When you encounter him, know this: no quarter will be given. The plan supposed that it would take a long time before Russia was ready for war. You know full well that you are to fight against a cunning, brave, well-armed, and cruel enemy. in Wooster, OH Free shipping for many products! Wilhelm thus developed a dysfunctional relationship with his parents, but especially with his English mother. Scores from any date in Major League history, Minor, Foreign, College, & Black Baseball, Frequently Asked Questions about MLB and Baseball, Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREE. In 1881, after a period of military service, Wilhelm married Augusta Victoria, Princess of Schleswig-Holstein, and they had seven children. The final split between monarch and statesman occurred soon after an attempt by Bismarck to implement a far-reaching anti-Socialist law in early 1890. Upon hearing in July 1917 that his cousin George V had changed the name of the British royal house to Windsor,[78] Wilhelm remarked that he planned to see Shakespeare's play The Merry Wives of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Not long after, Wilhelm rallied German soldiers to fight in the Chinese Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901), nicknaming the soldiers "Huns" and encouraging them to fight like Attila's troops. [6] Observing her contractions to be insufficiently strong, Martin administered a dose of ergot extract, and at 2:45 pm saw the infant's buttocks emerging from the birth canal, but noticed the pulse in the umbilical cord was weak and intermittent. For individual Jews, ranging from rich businessmen and major art collectors to purveyors of elegant goods in Berlin stores, he had considerable esteem, but he prevented Jewish citizens from having careers in the army and the diplomatic corps and frequently used abusive language against them. Bismarck, feeling pressured and unappreciated by the young Emperor and undermined by his ambitious advisors, refused to sign a proclamation regarding the protection of workers along with Wilhelm, as was required by the German Constitution. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. [2] He tried to Wilhelm II was on friendly terms with the Muslim world. [24], After a heated argument at Bismarck's estate over the latter's alleged disrespect for the monarchy, Wilhelm stormed out. [103] Wilhelm asserted that the "British people must be liberated from Antichrist Juda. His second wife, Hermine, actively petitioned the Nazi government on her husband's behalf. Photo: Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images, Every Candidate in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Race, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Name: Kaiser Wilhelm, Birth Year: 1859, Birth date: January 27, 1859, Birth City: Potsdam (near Berlin), Birth Country: Germany. Win Expectancy, Run Expectancy, and Leverage Index calculations provided by Tom Tango of InsideTheBook.com, and co-author of The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. [17] However, he had a distant relationship with his mother. WebEarly life. Wilhelm enthusiastically promoted the arts and sciences, as well as public education and social welfare. Educated by Schlieffen they put the plans he had worked out under me into practice along the same lines as we did in 1914. Historians have suggested that this disability affected his emotional development. He tried with some success to conceal this; many photographs show him holding a pair of white gloves in his left hand to make the arm seem longer. Later, as he came into contact with the Crown Prince's political opponents, Wilhelm came to adopt more ambivalent feelings toward his father, perceiving the influence of Wilhelm's mother over a figure who should have been possessed of masculine independence and strength. (Age 44-212d) August 26, 1921 Kaiser Wilhelm I died in Berlin on 9 March 1888, and Prince Wilhelm's father ascended the throne as Frederick III. The Kaiser's presence was seen as an assertion of German interests in Morocco, in opposition to those of France. His mother was the daughter of Queen Victoria. "[99], Upon the fall of Paris a month later, Wilhelm sent another telegram: "Under the deeply moving impression of France's capitulation I congratulate you and all the German armed forces on the God-given prodigious victory with the words of Kaiser Wilhelm the Great of the year 1870: 'What a turn of events through God's dispensation!' Born 27 January 1859 in Berlin, Germany. Donald E. Shepardson, "The History of Venezuela (19481958) 'Daily Telegraph' Affair", Matthew S. Seligmann, "The Anglo-German Naval Race, 18981914". Condition: I - II | Gazette Drouot WebScopri foto stock e immagini editoriali di attualit di Kaiser Wilhelm Bad su Getty Images. Accepting the