Figure 1.--

The end of World War I found Wilhelm, who had wielded virtual absolute authority, berift of power, a fugative from his own people. He was hated by millions the world over. During the peace negotiations at Versailles, various representatives of the victorious Allies urged vainly that Wilhelm be extradited and tried as a war criminal. Queen Wilhelmina of The Netherlands rejected the Allies' demands to turn the former Kaiser over to them for trial. The Emperess Auguste-Victoria died in 1921. Wilhelm remaired to Princess Hermine of Schönaich-Carolath in 1921. The Princess had five children of her own, three boys and two girls, from a previous mairrage. The Princes were Georg Wilhelm, Hans Georg, and Ferdinand. The Princesses were Henrietta and Karno. One can not help but compare Wilhelm and Hitler. There were many disturbing similarities, but the Kaiser governed within a constitutional government. The Prussian Government settled 250,000 acres of land and 15 million gold marks on Wilhelm in recompence for confiscated property. Efforts to pass the imperial crown to the Kaiser's eldest grandson failed to gain popular support in Germany. The Kaisser lived to see the resurgence of German military might. He was thrilled with the German victories. After Wilhelm's death in 1941, he was buried with military honors by order of Adolf Hitler, but at his reques without the swastica flag. He was buried at his Dutch estate in Doorn.

Refuge in the Netherlands

The end of World War I found Wilhelm, who had wielded virtual absolute authority, berift of power, a fugative from his own people. He was hated by millions the world over. During the peace negotiations at Versailles, various representatives of the victorious Allies urged vainly that Wilhelm be extradited and tried as a war criminal. Queen Wilhelmina of The Netherlands rejected the Allies' demands to turn the former Kaiser over to them for trial. Wilhelm spent his remaining years safe, but in complete seclusion at Doorn Castle in the Netherlands. It could have been different. If the Allies had gotten jurisdiction over him, he may have well been tried for war crimes. Although the basis would have been very different than the case presented by the Allies at Nuremberg. Animosity toward him gradually wained in the decade following the war, only to be replaced by an almost complete indifference. His responsibility for World War I remain a matter of historical dabate. Wilhelm in the Netherlands at first lived as a guest with Count Bentinck in Amerongen, and then in 1920 purchased the chateau Doorn near Utrecht. Wilhelm soon sttled into the life of an English country squire. His beard lost mustache lost its characteristic shape now that he no longer had a court barber. As the NAZIs gained public support in the late 1920s, Wilhelm was suspicious of them. Unlike some of his sons and grandsons, he never endorsed them. The NAZIs during the rise to power courted the family out of a need for respectibility.

Remarriage

The Emperess Auguste-Victoria died in 1921. Wilhelm remaired to Princess Hermine of Schönaich-Carolath in 1921. The Princess had five children of her own, three boys and two girls, from a previous mairrage. The Princes were Georg Wilhelm, Hans Georg, and Ferdinand. The Princesses were Henrietta and Karno. I do not believe that Wilhelm had any additional children.

Wilhelm and Hitler

One can not help but compare Wilhelm and Hitler. Wilhelm like Hitler was an invenerate anti-semite. In the perspective of history, Wilhelm's anti-semetic outbursts are frightening. He also made crude statements about the Chinese. The difference of course is that Wilhelm operated within a constitutionjal system. He often appointed men he felt would follow his instructions. Even so, they were men of learning who would stand up to his most intemperate outbursts. Hitler of course had no compunction with legality. He had no objection with extra-legal killings and his ministers and appointed subordaides outdid themselves with plans to brings his muderous outbursts into reality.

German Developments

The Prussian Government settled 250,000 acres of land and 15 million gold marks on Wilhelm in recompence for confiscated property. Efforts to pass the imperial crown to the Kaiser's eldest grandson failed to gain popular support in Germany. I think that many Germans blamed the Kaiser or at least associated him with defeat in the War. Kaiser for his part became even more anti-semetic, blaming the Jews for stiring up hatred for him. At first he assumed that he would be installed and cheered right-wing plots.

The Hohenzollerns and the NAZIs

As the NAZIs gained public support in the late 1920s, Wilhelm was suspicious of them. Unlike some of his sons and grandsons, he never endorsed them. The NAZIs during the rise to power courted the family out of a need for respectibility. Goering visited Doorn twice. Once in power Hitler spurned them, holding Wilhelm and his eldest son in contempt. The NAZIs for their part feared an attempt in 1933 to restore the monarchy. Wilhelm did approve of some NAZI policies such as withdrawing from the League of Nations and rearmament. Despite his anti-semitism, he was shocked with the savegery of Kristallnacht in 1937.

