Friedrich Wilhelm Albert Victor of Hohenzollern

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Friedrich Wilhelm Albert Victor of Hohenzollern

• (Kaiser Wilhelm II)

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Early Life

• Born January 27, 1859 in Berlin, Germany
• Birth injuries withered left arm and possible
  brain damage
• Liked his dad, hated his mom (she beat him)
• Attended Kassel (Friedrichsgymnasium)
  University of Bonn

Friedrich Wilhelm Albert Victor Wilhelm
II (Duffy)
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Political Beliefs

• Supported autocratic monarchy
• Disagreed with socialism
• Hated parliamentary democracy
• Supported German imperialism
• Believed in strong German military and naval power

The Deification of Wilhelm II (Duffy)
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Wilhelm on China

• Used murder of German envoy to inflame populace
  against China
• Incited racist sentiment
• Main goal was to expand Germanys economic
  influence in China

European leaders carving up China, Including
Wilhelm II (in spiked helmet) (Wikimedia)
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World War I

• Wilhelm is angered when friend (Archduke
  Ferdinand) is murdered by Serbian
• Encouraged Austria-Hungary to attack Serbia
• Did not foresee that France, Britain, and Russia
  would aid Serbia
• Generals stopped following his directives
  Wilhelm was ruler in name only

Political Cartoons depicting Wilhelm II (CSL
Cartoon Stock)
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Exile and Death

• German people revolt
• Wilhelm forced to abdicate
• General Paul von Hindenburg takes control
• Wilhelm flees to the Netherlands
• Died in exile, 1941
• Never realized hope to reclaim throne

Wilhelm II Overlooking the Ruin of Germany
During WW I (Hahn)