reality that he had lost both of his crowns for good, he gave up his rights to "the throne of Prussia and to the German Imperial throne connected therewith". Nonetheless, they continued the war for four more years. In. Naval expansion under the Fleet Acts eventually led to severe financial strains in Germany by 1914, as by 1906 Wilhelm had committed his navy to construction of the much larger, more expensive dreadnought type of battleship. Reviews There are no reviews yet. ", This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 08:48. Wilhelm had seen the interview as an opportunity to promote his views and ideas on Anglo-German friendship, but due to his emotional outbursts during the course of the interview, he ended up further alienating not only the British, but also the French, Russians, and Japanese. [54] Historians have linked the Eulenberg scandal to a fundamental shift in German policy that heightened its military aggressiveness and ultimately contributed to World War I.[52]. He also was present at the funeral of King Edward VII in 1910. In an outburst in April 1889, Wilhelm angrily implied that "an English doctor killed my father, and an English doctor crippled my armwhich is the fault of my mother", who allowed no German physicians to attend to herself or her immediate family. While Bismarck had previously sponsored landmark social security legislation, by 188990, he had become violently opposed to the rise of organized labor. He grew up like any Prussian Prince, except for an arm Defeating France had been easy for Prussia in the Franco-Prussian War in 1870. After administering ipecac and prescribing a mild dose of chloroform, which was administered by Victoria's personal physician Sir James Clark, Martin advised Fritz the unborn child's life was endangered. WebThe original required height was 6 Prussian feet (about 6 ft 2 in or 1.88 m), [1] well above average then and now. 0 references. A nation is created by families, a religion, traditions: it is made up out of the hearts of mothers, the wisdom of fathers, the joy and the exuberance of children For a few months I was inclined to believe in National Socialism. "[104], He also believed that the Freemasons and the Jews had caused both world wars, and were aiming for a world empire financed by British and American gold, but that "Juda's plan has been smashed to pieces and they themselves swept out of the European Continent! He also released his soldiers and officials in both Prussia and the empire from their oath of loyalty to him. WebKaiser Wilhelm was born on Monday, January 26, 1874, in Wooster, Ohio. Height 10.5 cm. Kaiser Wilhelm II was the last German monarch. Died 04 June 1941 in Huis Doorn, The Netherlands. Prisoners will not be taken. Wilhelm was born in 1882, six years before the accession of his father to the German throne. [73] On Monday, he motored back to Berlin from Potsdam and issued an imperial order to convene the Reichstag the next day. In appointing Caprivi and then Hohenlohe, Wilhelm was embarking upon what is known to history as "the New Course", in which he hoped to exert decisive influence in the government of the empire. [39] Despite his poor relations with his English relatives, when he received news that Queen Victoria was dying at Osborne House in January 1901, Wilhelm travelled to England and was at her bedside when she died, and he remained for the funeral. Wilhelm was intensely fond of England as a young man and one of the great tragedies of his life was that he had to wage war on a country he loved almost as much as his own. In exile, one of Wilhelm's greatest passions was hunting, and he killed thousands of animals, both beast and bird. instance of. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. There were two versions of the speech. "[100] In a September 1940 letter to an American journalist, Wilhelm praised Hitler's rapid early conquests as "a succession of miracles", but remarked also that "the brilliant leading Generals in this war came from My school, they fought under my command in the World War as lieutenants, captains and young majors. [88] This was to be his home for the remainder of his life. "[106], Wilhelm died of a pulmonary embolism in Doorn, Netherlands, on 4 June 1941, at the age of 82, just weeks before the Axis invasion of the Soviet Union. British public opinion had been quite favourable towards the Kaiser in his first twelve years on the throne, but it turned sour in the late 1890s. [112] Thus, the argument is still made that the Kaiser played a major role in promoting the policies of both naval and colonialist expansion that caused the deterioration of Germany's relations with Britain before 1914.