Essay (back
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Wilhelm’s Role
Kaiser Wilhelm II’s significance is sometimes overlooked in German history. Between Bismarck and Hitler, the period of his reign is defined by the mistakes made which drove Germany to war. He was the leader however, when Germany began World War I, so it would be assumed that he played a key role in starting the war. This idea could be questioned, however, since a homosexual scandal that hit his inner circle in 1908 led to Wilhelm being viewed by some as a “shadow Kaiser” (p. 110). Yet it seems that his hubris and German pride are critical factors that led Germany into war. Tough weakened by scandal in 1908 and being partially controlled by elites, it was Kaiser Wilhelm II that led Germany to instigate World War I. Between his immature hubris, German nationalism, and the actual political maneuverings he made leading to war, it is quite clear that Kaiser Wilhelm II was a key factor for the European Continent erupting in war.
Throughout his reign, Kaiser Wilhelm II relied on friends and confidants to help realize his ideas, and though the Kaiser did not care for dissent, it did not mean that his advisors were not able to influence him. In 1886, Prince Wilhelm of Prussia became good friends with German Ambassador Philipp Eulenburg. Friendship with the Kaiser meant political influence, which began, for Eulenburg, almost as Wilhelm II took the throne. Eulenburg was a key factor in the Kaiser getting rid of Bismarck, and later helping set up the rise of his friends Holstein and Bülow to the office of Chancellor (p. 52). These were not the only incidents when Eulenburg was able to influence the Kaiser as to who was appointed to a certain post. Although it might not seem as though others were dictating much to the Kaiser, this power to influence was probably significant. These appointees were making decisions as diplomats and guiding the Kaiser and his decision process, even though direct conflict with opinions was tolerated very well. There is the power of influence, is not blatant control, but it does lead to policy that is not solely the Kaiser’s. Therefore, the Kaiser was not in complete control. Influence does have limits as a scandal can eliminate any possible power. Such is the case as in the scandal of 1908.
In 1908 any possible personal rule enjoyed by Kaiser Wilhelm was pretty much over because of scandals. First there was a homosexual scandal, which accused his best friend, Eulenburg, and his other close confidants. Another scandal that hurt him in 1908 was the Daily Telegraph crisis, in which the Kaiser said the Germans do not care about the British to that British newspaper. These incidents both embarrassed Wilhelm and hurt him politically; the crisis really questioned his mental health (p. 23). It went so far that the Reichstag demanded that the Kaiser should pay more attention to the constitution (p.8). These are signs that in the years leading up to World War I, Wilhelm was definitely not at his most powerful position in the government that thought that he was not the great instigator.
Although it may seem as if the Kaiser did not have that much power, particularly leading into World War I, he had some characteristics that make it easy to see his influence on entering a war. Kaiser Wilhelm II had a sense of hubris about himself in which everything in German life should revolve around him (p. 12-13). It seams as if the Kaiser was rather stubborn and would not listen to other opinions, telling admirals they only needed to know that he alone made the decisions (p.12). Also, the Kaiser would use his inner circle to block any legislation he did not care for regardless of its popularity (p. 116). This hubris could easily lead to the Kaiser believing he was right in starting a European war and that he would win.
Another characteristic that demonstrates how influential Wilhelm was to the start of the war was his paranoia that the English, Slavic, French, or Asian armies could attack Germany, and the Kaiser just had a general dislike of them. This helped Wilhelm develop a strong German nationalist pride (p. 202-203). The Kaiser believed a conspiracy of Anglo-Jews, led by his mother, who wanted to take over Germany (p. 202). He was also worried about a Russian, French, and English attack on the Germans as a racial ‘Endkampf’ (p. 203). Wilhelm was also paranoid about the ‘yellow peril,’ normally that the Japanese would attack the whites, thus uniting European people regardless of politics to fight them off (p. 203). It seems as if his fear of all these possible attacks on Germany, and how in all the cases the Germans were the wronged side, led to Wilhelm being very nationalistic in his views. Also, it would increase his desire to strengthen German military might to fend off all combatants. The combination of nationalism and paranoia is definitely strong enough to encourage Wilhelm to go on the offensive instead of waiting to be attacked.
Not only was he paranoid of and disliked by many other nations, but Kaiser Wilhelm II also showed obvious intentions of war with attempted political maneuverings and military adjustments. The actions of the Kaiser, beginning in December 1912 with the ‘military-political conference,’ show him stepping into the direction of a European war (p. 163). The items discussed included: how any conflict with France would bring England to France’s aid and was there any possible way to avoid English entrance into the conflict, postponement of any German attack until a canal was finished, thereby allowing better movement for the U-boats, possibilities of making Russia look like the aggressor, and the best way to implement army and navy bills in order to avoid notice from other countries (p. 164-175).
All of these discussion topics show definite signs that the Kaiser was planning to go to war. Not only that, but they show it was a German-initiated war. Germany was taking a conscious effort to improve its chances of winning a war that was nowhere near underway. They looked at all the main possible enemies and probable allies and weighed them together to see if it left them a good chance of coming out on top. Also, the Kaiser and his advisors were making internal adjustments in order to better Germany as a military state. Waiting to get canals completed and also to get its battle forces strong not only show the thought but were actual actions. These actions were not just for defensive purposes because the planning and thoughts of hiding it show that Wilhelm knew he was starting the conflict. These actions strongly demonstrate how Kaiser Wilhelm II took the actions that led Germany to start World War I.
Conclusion (back to top)
In The Kaiser and His Court, by John C.G. Röhl, it becomes quite apparent that Kaiser Wilhelm II a major factor in starting World War I. Even though it seems at times the Kaiser was prone to influence from friends and advisors, and in the five or so years leading up to the War he was probably the weakest politically because of scandal in his inner circle and because questions regarding his mental health made people question him a bit. It was Kaiser Wilhelm II’s egocentric nationalism that led him down the path to war. He had sense of self so high, he felt he was always right and would force opposition to back down or be eliminated. Also, paranoia fueled his German pride, as he wanted to protect his nation from, in his mind, foreseeable attacks from other nations. These factors ignited the engines that began his planning of a European war. He was not just being defensive, as he tried to be secretive when he initiated plans to increase military might and tried to plan who would be his allies, his enemies, and who would remain neutral. The final straw is the encouragement to Austria-Hungary to attack Serbia thus causing other nations to enter and create a major war. It seems as if without Kaiser Wilhelm II, the Great War might not have occurred, or not have happened in the devastating manner it eventually did. It is hard to answer that possibility, but the Kaiser definitely moved things along. |
