Kaiser Wilhelm II

by Clark, Christopher; Clark, Christopher (St Catherine'S College, University Of

• ISBN13: 9780582245594
• ISBN10: 0582245591
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-09-11
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

The latest book in the popularProfiles in Power Series,Kaiser Wilhelmprovides a concise and analytical examination which covers the entire span of the Kaiser's life, including his years in exile. Wilhelm was one of the key figures in the history of twentieth century Europe as King of Prussia and German Emperor from 1888 to the collapse of Germany in 1918. .Offers an analytical study of the nature and extent of Wilhelm's political power, examines his political goals and success in achieving them, as well as, his failings as a ruler, and explores the collapse of Prussia's monarchy.Of interest to readers of German history or World War I. Hardcover 0-582-24560-5 $ 69.95

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Acknowledgements	x
Chronology	xi
Childhood and youth	1	(26)
Power in the family	1	(6)
Wilhelm becomes a contender	7	(11)
The Kaiser's personality	18	(9)
Taking power	27	(28)
Power and the constitution	27	(8)
Kaiser versus chancellor	35	(12)
Banquo's Ghost: Bismarck in `retirement'	47	(8)
Going it alone	55	(37)
The Nervous Nineties	55	(4)
Schools	59	(3)
The confessional divide	62	(4)
Army Bill, 1893	66	(2)
The failure of negative integration	68	(5)
The emperor's friends	73	(3)
Kaiser versus ministers: the Koller crisis	76	(4)
1897-1900: Wilhelm in control?	80	(4)
Conclusions: power and constraint	84	(8)
Domestic politics from Bulow to Bethmann	92	(31)
`Personal rule-in the good sense'?	92	(7)
Crisis of confidence, 1905-6	99	(5)
Bulow's endgame	104	(5)
Domestic politics to 1914	109	(8)
Conclusions	117	(6)
Wilhelm II and foreign policy, 1888-1911	123	(37)
`The sole master of German policy'	123	(2)
Managing the Kaiser	125	(5)
Wilhelm II and the naval idea	130	(4)
Navalism becomes policy	134	(4)
Escape routes, 1904-6	138	(6)
Isolation, 1911	144	(3)
Wilhelm's impact	147	(13)
Power and publicity	160	(26)
The power of speech	160	(12)
The Daily Telegraph crisis	172	(14)
From crisis to war: 1909-1914	186	(39)
Wilhelm, Austria-Hungary and the Balkans	186	(7)
War premeditated?	193	(4)
Wilhelm the warmonger?	197	(5)
July 1914	202	(10)
A word from London	212	(2)
Conclusions: Wilhelm and the outbreak of war	214	(11)
War, exile, death: 1914-1941	225	(32)
Supreme warlord	225	(5)
The decision for unrestricted submarine warfare	230	(6)
The fall of Bethmann	236	(2)
Public opinion	238	(7)
Exile	245	(12)
Conclusion	257	(5)
Further reading in English	262	(4)
Index	266