[113][114]. The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball, Salaries may not be complete (especially pre-1985) and may not include some earned bonuses, Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. [80][81] That year also saw Wilhelm sickened during the worldwide Spanish flu outbreak, though he survived.[82]. The German Empire has, by its very character, the obligation to assist its citizens if they are being set upon in foreign lands. Choisissez parmi des contenus premium de Kaiser Wilhelm Bad de qualit. Maintain discipline. Short Reigns. Even though Wilhelm had not been on the throne at the time, Alexandra felt anger over the Prussian seizure of Schleswig-Holstein from Denmark in the 1860s, and was also annoyed over Wilhelm's treatment of his mother. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Between 1888 and 1901 Wilhelm resented his uncle, who despite being an heir-apparent to the British throne, treated Wilhelm not as a reigning monarch, but merely as another nephew. In 1918, the United States' full scale entry into the war, combined with severe German shortages of men and materials from years of attrition-based trench warfare, led to Germany's military collapse. [21], Although in his youth he had been a great admirer of Otto von Bismarck, Wilhelm's characteristic impatience soon brought him into conflict with the "Iron Chancellor", the dominant figure in the foundation of his empire. [103] He argued that the English nobility were "Freemasons thoroughly infected by Juda". German Emperor and King of Prussia from 1888 to 1918, "Wilhelm II" and "Kaiser Wilhelm II" redirect here. [102], During his last year at Doorn, Wilhelm believed that Germany was still the land of monarchy and Christianity, while England was the land of classical liberalism and therefore of Satan and the Antichrist. inRochester,NY, Buried: After the outbreak of the German Revolution, Wilhelm could not make up his mind whether to abdicate. [109], Three trends have characterised the writing about Wilhelm. As a teenager he was educated at Kassel at the Friedrichsgymnasium. [original research?] Furthermore, the young Emperor had come to the throne determined to rule as well as reign, unlike his grandfather. The tonnage was approximately 20,000 gross registered tons. [83] On 10 November, Wilhelm crossed the border by train and went into exile in the neutral Netherlands. Though he played host to Hermann Gring at Doorn on at least one occasion, Wilhelm grew to distrust Hitler. Wilhelm was born in Berlin on 27 January 1859at the Crown Prince's Palaceto Victoria, Princess Royal "Vicky", the eldest daughter of Britain's Queen Victoria, and Prince Frederick William of Prussia ("Fritz" the future Frederick III). All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. Wilhelm consented to the abdication only after Ludendorff's replacement, General Wilhelm Groener, had informed him that the officers and men of the army would march back in good order under Hindenburg's command, but would certainly not fight for Wilhelm's throne. In March 1888, Frederick William ascended the German and Prussian thrones as Frederick III. Wilhelm offered to support Austria-Hungary in crushing the Black Hand, the secret organisation that had plotted the killing, and even sanctioned the use of force by Austria against the perceived source of the movementSerbia (this is often called "the blank cheque"). There was little zeal in Britain to prosecute. "In the Guards," Wilhelm said, "I really found my family, my friends, my interestseverything of which I had up to that time had to do without." In the 1860s he engineered a series of wars that unified the German states, significantly and deliberately excluding Austria, into a The new Emperor opposed Bismarck's careful foreign policy, preferring vigorous and rapid expansion to protect Germany's "place in the sun". [26] In 1891, the Reichstag passed the Workers Protection Acts, which improved working conditions, protected women and children and regulated labour relations. [45] While visiting the Mausoleum of Saladin the following day, the Kaiser made a speech: In the face of all the courtesies extended to us here, I feel that I must thank you, in my name as well as that of the Empress, for them, for the hearty reception given us in all the towns and cities we have touched, and particularly for the splendid welcome extended to us by this city of Damascus. Whoever falls into your hands is forfeited. Under Wilhelm, Germany invested in strengthening its colonies in Africa and the Pacific, but few became profitable and all were lost during the First World War. Wilhelm was forced to abdicate and went into exile in the Netherlands. In a period of 10 years, between 1882 and 1892, Augusta Victoria bore Wilhelm seven children, six sons and a daughter.[20]. The KWImF [95] Wilhelm also stated, "For the first time, I am ashamed to be a German."[96]. He was already experiencing an incurable throat cancer and spent all 99 days of his reign fighting the disease before dying. WebPERSONAL RULE OF KAISER WILHELM II Philipp Eulenburgs Politische Korrespondenz. Wilhelm made erratic attempts to stay on top of the crisis via telegram, and when the Austro-Hungarian ultimatum was delivered to Serbia, he hurried back to Berlin. Kaiser Wilhelm was born on January 26, 1877. In the years 19061909, Socialist journalist Maximilian Harden published accusations of homosexual activity involving ministers, courtiers, army officers, and Wilhelm's closest friend and advisor,[51] Prince Philipp zu Eulenberg. Attempts by the victorious allies to extradite and try him for war crimes came to nothing. The king was about 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) tall himself. It was a criminal offense, punishable by prison, although the law was rarely invoked or enforced. Do you have a sports website? He dismissed the While the letter of the imperial constitution vested executive power in the emperor, Wilhelm I had been content to leave day-to-day administration to Bismarck. (Some historians believe that his insecurity over this handicap fueled his later erratic behavior.) He was personally ill-equipped to steer German foreign policy along a rational course. His third visit was on 15 October 1917, as the guest of Sultan Mehmed V. The Boxer Rebellion, an anti-foreign uprising in China, was put down in 1900 by an international force known as the Eight-Nation Alliance. Wilhelm attended the ceremony in a Highland costume, complete with a small toy dirk. In 1888, Wilhelm went On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Each of these three heads of department reported separately to Wilhelm. Wilhelm found 35-year-old Hermine very attractive, and greatly enjoyed her company. In a letter to his daughter Victoria Louise, Duchess of Brunswick, he wrote triumphantly, "Thus is the pernicious Entente Cordiale of Uncle Edward VII brought to nought. Kaiser Wilhelm II painting. Russia and her allies France and Britain entered the war against Germany and Austria. Whlen Sie aus erstklassigen Inhalten zum Thema Kaiser Wilhelm Bad in hchster Qualitt. WebEncuentra fotos de stock de Kaiser Wilhelm Bad e imgenes editoriales de noticias en Getty Images. He thus became alienated from his parents, suspecting them of putting Britain's interests first. Moreover, the Kartell, the shifting coalition government that Bismarck had been able to maintain since 1867, had finally lost its majority of seats in the Reichstag. Wilhelm was a friend of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, and he was deeply shocked by his assassination on 28 June 1914. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Wilhelm was born in Berlin on 27 January 1859at the Crown Prince's Palaceto Victoria, Princess Royal "Vicky", the eldest daughter of Britain's Queen Victoria, and Prince Frederick William of Prussia ("Fritz" the future Frederick III). vs. CIN 9.0 IP, 8 H, 0 SO, 1 BB, W, Last Game: Wilhelm was born on 27 January 1859 in Berlin, the eldest child of Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia and Victoria, daughter of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. [clarification needed][121]. He is the son of Prince Frederick Wilhelm of Prussia and Princess Victoria, the oldest daughter of Queen Victoria of England. After his abdication he retained substantial wealth. Hermine's daughter, Princess Henriette, married the late Prince Joachim's son, Karl Franz Josef, in 1940, but divorced in 1946. [61], Nothing Wilhelm did in the international arena was of more influence than his decision to pursue a policy of massive naval construction. (Age 26-082d, Available for both RF and RM licensing. [48] The edited version was this: Great overseas tasks have fallen to the new German Empire, tasks far greater than many of my countrymen expected. [86], Wilhelm first settled in Amerongen, where on 28 November he issued a belated statement of abdication from both the Prussian and imperial thrones, thus formally ending the Hohenzollerns' 500-year rule over Prussia. His grandmother, Queen Victoria, missed seeing the fracas; to her Wilhelm remained "a clever, dear, good little child, the great favourite of my beloved Vicky". ", Otte, T.G., "'The Winston of Germany': The British Elite and the Last German Emperor", Rich, Norman. The banner headline read: "Kaiser, 25 Years a Ruler, Hailed as Chief Peacemaker". Kaiser Wilhelm IIs Net Worth: $1-5 Million Age, Height & Body Measurements Kaiser Wilhelm II has been died on Jun 4, 1941 ( age 82). Wilhelm was at the Imperial Army headquarters in Spa, Belgium, when the uprisings in Berlin and other centres took him by surprise in late 1918. The scandal led to Wilhelm experiencing a nervous breakdown, and the removal of Eulenberg and others of his circle from the court. If my grandmother had been alive, she would never have allowed it. Much of his time was spent chopping wood and thousands of trees were chopped down during his stay at Doorn.