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'''Kaiser Wilhelm II''' (27 January 1859 – 4 June 1941) was king of [[Prussia]] and emperor of [[Germany|German]] [[emperor]] from June 1888 to November 1918. He fled to Holland at the end of the war, after his abdication due to political pressure in the midst of Germany's surrender in [[World War I]].

'''Kaiser Wilhelm II''' (27 January 1859 – 4 June 1941) was king of [[Prussia]] and emperor of [[Germany|German]] [[emperor]] from June 1888 to November 1918. He fled to Holland 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 19th century and early 20th century politics, pursuing an aggressive foreign policy strategy known as "Weltpolitik," literally meaning "world policy." In 1961, historian Fritz Fischer researched the German archive and identified a meeting, the German Imperial War Council of December 8, 1912, at which Wilhelm expressed the intention of initiating war against the Britain, France, and Russia by the summer of 1914. This discussion was prompted by a Russian military modernization program announced a few weeks earlier. Events played out much as the kaiser anticipated at this meeting, resulting in [[World War I]].

Wilhelm was a prominent figure in late 19th century and early 20th century politics, pursuing an aggressive foreign policy strategy known as "Weltpolitik," literally "world policy." This policy repeatedly put Germany on the brink of war. The Bosnian crisis of 1908-1909 was followed by the Agadir crisis in 1911 and the Balkan crisis in 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 minister. However, the Kaiser had the final say on all significant matters, including appointments. In November 1912, Wilhelm approved a proposal by Moltke, the army chief of staff, to go to war with both France and Russia. In December, he was informed that Britain would likely side with France in such a war. The Kaiser responded by postponing operations 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 later 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]].

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 Von Hindenburg taking control of many wartime affairs.

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 Von Hindenburg taking control of many wartime affairs.

*[[German politicians]]

*[[German politicians]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilhelm II, Kaiser}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilhelm II, Kaiser}}

[[Category:Heads of State]]

[[Category:Heads of State]]