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Wilhelm was a constitutional monarch and shared power with an elected parliament, or Reichstag. However, the Kaiser had the final say on all significant matters, including appointments.<ref name=rohl18>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> His supporters boasted that he was the "mightiest ruler on earth."<ref name=rohl17>Röhl, p. xxvii.</ref> His views were particularly influential in foreign affairs and on matters of war and peace.

Wilhelm was a constitutional monarch and shared power with an elected parliament, or Reichstag. However, the Kaiser had the final say on all significant matters, including appointments.<ref name=rohl18>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> His supporters boasted that he was the "mightiest ruler on earth."<ref name=rohl17>Röhl, p. xxvii.</ref> His views were particularly influential in foreign affairs and on matters of war and peace.

In August 1914, Wilhelm ordered the German army to invade France, triggering [[World War I]]. The Allied Powers of France, Russia, and Britain opposed this aggression. For several years, fighting remained deadlocked as trench warfare continued across northern France. Control of German policy had passed to General Ludendorff by the middle of 1917. When German submarines blockaded Britain and attacked neutral shipping in 1917, the United States declared war on Germany as well. In November 1918, the war ended in a catastrophic defeat for Germany. By that time, over 4.2 million Germans had been killed. Wilhelm fled to the Netherlands and lived in exile until 1941.

In August 1914, Wilhelm ordered the German army to invade France, triggering [[World War I]]. The Allied Powers of France, Russia, and Britain opposed this aggression. For several years, fighting remained deadlocked as trench warfare continued across northern France. In early 1917, effective control of German policy passed to General Ludendorff, a fan of submarine warfare. When German submarines blockaded Britain and attacked neutral shipping, the United States declared war on Germany as well. In November 1918, the war ended in a catastrophic defeat for Germany. By that time, over 4.2 million Germans had been killed. Wilhelm fled to the Netherlands and lived in exile until 1941.

===Personality and policies===

===Personality and policies===

===Later years===

===Later years===

Wilhelm II was obsessed with militarism, having had a say in many German military issues of the time. He appointed generals Ludendorff and Hindenburg head the army in August 1916. Promising victory, their prestige soon became so great that they could boss the government around. In July 1917, they forced Bethmann to resign. When Ludendorff's great offensive in France was turned back, the soldiers lost hope and the front collapsed. Wilhelm 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.

Wilhelm appointed generals Ludendorff and Hindenburg to head the army in August 1916. Promising victory, their prestige soon became so great that they could boss the government around. Ludendorff persuaded the government to adopt "unrestricted" submarine warfare in January 1917. In April 1917, the United States responded with a declaration of war. In July 1917, Ludendorff forced Bethmann to resign. When Ludendorff's great offensive in France was turned back in 1918, the soldiers lost hope and the front collapsed. Wilhelm 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.

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.