Wilhelm II. deutscher Kaiser und König von Preußen
(27.01.1859 - 04.06.1941)
place of birth:  Potsdam, Brandenburg
Königreich Preußen:  Seine Majestät der Kaiser und König,  Oberster Kriegsherr

                          

Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert von Preußen, was Queen Victoria's eldest grandchild. Wilhelm (William) was a descendant of the Hohenzollern Dynasty; at the age of 29 he was crowned Wilhelm II., becoming the last German Emperor and King of Prussia. Wilhelm, also referred to as William, did not like Bismarck, however (main conflict was over social policy), and thus dismissed him in 1890. A birth defect rendered his left arm embarrassingly withered and useless. He became obsessed with mysticism and thoroughly believed  in rule by divine right. His loathing of England was due to an extreme inferiority complex and was fueled by the hatred of his English mother, whom he placed under house arrest upon his father's death.

Kaiser Wilhelm II. gloried in the Prussian Army's militaristic traditions, and his policies of German aggrandizement paved the way to war in 1914. During the War, his influence declined and once Hindenburg & Ludendorff had come into full power, he had lost most of his effective power. He was forced to abdicate in November 1918 and was exiled to the Netherlands. Wilhelm II. was described by his uncle, King Edward VII., as the 'most brilliant failure in history'.  The Kaiser died on 4 June 1941 in exile in Doorn, Netherlands. 

	deutscher Kaiser	15.06.1888  -  28.11.1918
	König von Preußen	15.06.1888  -  28.11.1918
	Generalfeldmarschall	03.05.1900
	Schwarzer Adler-Orden	27.01.1869
	Militär-St-Heinrich	22.10.1914  Großkreuz
	Pour le Mérite	12.05.1915  (Eichenlaub:  12.05.1915)
	Großkreuz des EK	11.12.1916