The Last Kaiser: The Life of Wilhelm II
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Book Overview
Prussia's last king and Germany's last Kaiser was born in Potsdam on January 27, 1859, the son of Prince Frederick of Prussia and Princess Vicky, Queen Victoria's eldest child. William was born with a withered arm and suffered from cerebral palsy; many historians have sought in this clue a clue to his behavior later in life. He was believed mad by some, eccentric by others. Possessed of a ferocious temper, he was prone to reactionary statements, often contradicted by his next action or utterance. He was rumored to have sired numerous illegitimate children and yet was by all appearances a prig. A severe Calvinist tutor brought him up, but his entourage spoiled him, allowing him to win at games an maneuvers to compensate for his deformities. This gave him a sense of inherent invincibility. William became Kaiser at age twenty-nine. Two years later, he drove Bismarck out after the latter had blocked his social policy. He destabilized the Iron Chancellor's foreign policy by failing to renew the Reinsurance Treaty with Russia, a decision that opened the way for Russia's alliance with France in 1894. He denied that the fleet he built was targeted at Britain, but there is evidence that German domination of the seas was the aim of William's secretary of state, who was altogether lessanxious to please the British than the grandson of Queen Victoria. William idolized the Queen. As soon as he heard she was dying, he rushed to Osbourne House to be at her bedside. his own daughter later said, "The Queen of England died in the arms of the German Kaiser." William II is widely perceived as a warmonger who seemed to delight in power grabbing, blood-shed, and the belligerent aims of his staff, yet the image he carved out for himself and posterity was that of "emperor of peace." William has historically been blamed for World War I, although he made real efforts to prevent the conflict. he has been branded an anti-Semite, but ironically the Nazis wrote him off as a "Jew-lover." In this fascinating, authoritative new biography, MacDonogh, widely praised for his life of Frederick the Great, takes a fresh look at this complex and contradictory statesmen and the charges against him to find that a=many can no longer be upheld.
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:0312276737
ISBN13:9780312276737
Release Date:August 2001
Publisher:St. Martin's Press
Length:532 Pages
Weight:2.15 lbs.
Dimensions:1.6" x 6.5" x 9.6"
Customer Reviews
5 ratings
Kaiser Wilhelm II
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 14 years ago
I have long been interested in German history and this book is an excellent biography of the last German emperor and his reign. I highly recommend to those who have an interest in the Germany monarchy.
Good biography of the last major monachist tyrant.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 22 years ago
The book is good because it examines one of the figures who was instrumental in shapping the 20th century. The author proves that he was very erratic with his forighn policy and his views on the world. The author also disproves the misconception that it was his imperial ambitions that led to the first World War and points out that it was the militarism of prussian aristocrats.
A New Perspective On Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 22 years ago
Giles MacDonogh gives a fine, often thoughtful, account of the life of the last German emperor, Kaiser Wilhelm II, whom the author refers repeatedly as William. MacDonogh offers a vivid, complex portrait of Wilhelm II, which clearly illustrates the contradictory aspects of the Kaiser's personality. Much to my surprise, MacDonogh amply demonstrates how progressive the Kaiser was with regards to labor relations and economics, having the vision of creating a "United States of Europe" nearly a century before its inception as the European Union. And he shows how determined Wilhelm was in maintaining peaceful relations between the German Empire and its neighbors. Indeed, Kaiser Wilhelm II comes across as the most level-headed person in his regime at the outbreak of World War II; yet he was paradoxically also the most naive, hoping that his family ties to the ruling houses of Great Britain and Russia would ensure peace. MacDonogh also notes Wilhelm's complex, often contradictory, atttitudes towards England (The British Empire), often cast as family quarrels between himself and his British Coburg cousins; for example seeking an alliance with Great Britain while simultaneously building a German navy which threatened British interests. Perhaps the most fascinating part of the book covers Wilhelm's years in exile at Doorn, The Netherlands, where the former Kaiser indulged in his lifelong passion for archaeology.
Thorough and balanced picture of Willy
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 22 years ago
Good biography about man who treated his parents Fritz and Vicky very poorly but was with his grandmother Queen Victoria when she died.His belligerent and bellicose nature did nothing to quell emotions and tempers in the period prior to the outbreak of World War I.His physical deformities really messed him up as a child from which he never recovered and which plagued him with self doubt and anger. The book was very balanced in its treatment of him and attempts to remove the generally accepted position that he was largely responsible for the First World War.
A Fresh Look at Kaiser Bill
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
Gile MacDonogh has produced an interesting new look at Kaiser Wilhelm II. The writing is not scintillating, and there are some ridiculous errors (The Tsar-Liberator was Alexander II, not Nicholas II). The editing leaves a lot to be desired, too, as there are some sentences which don't make sense unless you figure out that there are some words missing here and there.Be that as it may, the book is nevertheless well worth your time. MacDonogh takes a different attitude than most about the Kaiser's damaged arm, pointing out that he was able to cope successfully with the handicap throughout a long life and that it was not necessarily psychologically damaging. MacDonogh also takes another view of Wilhelm's parents, Kaiser Frederick III and Victoria, Princess Royal of Britain. Most of their previous biographers have made "Fritz" and "Vicky" out as heroes determined to make Germany a liberal, democratic nation. MacDonogh underscores Fritz's weaknesses and penchant for pomp and Vicky's cold and demanding nature.MacDonogh also illuminates Wilhelm's role as a surprisingly progressive ruler. The Kaiser was one of the first to speak of a United States of Europe and the need to let down customs barriers, eighty years before such ideas became fashionable. At the same time Wilhelm was advocating these reforms, unfortunately, he was also pushing Germany's imperialistic and militaristic policies until they became an open challenge to Great Britain and led to World War I.One of the most interesting parts of the book is the section dealing with Wilhelm's exile in Doorn, Holland. It seems the ex-Kaiser may have grown up a little once he was out of the spotlight, refusing to deal with the Nazis, for example, and reducing some of his braggadocio.So, despite the shortcomings of the writing and editorial processes, this is a worthwhile addition to your library.
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