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[[File:Kaiser Wilhelm by Strassberger.jpg|right|thumb|Kaiser Wilhelm II]]
[[File:Kaiser Wilhelm by Strassberger.jpg|right|thumb|Kaiser Wilhelm II]]
'''Kaiser Wilhelm II''' (''Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert von Preußen'', 27 January 1859 – 4 June 1941) was king of [[Prussia]] and [[Germany|German]] emperor from June 1888 to November 1918. He was the eldest child of Emperor Frederick III and Victoria, the eldest child of Britain's Queen Victoria.
'''Kaiser Wilhelm II''' (''Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert von Preußen'', 27 January 1859 – 4 June 1941) was king of [[Prussia]] and [[Germany|German]] emperor from June 1888 to November 1918. He was the eldest child of Emperor Frederick III and Vicky, the eldest child of Britain's Queen Victoria.
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]'', Cambridge University Press, 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]'', Cambridge University Press, 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. In early 1917, effective control of German policy passed to General Ludendorff, an advocate of total war, including unrestricted submarine warfare.<ref>Ludendorff, Erich, ''Der totale Krieg,'' München, Ludendorffs Verlag, g.m.b.h., 1935.</ref> When German submarines blockaded Britain and attacked neutral shipping, the United States declared war on Germany. 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, the German army invaded France through Belgium, 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, an advocate of total war, including unrestricted submarine warfare.<ref>Ludendorff, Erich, ''Der totale Krieg,'' München, Ludendorffs Verlag, g.m.b.h., 1935.</ref> When German submarines blockaded Britain and attacked neutral shipping, the United States declared war on Germany. 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===
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, "[http://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 libel to blame foreign policy setbacks on the machinations of his uncle, King Edward VII of Britain.
Wilhelm pursued an aggressive foreign policy known as ''Weltpolitik,'' literally "world policy." This strategy is to be distinguished from Bismarck's ''Realpolitik'', which emphasized the "balance of power" concept. Wilhelm hoped to persuade Britain to withdraw from European affairs. If he could accomplish this, he imagined that Germany's economic and military power would allow him to dominate both France and Russia and emerge with a "Napoleanic supremacy."<ref name=rohl18 /> Mindful of the role the British played in Napolean's downfall, he built up the German navy hoping that this would intimidate Britain. The British countered with a naval buildup of their own and by forming a "Triple Entente" (1907) with France and Russia. Thus the German buildup had an effect opposite to what was intended.
Wilhelm pursued an aggressive foreign policy known as ''Weltpolitik,'' literally "world policy." This strategy is to be distinguished from Bismarck's ''Realpolitik'', which emphasized the "balance of power" concept. Wilhelm hoped to persuade Britain to withdraw from European affairs. If he could accomplish this, he imagined that Germany's economic and military power would allow him to dominate both France and Russia and emerge with a "Napoleanic supremacy."<ref name=rohl18 /> Mindful of the role the British played in Napolean's downfall, he built up the German navy hoping that this would intimidate Britain. The British countered with a naval buildup of their own and by forming a "Triple Entente" (1907) with France and Russia. Thus the German buildup had an effect opposite to what was intended.
The murder of Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand triggered a final diplomatic crisis in July 1914. This time, Bethmann withheld and even falsified the increasingly urgent messages sent by the troublesome Lichnowsky.<ref>Röhl, p. 1052</ref> When Wilhelm finally realized that the British still intended to side with the French, he attempted to reverse course. His last minute change of heart proved to be too little, too late.<ref name=rohl18 />
The murder of Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand triggered a final diplomatic crisis in July 1914. This time, Bethmann withheld and even falsified the increasingly urgent messages sent by the troublesome Lichnowsky.<ref>Röhl, p. 1052</ref> When Wilhelm finally realized that the British still intended to side with the French, he attempted to reverse course. His last minute change of heart proved to be too little, too late.<ref name=rohl18 />
Germany declared war on Russia on August 1 and on France on August 3. On August 4, this was followed up with a declaration of war on Belgium. The invasion of Belgium was part of the Schlieffen Plan, Germany's long standing plan of war. When the news that Germany had declared war on Belgium arrived, the British cabinet was still discussing its response to the earlier declarations, deadlocked on the issue of war. The invasion of Belgium thus allowed Britain to enter the war as a unified nation.
Germany declared war on Russia on August 1 and on France on August 3. On August 4, this was followed up with a declaration of war on Belgium. The invasion of Belgium was part of the Schlieffen Plan, Germany's long standing plan of war. When the news that Germany had declared war on Belgium arrived, the British cabinet was still discussing its response to the earlier declarations, deadlocked on the issue of war. The German invasion of Belgium allowed Britain to enter the war as a unified nation.
===Later years===
===Later years===