The Last German Emperor: The Life of Wilhelm II

Revised content:

Prussia's last king and Germany's last Kaiser, William II, was born on January 27, 1859, in Potsdam. He was the son of Prince Frederick of Prussia and Princess Vicky, who was the eldest child of Queen Victoria. From birth, William suffered from a withered arm and cerebral palsy, which have led many historians to seek clues about his later behavior. His character was perceived as complex and contradictory – some considered him mad, while others saw him as eccentric.

William was known for his ferocious temper and tendency to make reactionary statements, often contradicted by his subsequent actions or utterances. Rumors circulated about him siring numerous illegitimate children, yet he was also portrayed as a prig. His upbringing under a severe Calvinist tutor was counterbalanced by an entourage that indulged him, allowing him to win at games and maneuvers to compensate for his physical deformities. This, in turn, gave him a sense of inherent invincibility.

William became Kaiser at the age of twenty-nine. Two years into his reign, he drove out Bismarck, who had previously blocked his social policies. William's failure to renew the Reinsurance Treaty with Russia destabilized the Iron Chancellor's foreign policy, paving the way for Russia's alliance with France in 1894. While William denied that his built-up fleet was targeted at Britain, there is evidence that the aim of his secretary of state was to achieve German domination of the seas, a goal that was less anxious to please the British than the grandson of Queen Victoria.

Despite being widely perceived as a warmonger who delighted in power-grabbing, blood-shed, and the belligerent aims of his staff, William carved out an image for himself and posterity as the "emperor of peace." Although he has historically been blamed for World War I, he made real efforts to prevent the conflict. Ironically, he has also been branded an anti-Semite, yet the Nazis considered him a "Jew-lover."

In this fascinating and authoritative new biography, MacDonogh takes a fresh look at this complex and contradictory statesman, challenging many of the charges that have long been upheld against him.

product information: