Wilhelm II of Germany
Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert von Hohenzollern, Wilhelm II of Prussia and Germany, (27 January 1859 – 4 June 1941) was the last German Emperor and the last King of Prussia, ruling from 1888 to 1918. He went to live in the Netherlands and abdicated (resigned) as King and Emperor. He died at Huis Doorn and is buried there because he ordered that he not be buried in Nazi Germany. Wilhelm died on June 4, 1941.
Wilhelm II | |||||
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![]() A portrait of Wilhelm II by T. H. Voigt | |||||
German Emperor King of Prussia | |||||
Reign | 15 June 1888 – 9 November 1918 | ||||
Predecessor | Frederick III | ||||
Chancellors | |||||
Born | Kronprinzenpalais, Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia | 27 January 1859||||
Died | 4 June 1941 Huis Doorn, Doorn, Nazi-occupied Netherlands | (aged 82)||||
Burial | 9 June 1941 Huis Doorn, Doorn | ||||
Spouse | Princess Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg (m. 1881; died 1921) Princess Hermine Reuss of Greiz (m. 1922) | ||||
Issue | |||||
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House | Hohenzollern | ||||
Father | Frederick III, German Emperor | ||||
Mother | Victoria, Princess Royal | ||||
Religion | Calvinism (Prussian United) | ||||
Signature | ![]() |
Kaiser Wilhelm II was born on 27 January 1859. He was the oldest child in his family. His father was Prince Frederick of Prussia. His mother was Princess Victoria, the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. He was born with a disabled left arm. He got married in 1881. His wife was Augusta Victoria. They had seven children. He studied at the Kassel Gymnasium, and later at the University of Bonn. He became leader of Germany in 1888 after his father died. He disagreed with his father's long-time Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, and dismissed him in 1890.
Wilhelm believed in strengthening Germany’s armed forces, especially the Navy. He led Germany during World War I.
Titles and stylesEdit
- 27 January 1859 – 9 March 1888: His Royal Highness Prince Wilhelm of Prussia
- 9 March 1888 – 15 June 1888: His Imperial Highness and Royal Highness The German Crown Prince, Crown Prince of Prussia
- 15 June 1888 – 18 November 1918: His Imperial and Royal Majesty The German Emperor, King of Prussia
Other websitesEdit
Media related to Wilhelm II of Germany at Wikimedia Commons