One reader believes that we are too critical of the Hohenzollerns with respect to the NAZIs. He writes, "In respect to the family of "Hohenzollerens", you seem to always portray a sight they were hopeful of Nazi enpowerment as to regain victory over Germany. That is NOT true. Upon Fredrich's death in 1940, for which he only allied with the NAZIs about one thing and that was to back away from the United Nations Project coming on hand. As for any other NAZI involvement, the NAZIs were making the Hohenzolleren family name abolished from further rule and or empowerment. The NAZIs wanted the country for themselves and any Political Power such as the Hohenzolleren family was a threat to the NAZIs. Such as the Hohenzolleren family had hired several assassins to take out NAZI leaders, but had failed due to moles around them. Other Hohenzollerens fled the country to other parts such as Lower Europe, Czech, and America. We have found that one had went to Argentina with his family and new wife, upon living there until he died. One family is still known to live in Czech. while another with name changed now lives in America. Upon this, I hope this information provides you with the manner that the Hohenzolleren family was not involved in any Nazi rule or did not help any NAZIs come into power. If you look at history a little more, the Hohenzolleren had much more to lose than any other family in Europe. Why would they help someone steal their land and money...as well as fame? Be real. Get your facts straight before you publish them please. Please Do not publish..assumed writings." -- Tim

Tim, Thank you for your comments. I think, however, that you are rather unfair. Because facts do not agree with your opinions does not mean that they are assumed facts. The fact that Goering visited the Kaiser is not an assumed fact. The gact that the NAZIs in the 1920s courted family members is not an assumed fact. The fact that the family was active in right wing politics to weaken the Weimar Republic is not an assumed fact. I think you are basically over simplifying the issue. Kaiser Wilhelm II had several sons and a daughter and more grandchildren. The former Kaiser and his descendants had a range of political views. Most of course wanted a return to the monarchy. The NAZIs during the 1920s courted many people including politicians, industrialists and members of the Hohenzollern family and others. Kaiser Wilhelm himself never trusted Hitler, but he was a foe of the Weimar Republic meaning German democracy. Some of the sons supported the NAZIs to varying degrees, fooled into thinking that the NAZIs would restore the monarchy. That is not to say that they ever endorsed subsequent NAZI attrocities. There were many others who would have liked to return the monarchy--Hindenburg for one. Hitler and the NAZIs of course had no such intention, but they courted the Hohenzollern's and many other reputable people in an effort to demonstrate that they were not just thugs, but a legitimate political party. I would indeed like to add precise details on the political activities of the various members of the family. As far as I know you are correct that they had no important role in the Party or Government. I believe, however, that you are incorrect when you say that they played no role in the NAZI rise to power. Members of the family were active in the NAZIs and other right wing parties and extremely critical of the Weimar Republic and democracy in general. By criticizing the Weimar Republic and expressing sympathies for the NAZIs, this helped to legitimize them. As to your question, "Why would they help someone steal their land and money...as well as fame?" The answer is very simple--they were fooled. Many Germans were fooled by the NAZIs as well as a long list of German politicians, and finally Chamberlain. Our site is composed of essentially draft papers to which we are constantly adding information. We have chosen to pursue this course so as to exchange information with readers. If you want only finalized papers, you will probably not want to visit our site. I think you are quite right that our pages on the Hohenzollerns and the NAZIs need more facts. We would indeed like to add more information. I have so far been able to find little such information on Wilhem's sons and grandsons, but as our site grows we do hope to persue this issue. I might point out, however, that the information you sent is your opinion, without any facts or sources at all to support it. I would be interested, for example, for your source to support your statement that the Hohenzollerns played no role in the rise of the NAZIs. I think the post-World War I role of the Hohenzollern family it is an interesting question. It is rather unfair, however, to criticize our pages so stridently for lacking supportive information when all you refute it with is your unsubstantiated opinion."

World War II

The Kaisser lived to see the resurgence of German military might. The eutral Netherlands, the country that sheltered the Kaiser after World War I, assumed that their neutrality would be respected after World War II began in September 1939. The German invaded the Netherlands in a suprise attack in May 1940 and France fell in Hune 1940. Kaiser Wilhelm was thrilled with the German victories.

Death

After Wilhelm's death in 1941, he was buried with military honors by order of Adolf Hitler, but at his reques without the swastica flag. He was buried at his Dutch estate in Doorn.

Sources

Van der Kriste, John. Kaiser Wihelm II: Germany's Last Kaiser (Bodmin: Sutton Publishing, 1999), 244p.

Created: November 12, 2002
Last updated: November 12, 2002