of the key figures in the history of twentieth-century Europe: King of Prussia and German Emperor from 1888 to the collapse of Germany in 1918 and a crucial player in the events that led to the outbreak of World War I. Following Kaiser Wilhelm's political career from his youth at the Hohenzollern court through the turbulent peacetime decades of the Wilhelmine era into global war and exile, the book presents a new interpretation of this controversial monarch and assesses the impact on Germany of his forty-year reign.

This collection of innovative essays examining the role of Wilhelm II in Imperial Germany was first published in 2003, particularly on the later years of the monarch's reign. The essays highlight the Kaiser's relationship with statesmen and rulers; his role in international relations; the erosion of his power during the First World War; and his ultimate downfall in 1918. The book demonstrates the extent to which Wilhelm II was able to exercise 'personal rule', largely unopposed by the responsible government, and supported in his decision-making by his influential entourage. The essays are based on thorough and far-reaching research and on a wide range of archival sources. Written to honour the innovative work of John Röhl, Wilhelm II's most famous biographer, on his sixty-fifth birthday, the essays within this volume will continue to provide an exciting evaluation of the role and importance of this controversial monarch.

Kaiser Wilhelm II (1859–1941) is one of the most fascinating figures in European history, ruling Imperial Germany from his accession in 1888 to his enforced abdication in 1918 at the end of the First World War. In one slim volume, John Röhl offers readers a concise and accessible survey of his monumental three-volume biography of the Kaiser and his reign. The book sheds new light on Wilhelm's troubled youth, his involvement in social and political scandals, and his growing thirst for glory, which, combined with his overwhelming nationalism and passion for the navy provided the impetus for a breathtaking long-term goal: the transformation of the German Reich into one of the foremost powers in the world. The volume examines the crucial role played by Wilhelm as Germany's Supreme War Lord in the policies that led to war in 1914. It concludes by describing the rabid anti-Semitism he developed in exile and his efforts to persuade Hitler to restore him to the throne.

Final volume in acclaimed biography of Wilhelm II exploring his role in the origins of the First World War.

A personal and political analysis of the reign of Kaiser Wilhelm II using new archival sources.

This volume analyzes the entourage of the last German Kaiser to explain the peculiar decisions taken by Germany's leaders from 1888 to 1918.

Focusing on the final years of his reign (1900-1918), this collection of essays examines the role of Germany's last emperor, Wilhelm II, by highlighting his importance from different perspectives: domestic and foreign policy, and public opinion. It is based on the latest research on Wilhelmine Germany, as well as new archival evidence, and thus presents the most up-to-date interpretation of the monarch. The volume also pays tribute to Professor John Röhl, Wilhelm II's most famous biographer, on the occasion of his 65th birthday.

King of Prussia, German Emperor, war leader and defeated exile, Kaiser Wilhelm II was one of the most important � and most controversial � figures in the history of twentieth-century Europe. But how much power did he really have? The acclaimed historian Christopher Clark follows Kaiser Wilhelm�s political career from his youth at the Hohenzollern court through the turbulent decades of the Wilhelmine era into global war and the collapse of Germany in 1918, to his last days. He asks: what was his true role in the events that led to the outbreak of the First World War? What was the nature and extent of his control? What were his political goals and his success in achieving them? How did he project authority and exercise influence? How did the people view him? Through original research, Clark presents a fresh new interpretation of this contentious figure, focusing on how his forty-year reign from 1888 to 1918 affected Germany, and the rest of Europe, for years to come.