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Kaiser Wilhelm II – An imperial freak ?
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In Germany there are many scholars who hold Kaiser Wilhelm II responsible for the crisis of government in the Second Reich. Indeed Kaiser Wilhelm II, who, having been brought up in a strict Calvinist environment, ruled Germany by divine right, brooking no argument or opposition whatsoever. To make matters worse, Wilhelm developed a rather peculiar manner of dealing with Germany’s leading statesmen. In 1890, Wilhelm rid himself of the all-powerful Bismarck by forcing the latter to resign. In his public pronouncements, Wilhelm did not shy from making racist comments, extolling the virtues of merciless colonization of foreign nations. He had a bullying attitude towards his close associates and troops; the latter were warned by Wilhelm that they would have to shoot down their fathers and brothers if he ordered them to do so. In parliamentary politics, Wilhelm showed little respect for the members of the Reichstag, frequently comparing them to the ‘scoundrels’ who should be purged. Wilhelm's way of conducting diplomacy seems to have been affected by his rather disturbing taste for the obscene, which he apparently treated as a form of amusement. As a result, Wilhelm made a number of 'faux pas’, of which slapping the Tsar of Bulgaria on the behind, pinching the Duke of Saxe-Coburg, or poking the ribs of retired Admirals even today continue to baffle and entertain. On balance, Wilhelm, therefore, appears to have been more of an embarrassment than an asset to the government of the Second Reich, yet is this the only way of looking at the reign of the last German emperor?
http://www.zeit.de/zeit-geschichte/2010/04/Das-Essay
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But there were some examples of military figures who were able to cross the Emperor. On the eve of the First World War general von Moltke protested against peculiar "habit" held during autumn maneuvres or mock battles, in which always "corps" and "armies" commanded by the Kaiser himself won. In late 1916 the Emperor was completely overshadowed by general Ludendorff who became a real dictator making crucial decisions not only on military matters but also on politics and economy. Wilhelm could not dismiss him without dismissing Hindenburg. Dissmissing the latter was commonly recognised as a political siucide. He then became a "hostage" of his generals.
Ten post był edytowany przez Krzysztof M.: 11/09/2010, 12:40
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I think we can define Wilhelm II as an icon of German militarism, or even caricature of it. In his times, the role of emperor was to represent his country well and to play an important part in diplomacy - he wasn't good in any of it. For II Reich he was more like a burden than useful tool.
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