Before the chaos of World War II and the rise of Adolf Hitler, Germany was ruled by its last emperor, Wilhelm II. He was also the King of Prussia and began his reign in the summer of 1888. Wilhelm was a unique ruler who played a significant role in building the German Navy and strengthening the nation. However, he wasn’t always popular, both within Germany and abroad. Many people blamed his foreign policies for sparking World War I, which eventually led to his downfall.
After Germany’s defeat in World War I, the country faced internal turmoil, leading to Wilhelm II’s abdication on November 9, 1918. Forced to leave his homeland, he went into exile in the Netherlands, vowing never to return unless Germany became a monarchy again. Meanwhile, Germany transformed into a republic known as the Weimar Republic, which Wilhelm despised.
Adolf Hitler, unlike Wilhelm, was not a fan of the old monarchy and considered Wilhelm a failure. However, he was also unhappy with the Weimar Republic. After a failed coup attempt in 1923, economic troubles in Germany helped Hitler gain support. By 1932, his National Socialist Party became the largest political party in the German Parliament, and he rose to power in 1933, marking the beginning of a dark period in history.
Even while living in the Netherlands, Wilhelm kept an eye on German politics. He was widely disliked, with many blaming him for World War I. The British wanted him punished, and even his relative, King George V of the United Kingdom, refused to support him. Wilhelm felt bitter about losing his power and titles, and he had no love for the republic that replaced the monarchy.
Initially, Wilhelm suspected that Hitler’s failed 1923 revolt was an attempt by the Bavarian House of Wittelsbach to restore the monarchy. However, this was not true. Wilhelm condemned Hitler’s actions from the start but mistakenly thought Hitler might bring back the monarchy. In 1931, Hermann Göring met with Wilhelm in the Netherlands, but this meeting only increased Wilhelm’s distrust of the National Socialist Party. Despite Göring’s claims of wanting to restore the monarchy, Wilhelm disapproved of the party’s ideas and policies.
Although Wilhelm had been accused of making antisemitic remarks, he was horrified by the Nazi regime’s treatment of Jews and felt ashamed to be German for the first time. While he occasionally tried to praise Hitler, he generally held a negative view of the party. He even sent a message to Hitler after a military victory, but it was only partially complimentary, which annoyed Hitler.
Wilhelm II passed away on June 4, 1941. The German authorities saw his death as a chance for propaganda and planned a grand state funeral in Berlin. However, Wilhelm had forbidden such a ceremony and wished to be buried in the Netherlands. The relationship between Wilhelm II and Hitler was marked by mutual dislike and disagreement, with both men having different visions for Germany’s future.
Research the life and reign of Wilhelm II, focusing on his contributions to Germany and his role in World War I. Prepare a presentation to share your findings with the class, highlighting key events and policies during his reign.
Participate in a class debate on the advantages and disadvantages of a monarchy versus a republic. Use historical examples from the Weimar Republic and Wilhelm II’s monarchy to support your arguments.
Create a timeline that outlines the major events from Wilhelm II’s abdication to Hitler’s rise to power. Include key political, economic, and social changes in Germany during this period.
In groups, role-play the 1931 meeting between Wilhelm II and Hermann Göring. Explore the perspectives of both figures and discuss the implications of their conversation on the future of Germany.
Write a reflective essay on Wilhelm II’s legacy, considering his impact on German history and his views on Hitler and the Nazi regime. Discuss how his actions and beliefs influenced Germany’s path in the 20th century.
Before the devastating era of the Second World War, and before the man at the center of it all, there was an emperor and king who never could have predicted what was to befall his homeland. German Emperor Wilhelm II, also the King of Prussia, would be the final monarch of his kind to rule the German nation. His reign began in the summer of 1888, but this would not be a typical succession. Wilhelm was a peculiar monarch. While he contributed greatly to the building of the German Navy and helped to strengthen the contemporary German state, he was not always well-liked by people in and outside of his empire. His foreign policy maneuvers were often blamed for contributing to the outbreak of the Great War, which ultimately led to his downfall.
After Germany’s defeat and internal collapse following World War I, Wilhelm II was forced to abdicate on November 9, 1918. This left him bitter and resentful as he fled to exile in the Netherlands, swearing to never return unless Germany became a monarchy again. Germany was now a republic—the Weimar Republic—and Wilhelm was having none of it. In stark contrast to Wilhelm, Adolf Hitler was not a supporter of the former monarchy and viewed the deposed emperor as a failure. However, Hitler was also dissatisfied with the Weimar Republic. After a failed rebellion in 1923, the economic instability of the republic pushed people to support Hitler, and by 1932, the National Socialist Party became the largest political party in the German Parliament. Hitler rose to power in 1933, marking the start of a dark era.