[92]. He died there in 1941. Do you have a blog? One of Wilhelm's diplomatic blunders sparked the Moroccan Crisis of 1905. But of our Germany, which was a nation of poets and musicians, of artists and soldiers, he has made a nation of hysterics and hermits, engulfed in a mob and led by a thousand liars or fanatics. In 1889 Wilhelm reorganised top-level control of the navy by creating a Naval Cabinet (Marine-Kabinett) equivalent to the German Imperial Military Cabinet which had previously functioned in the same capacity for both the army and navy. "[71] Wilhelm is also reported to have said, "To think that George and Nicky should have played me false! Book excerpt: This final volume of John Rhl's acclaimed biography of Kaiser Wilhelm II reveals the Kaiser's central role in the origins of the First World War. We must drive Juda out of England just as he has been chased out of the Continent. This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. [22], The young Kaiser allegedly rejected Bismarck's "peaceful foreign policy" and instead plotted with senior generals to work "in favour of a war of aggression". Read more. WebEncontre fotos de stock e imagens editoriais de notcias de Kaiser Wilhelm Bad na Getty Images. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Kaiser wilhelm II was 5 foot and 7 inches Wiki User 2011-12-21 22:27:10 This answer is: Study guides World War 1 18 cards What is an armistice What was the effect of The Kaiser WebCustom Content. He had the nerve to say that he agreed with the Jewish pogroms and understood why they had come about. In 1889, Wilhelm's younger sister, Sophia, married the future King Constantine I of Greece. While it sounds ominous to call yourself the last German emperor, or kaiser, Wilhelms dynasty wasnt quite as impressive as youd think. During his rule, Germany's relations with Britain, France and Russia became strained. Hearing of the murder of the wife of former Chancellor Kurt von Schleicher during the Night of the Long Knives, Wilhelm said, "We have ceased to live under the rule of law and everyone must be prepared for the possibility that the Nazis will push their way in and put them up against the wall! [59][60] The Daily Telegraph crisis deeply wounded Wilhelm's previously unimpaired self-confidence, and he soon experienced a severe bout of depression from which he never fully recovered. Kaiser Wilhelm played for 5 teams; the Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Beaneaters, Brooklyn Superbas, Baltimore Terrapins and Philadelphia Phillies. Hermine remained a constant companion to the aging former emperor until his death. He had bought the former Greek residence of Empress Elisabeth after her murder in 1898. Third, after 1950, later scholars have sought to transcend the passions of the early 20th century and attempted an objective portrayal of Wilhelm and his rule. WebKaiser Wilhelm Ii birthday is on January 27, 1859 and he was born on Sunday. Best Known For: Kaiser Wilhelm served as emperor of Germany from 1888 until the end of World War I. Astrological Sign: Aquarius, Death Year: 1941, Death date: June 4, 1941, Death City: Doorn, Death Country: Netherlands, Article Title: Kaiser Wilhelm Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/political-figures/kaiser-wilhelm, Publisher: A&E; Television Networks, Last Updated: May 24, 2021, Original Published Date: April 3, 2014. One of the few times when Wilhelm succeeded in personal diplomacy was when in 1900 he supported the marriage of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria to Countess Sophie Chotek, against the wishes of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. More recently, historian John C. G. Rhl has portrayed Wilhelm as the key figure in understanding the recklessness and downfall of Imperial Germany. Full-year historical Major League statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden Game Sports. He reached Berlin on 28 July, read a copy of the Serbian reply, and wrote on it: A brilliant solutionand in barely 48 hours! [47] Wilhelm's fiery rhetoric clearly expressed his vision for Germany as one of the great powers. Wilhelm kept a very low profile for many months after the Daily Telegraph fiasco, but later exacted his revenge by forcing the resignation of the chancellor, Prince Blow, who had abandoned the Emperor to public scorn by not having the transcript edited before its German publication. The most explicit retrospective diagnoses of Wilhelm II by historians, published at the height of the psycho-history boom, can be found in John C. G. Rhl and Nicolaus While theoretically supreme commander, Wilhelm found