Figure 1.--Here German boys are celebrating Kaiser Wilhelm's birthday (January 27, 1915). It was the Kaiser's decissions that set World war I in motion. Other European royalty which governed most of the continent also shared reponsibility to varying degrees. While the population at first rallied around their soverigns as the caualties mounted, the monarchies that launched the war declined in popularity. The result was that the four great empires imploded at the end of the war. The Tsar and his family was shot. The Kaiser had to flee to the Netherlands. Other German royalty were deposed. The Hapsburgs were expelled from Austria. The Ottoman Sultan was dethroned.

European countries generally celebrated the birthday of the ruling monarch. The only country where this continues in the modern era is Britain where the Queen's birthday is celebrated. The Kaiser's birthday was celebrated in Imperial Germany. This is quite an interesting photo, taken (I believe) at a boy's school the building of which we see in the background. The boys are dressed up in various military costumes for the event of the Kaiser's birthday. The sign reads "The Young General, The Kaiser's Birthday Celebration, 27 Janurary 1915." We have no idea about what type of school it was. It does not look like a primary chool. The boys seem to be about 10-years old. You can get an idea of the boys' regular school clothes (combined with the borrowed military gear) in a few cases. The long black stockings, for instance, and the white shirt worn with short trousers and a H-bar halter top seem to be part of the boys' regular school clothes. We suspect that the photographer may have heloped the boys find some of the unifirm items they are wearing. Images like this were considered cute at the beginning of World war I which began with the German invasion of neutral Belgium (August 1914). As the War continued and casualties mounted, we see fewer images like this with children. At the end of the War, the generals told the Kaiser that they could no longer guarantee his safety. He fled to the neutral Netherlands. The Allies wanted to try him for war crimes, but the Dutch would not turn him over for prosecution. This ended the tradition of celebrating the monarch's birthday because Germany became a republic. The NAZIs reserected the tradition and Hitler's birthday became an important national celebration.

Created: 9:16 PM 2/25/2012
Last updated: 9:16 PM 2/25/2012