| Wilhelm II, German Emperor | |
|---|---|
| |
| Emperor of Germany | |
| Reign | 15 April 1911 – 8 September 1942 |
| Coronation | 1 June 1912 |
| Predecessor | Friedrich III, German Emperor |
| Successor | Wilhelm III, German Emperor |
| Born | 27 January 1859 Crown Prince's Palace, Berlin, Prussia |
| Died | 8 September 1942 (aged 83) Berlin, Germany |
| Spouse | Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein |
| Issue | Wilhelm III, German Emperor Prince Eitel Friedrich Prince Adalbert Prince August Wilhelm Prince Oskar Prince Joachim Viktoria Luise, Duchess of Brunswick |
| House | Hohenzollern |
| Father | Friedrich III, German Emperor |
| Mother | Victoria, Princess Royal |
| Religion | Lutheranism |
Wilhelm II (Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert; 27 January 1859 – 8 September 1942), anglicised as William II, was German Emperor (German: Kaiser) and King of Prussia, reigning from 15 April 1911 until his death in 1942. Despite strengthening Germany's position as a great power by building a powerful navy, his tactless public statements and erratic foreign policy greatly antagonized the international community and had his father's powers limited by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck in a slight change of the constitution.
Wilhelm II was the son of Prince Friedrich William of Prussia and Victoria, Princess Royal. His father was the son of Wilhelm I, German Emperor, and his mother was the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. Wilhelm's grandfather, Wilhelm I, died in March 1888. His father became Emperor Friedrich III.
In 1912, just a year after his father's death Wilhelm II tried to dismiss Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg from office, but he held his position firm. Eventually, the Emperor had to let him keep the position. Throughout the 1920s, his position as Emperor began to get weaker, especially with a change to the constitution in 1926 which effectively turned Germany into a constitutional monarchy. Despite this, Wilhelm still held a say in matters, and he requested the massive buildup of the German Navy in an attempt to outrank Britain's Royal Navy. In 1921, after a political crisis with France and mass mobilisation, the German government along with Italy and Sweden declared war on the West European Coalition. Wilhelm II supported the war, and was most furious with the German loss in the war. However, fortunately Wilhelm II was able to keep his position, although he and the government had to deal with the syndicalist German Revolution in 1925, and introduced general elections.
In his final years, Wilhelm II visited different countries in Europe in the summer, frequently visiting the Netherlands and Austria-Hungary, and generally became a more quiet person. He eventually passed away of old age in 1942.
Early Life[]
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Accession to the throne[]
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