The Last Kaiser The Life of Wilhelm II

by MacDonogh, Giles

• ISBN13: 9780312305574
• ISBN10: 0312305575
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-04-25
• Publisher: Griffin

Summary

Wilhelm II, Prussia's last king and Germany's last Kaiser, was born in Potsdam on January 27, 1859, the son of Prince Frederick of Prussia and Princess Vicky, Queen Victoria's eldest child. Al-though he is widely perceived as a warmonger who seemed to delight in victory, bloodshed, and the belligerent aims of his staff, he carved out an image for himself as the 'Emperor of Peace.' Historically, he has been blamed for World War I, although he made real efforts to prevent it. He has been branded an anti-Semite, yet the Nazis wrote him off as a 'Jew-lover.' In this fascinating, authoritative new profile, MacDonogh takes a fresh look at this complex and contradictory statesman and the charges against him.

Author Biography

Giles MacDonogh is a historian and journalist. His biography of Frederick the Great was a bestseller in the United Kingdom. He contributes regularly to the Financial Times, The Times, The Guardian, and Evening Standard. He lives in London.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	p. vi
Acknowledgements	p. viii
Family Tree	p. x
Introduction	p. 1
The Inheritance	p. 11
Synthesis	p. 21
The Emperor as a Young Man	p. 58
Influence and Responsibilities	p. 73
Duel to the Death	p. 82
Countdown	p. 92
Ninety-Nine Days	p. 115
The Struggle with the Bismarcks	p. 125
The Liberal Empire	p. 167
Uncle Chlodwig	p. 204
Bulow	p. 246
A Sea of Troubles	p. 297
Bethmann-Hollweg	p. 319
The Slide into War	p. 351
Into the Shadows	p. 363
Bowing Out	p. 398
Amerongen and Doorn	p. 419
William and Adolf	p. 446
Notes	p. 463
Index	p. 517
Table of Contents provided by Rittenhouse. All Rights Reserved.