himself excluded from military decisions, but crippled chances of a compromise peace by encouraging the grandiose war aims of certain generals and politicians. Unimpressed, Hitler remarked to Heinz Linge, his valet, "What an idiot! [8], Modern medical assessments have concluded Wilhelm's hypoxic state at birth, due to the breech delivery and the heavy dosage of chloroform, left him with minimal to mild brain damage, which manifested itself in his subsequent hyperactive and erratic behaviour, limited attention span and impaired social abilities. When Helmuth von Moltke (the younger) (who had chosen the old plan from 1905, made by General von Schlieffen for the possibility of German war on two fronts) told him that this was impossible, Wilhelm said: "Your uncle would have given me a different answer! Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Web Getty Images Kaiser Wilhelm Bad Kaiser Wilhelm Bad They had seven children: Empress Augusta, known affectionately as "Dona", was a constant companion to Wilhelm, and her death on 11 April 1921 was a devastating blow. WebFinden Sie Stock-Fotos zum Thema Kaiser Wilhelm Bad sowie redaktionelle Newsbilder von Getty Images. At the opening of the Reichstag on 6 May 1890, the Kaiser stated that the most pressing issue was the further enlargement of the bill concerning the protection of the labourer. Frederick died just 99 days later, and his son succeeded him as Wilhelm II. The existing Imperial admiralty was abolished, and its responsibilities divided between two organisations. [16] Wilhelm possessed a quick intelligence, but this was often overshadowed by a cantankerous temper. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. As a matter of form, however, the British and French governments were expected to request Holland for the former kaiser's extradition. and Barbara Bushs Amazing Love Story. The Sultan subsequently rejected a set of French-proposed governmental reforms and invited major world powers to a conference that advised him on necessary reforms. Losing the support of his country's military and many of his subjects, Wilhelm was forced to abdicate during the German Revolution of 19181919. The 63-year-old Wilhelm invited the boy and his mother, Princess Hermine Reuss of Greiz, to Doorn. Some high school data is courtesy David McWater. In truth, the constitution defined the empire as a confederation of states under the permanent presidency of Prussia. Name: Kaiser Wilhelm Birth Year: 1859 Birth date: January 27, 1859 Birth City: Potsdam (near Berlin) Birth Country: Germany Gender: Male Best Known For: Kaiser He is completely lost to our family". The following January, Wilhelm received a birthday greeting from a son of the late Prince Johann George Ludwig Ferdinand August Wilhelm of Schnaich-Carolath. "[103] Continental Europe was now, Wilhelm wrote, "consolidating and closing itself off from British influences after the elimination of the British and the Jews!" Later historians downplayed his role, arguing that senior officials regularly learned to work around the Kaiser's back. Wilhelm was the oldest of the 42 grandchildren of his maternal grandparents (Queen Victoria and Prince Albert), but more importantly, he was the first son of the crown prince of Prussia. [citation needed] There is debate amongst historians[according to whom?] Bismarck, forced for the first time in his career into a crisis that he could not twist to his own advantage, wrote a blistering letter of resignation, decrying Wilhelm's involvement in both foreign and domestic policy, which was published only after Bismarck's death.[25]. Despite emerging victorious over Russia and obtaining significant territorial gains in Eastern Europe, Germany was forced to relinquish all its conquests after a decisive defeat on the Western Front in the fall of 1918. "[58] The effect in Germany was quite significant, with serious calls for his abdication. For example, former President Theodore Roosevelt believed the Kaiser was in control of German foreign policy because Hermann Speck von Sternburg, the German ambassador in Washington and a personal friend of Roosevelt, presented to the President messages from Chancellor von Blow as though they were messages from the Kaiser. When I told him that any decent man would describe these actions as gangsterisms, he appeared totally indifferent. WebWilhelm was born on 27 January 1859 in Berlin, the eldest child of Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia and Victoria, daughter of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. [118] Following his trip to Constantinople (which he visited three timesan unbeaten record for any European monarch)[119] in 1898, Wilhelm II wrote to Nicholas II that,[120], "If I had come there without any religion at all, I certainly would have turned Mohammedan!