As Hitler invoked Article 48 and passed the Enabling Act to bolster his power, Wilhelm remained in the Netherlands. Despite living abroad, he was not disconnected from German politics. It’s important to note that Wilhelm was widely disliked, with many blaming him for the Great War. The British people wanted to see him punished for the war, and even his relative, King George V of the United Kingdom, refused to defend him. Wilhelm was bitter about the blame directed at him, feeling robbed of his titles and power as he watched the monarchy collapse and be replaced by a republic he had no sympathy for.
Wilhelm developed a strong opinion about Hitler during the failed 1923 revolt, suspecting the Bavarian House of Wittelsbach was behind it, aiming to rebuild the monarchy with their own lineage. However, this was not the case. Wilhelm condemned Hitler’s actions from the start but mistakenly thought Hitler intended to restore the monarchy. In January 1931, Hermann Göring met with Wilhelm in the Netherlands, but the meeting only deepened Wilhelm’s mistrust of the National Socialist Party. Despite Göring’s claims of wanting to restore the monarchy, Wilhelm disapproved of the party’s foundation and policies.
Although Wilhelm had been accused of making antisemitic remarks, he was appalled by the Third Reich’s treatment of Jews, expressing shame at being German for the first time. There were moments when Wilhelm attempted to praise the chancellor, but he maintained a negative view of the party. He even sent a message to Hitler after a military victory, but it was only partially complimentary, which annoyed Hitler.
When Wilhelm passed away on June 4, 1941, German authorities saw it as an opportunity for propaganda. They planned an extravagant state funeral in Berlin, but Wilhelm had forbidden any such funeral and requested to be buried in the Netherlands. Thus, the relationship between Wilhelm II and Hitler was marked by mutual disdain and opposition, with both men at odds over the fate of Germany.
Wilhelm – Wilhelm II was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia, ruling from 1888 to 1918, whose policies contributed to the tensions leading up to World War I. – Wilhelm’s aggressive foreign policy and military expansion were significant factors in the lead-up to World War I.
Germany – Germany is a country in Central Europe, which played a central role in both World War I and World War II, and underwent significant political changes throughout the 20th century. – After World War II, Germany was divided into East and West, symbolizing the broader Cold War tensions between the Soviet Union and the Western Allies.
Monarchy – A monarchy is a form of government with a monarch at the head, such as a king or queen, often hereditary, and was the prevalent system in Europe before the rise of republics. – The fall of the monarchy in Russia in 1917 marked the end of centuries of imperial rule and the beginning of Soviet governance.
Republic – A republic is a form of government in which the country is considered a “public matter” and is not the private concern or property of the rulers, often characterized by elected leaders and representatives. – The Weimar Republic was established in Germany after World War I, replacing the imperial government and attempting to create a democratic state.
Hitler – Adolf Hitler was the leader of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazi Party) and dictator of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945, whose policies led to World War II and the Holocaust. – Hitler’s rise to power was marked by his charismatic oratory and the exploitation of economic and political instability in Germany.
Politics – Politics refers to the activities associated with governance, policy-making, and the debate between parties or individuals with power. – The politics of the Cold War era were dominated by the ideological conflict between capitalism and communism.
Party – A party is an organized group of people with similar political aims and opinions, seeking to influence public policy by getting its candidates elected to public office. – The Nazi Party, under Hitler’s leadership, gained significant power in Germany during the 1930s, leading to the establishment of a totalitarian regime.
Antisemitic – Antisemitic refers to prejudice, hostility, or discrimination against Jewish people, which was a central ideology of the Nazi regime. – The antisemitic policies of Nazi Germany led to the systematic persecution and genocide of six million Jews during the Holocaust.
Legacy – Legacy refers to something handed down by a predecessor, often used to describe the lasting impact of historical events or figures. – The legacy of World War II includes the establishment of the United Nations and the beginning of the Cold War.
World War – A world war is a large-scale war involving many of the world’s countries, typically divided into opposing military alliances, such as World War I and World War II. – World War I, known as the “Great War,” reshaped the political landscape of Europe and set the stage for World War II.
