William II

The last German Emperor, who dismissed Bismarck and pursued Weltpolitik.

Life

Grandson of Victoria

William II was the grandson of William I and, through his mother, of Britain's Queen Victoria; an injury at birth left his left arm disabled. He took the throne in 1888 at twenty-nine and two years later dismissed Bismarck to take personal control of policy.

Weltpolitik

He pursued Weltpolitik, expanding the navy in an arms race with Britain and acting aggressively in episodes such as the Moroccan Crises, leaving Germany increasingly isolated diplomatically. In 1897 Germany seized Jiaozhou Bay, and he also delivered the "Hun Speech" urging on the German troops setting out for China.

Exile in the Netherlands

In 1914 he backed Austria-Hungary's hard line against Serbia, and World War I broke out. In the later years of the war real power passed to Hindenburg and Ludendorff. After the November Revolution of 1918 he abdicated and went into exile in the Netherlands, dying in 1941.

Legacy

William II's reckless diplomacy is widely regarded as one of the causes of the outbreak of World War I.

Did you know? He was a cousin of King George V of Britain and Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, and in the Great War the three found themselves in opposing camps.

Key dates

• 1888Accession
• 1890Dismisses Bismarck
• 1897Seizes Jiaozhou Bay
• 1900Delivers the "Hun speech"
• 1914World War I breaks out
• 1918Abdicates; exile in the Netherlands
• 1941Died