Wilhelm II : into the abyss of war and exile, 1900-1941

This final volume of John C. G, Röhl's acclaimed biography of Kaiser Wilhelm II reveals the Kaiser's central role in the origins of the First World War. The book examines the Wilhelm's part in the Boer War, the Russo-Japanese War, the naval arms race with Britain and Germany's rivalry with the United States as well as in the crises over Morocco, Bosnia and Agadir. It also sheds new light on the public scandals which accompanied his reign from the allegations of homosexuality made against his intimate friends to the Daily Telegraph affair. Above all, John Röhl scrutinises the mounting tension between Germany and Britain and the increasing pressure the Kaiser exerted on his Austro-Hungarian ally from 1912 onwards to resolve the Serbian problem. Following Germany's defeat and Wilhelm's enforced abdication, he charts the Kaiser's bitter experience of exile in Holland and his frustrated hopes that Hitler would restore him to the throne.. Final Volume In Acclaimed Biography Of Wilhelm Ii Exploring His Role In The Origins Of The First World War. Death And Transfiguration -- The Kaiser And England During The Boer War -- 'i Am The Balance Of Power In Europe.' Wilhelm Between Britain, Russia And France -- The Boxer Rebellion And The Baghdad Railway -- The Shabby Compromise: Wilhelm Ii And Bülow's Chancellorship -- Wilhelm Ii And The Germans, 1900 To 1904 -- 'we Two Make History And Destiny Is In Our Hands!' Kaiser And Tsar On The Eve Of The Russo-japanese War -- The Anglo-german Antagonism: The Kaiser, The King And Public Opinion -- The Kaiser And America -- Uncle And Nephew: Edward Vii And The 'encirclement' Of Germany -- East Asia In Flames: The Russo-japanese War And Its Consequences -- Operational Plans For A War In Western Europe -- 'paris Must Get One In The Eye From Us One Day!' The Kaiser And The First Morocco Crisis -- 'a Turning-point In The History Of Europe' Or The Fiasco Of Björkö -- Balance Of Power Or Hegemony? The Anglo-german Conflict And The Quarrel With King Edward -- Humiliation In Algeciras -- 'encirclement': Caught In The Web Of The Entente -- Germany's 'dreadnougt Leap'. The Kaiser And 'his' Navy -- The Zenith Of Personal Monarchy. The Kaiser And The Government On The Eve Of The Great Crisis -- 'kings Are Only Human, After All.' Scandals At The Hohenzollern Court -- Prince Eulenburg's Downfall. The Campaign Against The Liebenberg 'camarilla' -- The Kaiser's Visit To Windsor And Highcliffe, November To December 1907 -- The Hot Summer Of 1908. On The Verge Of War With Britain -- 'our Kaiser And His People!' The Crisis Of Wilhelm's Personal Monarchy -- Nemesis. Wilhelm Ii And The Daily Telegraph Affair -- Upheaval In The Balkans. Kaiser Wilhelm And The Bosnian Annexation Crisis Of 1908 To 1909 -- The 'pantomime': From Bülow To Bethmann Hollweg -- Wilhelm And The Direction Of Foreign Policy Under Bethmann Hollweg -- The King Is Dead, Or New Hopes Of An Agreement With England -- Agadir: The Leap Of The Panther -- 'the Enemy Identified.' The Acceleration Of The Naval Race And The Growing Menace Of War -- 'already Leader Of The United States Of Europe?' Wilhelm And The Debacle Of The Haldane Mission -- November 1912: The Strategic Switch From West To East -- Deterrence: The Unresolved Problem Of Britain's Neutrality -- 'berlin Has Warned Us Off Again.' The 'postponed Racial War Against Slavdom' -- Kaiser And Reich. Wilhelm's Personal Monarchy On The Eve Of War -- 'with Head Held High And Hand On Sword-hilt!' Preparations For War 1913 To 1914 -- Summer 1914: The Decision For War -- The Kaiser's Last Norwegian Cruise -- Confusion In Potsdam: The Fear Of Britain's Involvement -- Into The Abyss: The Outbreak Of War -- The Supreme War Lord In The First World War -- The Kaiser's War Aims -- Downfall. The Collapse Of The Hohenzollern Monarchy -- The Unicorn In Winter. A New Life In Exile -- 'blood Must Flow, Much Blood!' The Kaiser And The 'swinish' Weimar Republic -- Monarchy By The Grace Of Hitler? Wilhelm Ii And The Third Reich. John C. G. Röhl ; Translated By Sheila De Bellaigue And Roy Bridge. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This final volume of John C. G. Rohl's acclaimed biography of Kaiser Wilhelm II reveals the Kaiser's central role in the origins of the First World War. The book examines the Wilhelm's part in the Boer War, the Russo-Japanese War, the naval arms race with Britain and Germany's rivalry with the United States as well as in the crises over Morocco, Bosnia and Agadir. It also sheds new light on the public scandals which accompanied his reign from the allegations of homosexuality made against his intimate friends to the Daily Telegraph affair. Above all, John Rohl scrutinises the mounting tension between Germany and Britain and the increasing pressure the Kaiser exerted on his Austro-Hungarian ally from 1912 onwards to resolve the Serbian problem. Following Germany's defeat and Wilhelm's enforced abdication, he charts the Kaiser's bitter experience of exile in Holland and his frustrated hopes that Hitler would restore him to the throne.. This final volume of John Röhl's acclaimed biography of Kaiser Wilhelm II reveals the Kaiser's central role in the origins of the First World War. The book examines the Kaiser's part in the Boer War, the Russo-Japanese War, the naval arms race with Britain and Germany's rivalry with the United States as well as in the crises over Morocco, Bosnia and Agadir. It also sheds new light on the public scandals which accompanied his reign from the allegations of homosexuality made against his intimate friends to the Daily Telegraph Affair. Above all, John Röhl scrutinises the mounting tension between Germany and Britain and the increasing pressure the Kaiser exerted on his Austro-Hungarian ally from 1912 onwards to resolve the Serbian problem. Following Germany's defeat and Wilhelm's enforced abdication, he charts the Kaiser's bitter experience of exile in Holland and his frustrated hopes that Hitler would restore him to the throne This final volume in John Röhl's acclaimed biography of Wilhelm II explores the Kaiser's role in the international crises leading up to the outbreak of war in 1914. It also charts his experience of exile in Holland and his frustrated hopes that the Nazis would restore him to the throne.