Historical Figures
Kaiser Wilhelm II
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Wilhelm II was the last German emperor and king of Prussia, reigning from 1888 until his forced abdication in 1918. The eldest grandson of Queen Victoria, he exercised strong personal influence over German foreign and military policy, including an aggressive naval buildup that heightened tensions with Britain. His government's unconditional backing of Austria-Hungary during the July Crisis of 1914 contributed directly to the outbreak of the First World War. Following Germany's military collapse in the autumn of 1918, he was forced to abdicate amid the German Revolution and fled into exile in the Netherlands, where he remained until his death.
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1. Wikipedia: Wilhelm II, German Emperor
WikipediaLead sectionQuote, Lead section
Wilhelm's turbulent reign as German Emperor and King of Prussia from 1888 to 1918 witnessed Germany's rise to become the leading economic, industrial and military power in Europe.
1. Wikipedia: Wilhelm II, German Emperor
WikipediaInfobox (birth)Quote, Infobox (birth)
27 January 1859
1. Wikipedia: Wilhelm II, German Emperor
1. Wikipedia: Wilhelm II, German Emperor
WikipediaParticipant In: World War I, Lead section, July CrisisQuote, Participant In: World War I, Lead section, July Crisis
In 1914, his diplomatic brinksmanship culminated in the guarantee of his country's military support to Austria-Hungary during the July Crisis which ultimately plunged all of Europe into World War I.
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