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Wilhelm was a prominent figure in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Wilhelm 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.

Wilhelm was a prominent figure in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Wilhelm 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.

===Initiates World War I===

===Role in launching World War I===

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 />

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 />

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 />

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 the decisive moment 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 />

===Later years===

===Later years===

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. He refused to abdicate, but fled to the Netherlands on November 9, 1918. He lived quietly as a country gentleman in Huis Doom until his death in 1941. He was appalled by Kristallnacht, a Nazi anti-Jewish pogrom conducted in 1938. "For the first time, I am ashamed to be a German," he wrote to a friend.  

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. He refused to abdicate, but fled to the Netherlands on November 9, 1918. He lived quietly as a country gentleman in Huis Doom until his death in 1941.

 

The Kaiser's non-political passions were Greek archaeology and chopping wood. He excavated the Temple of Artemis in Corfu. He chopped down thousands of trees during his stay in Doom.

 

Wilhelm was appalled when the Nazis murdered the wife of former chancellor Schleicher in 1934. After Kristallnacht, a Nazi anti-Jewish pogrom conducted in November 1938, he stated: "For the first time, I am ashamed to be a German."<ref>Balfour, Michael (1964), ''The Kaiser and His Times'', Houghton Milton, p. 419.</ref>

==See also==

==See also==