Changes

==Youth and personality==

==Youth and personality==

Vicky was a stern mother and dominating figure in Wilhelm's early life. She attempted to indoctrinate him with the values of Britain's nineteenth century Liberal Party. As as result, Wilhelm grew up with conflicted feelings regarding Britain. He respected British values, but felt the need to use militarism to compensate for his mother's un-Germanic influence. He was also a manic depressive, which resulted in inconsistent and erratic decision making. His withered left arm, a congenital defect, led to an inferiority complex.<ref name=stemple>Lewis-Stempel, John, "[https://www.express.co.uk/news/world-war-1/471409/When-Kaiser-Wilhelm-II-ruled-Germany Lunatic in charge of an asylum: When Kaiser Wilhelm II ruled Germany]", ''Sunday Express'', Apr 20, 2014</ref>

Vicky was a stern mother and dominating figure in Wilhelm's early life. She attempted to indoctrinate him with the values of Britain's nineteenth century Liberal Party. As as result, Wilhelm grew up with conflicted feelings regarding Britain. He respected British values, but felt the need to use [[militarism]] to compensate for his mother's un-Germanic influence. He was also a manic depressive, which resulted in inconsistent and erratic decision making. His withered left arm, a congenital defect, led to an inferiority complex.<ref name=stemple>Lewis-Stempel, John, "[https://www.express.co.uk/news/world-war-1/471409/When-Kaiser-Wilhelm-II-ruled-Germany Lunatic in charge of an asylum: When Kaiser Wilhelm II ruled Germany]", ''Sunday Express'', Apr 20, 2014</ref>

Wilhelm was easily entranced by conspiracy theories and was liable to blame foreign policy setbacks on the machinations of his uncle, King Edward VII of Britain. Wilhelm became obsessed with Edward as a youth, when the two future rulers were yachting rivals. After Edward visited Lisbon, Rome, and Paris in 1903, Wilhelm became convinced that his dreams of world power were being thwarted by Edward's efforts to "encircle" Germany.<ref>Röhl, pp. 245-246.</ref>

Wilhelm was easily entranced by conspiracy theories and was liable to blame foreign policy setbacks on the machinations of his uncle, King Edward VII of Britain. Wilhelm became obsessed with Edward as a youth, when the two future rulers were yachting rivals. After Edward visited Lisbon, Rome, and Paris in 1903, Wilhelm became convinced that his dreams of world power were being thwarted by Edward's efforts to "encircle" Germany.<ref>Röhl, pp. 245-246.</ref>

Wilhelm's correspondence with Tsar Nicholas was published in 1918 as the ''Willy-Nicky Correspondence''. (The two rulers had corresponded in English.) Monarchists were disillusioned by the revelation that the kaiser had brushed aside the tsar's peace proposals. Some supporters of the four-day Kapp Putsch of 1920 were monarchists. This was the closest that Germany ever came to a serious attempt to restore the monarchy.

Wilhelm's correspondence with Tsar Nicholas was published in 1918 as the ''Willy-Nicky Correspondence''. (The two rulers had corresponded in English.) Monarchists were disillusioned by the revelation that the kaiser had brushed aside the tsar's peace proposals. Some supporters of the four-day Kapp Putsch of 1920 were monarchists. This was the closest that Germany ever came to a serious attempt to restore the monarchy.

Guests at Doorn often heard the former kaiser threaten vengeance against a wide variety of opponents.<ref>Röhl, p. 1221.</ref> When Finance Minister Matthias Erzberger was murdered in 1921, Wilhelm celebrated with champagne.<ref>Röhl, p. 1222.</ref> Erzberger had forced Bethmann's resignation as chancellor in 1917, thus ending the kaiser's political role.

Guests at Doorn often heard the former kaiser threaten [[vengeance]] against a wide variety of opponents.<ref>Röhl, p. 1221.</ref> When Finance Minister Matthias Erzberger was murdered in 1921, Wilhelm celebrated with champagne.<ref>Röhl, p. 1222.</ref> Erzberger had forced Bethmann's resignation as chancellor in 1917, thus ending the kaiser's political role.

A 1925 biography by Emil Ludwig did much to undermine Wilhelm's reputation.

A 1925 biography by Emil Ludwig did much to undermine Wilhelm's reputation.