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The Kaiser: War Lord Of The Second Reich
He was, in the minds of many, the man responsible for the catastrophe that engulfed Europe in 1914.
Kaiser Wilhelm II, the cold, brutal ruler who represented the pride and swagger of Imperial Germany, and must take the bulk of the responsibility for the First World War.
But who was the real man behind the image?
Although his caricature is firmly etched on the mind, the Kaiser remains an elusive figure. Alan Palmer has set out to tell the story of the extraordinary life of this temperamentally insecure man who was outwardly so full of swagger and bombast -the epitome of the new, self-confident Germany.
Born in a Prussia that was the supreme militaristic society of the post-Napoleonic era and accustomed from his earliest days to all the trappings and sounds of soldiery, Wilhelm was obsessed through-out his adolescence by the need to appear every inch a soldier.
Alan Palmer has examined the Anglo-German background to Wilhelm's life and reign and he emphasizes his changing attitudes towards Britain - a country he both admired and resented. In particular he has thrown new light on the clash of imperial-isms in the 1890s, the Kaiser's visit to England in 1907 and on the attitude of the British government in the 1930s towards the exiled monarch.
'The Kaiser' is the definitive biography of one of the crucial figures of early 20th-century history, and essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the era he dominated.
Praise for Alan Palmer:
‘Mr Palmer is one of those rare historians who can unravel and enliven the motivations of diplomacy.' NEW STATESMAN
'This biography is in the classic tradition, a pleasure to read and unlikely to be replaced for many years.' Philip Ziegler, THE TIMES
'As may confidently be expected of so experienced an author's work, this is a lucid, scholarly study, tackling with skill the narration of a biography which is tangled with detail, true and false, because it is the story of a master of dissimulation and intrigue.' DAILY TELEGRAPH
'Mr Palmer, who has established a deservedly high reputation as a biographer with his studies of Metternich and Tsar Alexander I, here adds worthily to his oeuvre. He develops a new depth for English readers in Bismarck's personal and domestic life.' THE ECONOMIST
Alan Palmer was head of the History Department at Highgate School from 1953 to 1969 when he gave up his post to concentrate on historical writing and research. His many books include ‘Metternich: Councillor of Europe’; ‘Alexander I: Tsar of War’ and ‘Bismarck’.
Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent publisher of digital books.
Kaiser Wilhelm II, the cold, brutal ruler who represented the pride and swagger of Imperial Germany, and must take the bulk of the responsibility for the First World War.
But who was the real man behind the image?
Although his caricature is firmly etched on the mind, the Kaiser remains an elusive figure. Alan Palmer has set out to tell the story of the extraordinary life of this temperamentally insecure man who was outwardly so full of swagger and bombast -the epitome of the new, self-confident Germany.
Born in a Prussia that was the supreme militaristic society of the post-Napoleonic era and accustomed from his earliest days to all the trappings and sounds of soldiery, Wilhelm was obsessed through-out his adolescence by the need to appear every inch a soldier.
Alan Palmer has examined the Anglo-German background to Wilhelm's life and reign and he emphasizes his changing attitudes towards Britain - a country he both admired and resented. In particular he has thrown new light on the clash of imperial-isms in the 1890s, the Kaiser's visit to England in 1907 and on the attitude of the British government in the 1930s towards the exiled monarch.
'The Kaiser' is the definitive biography of one of the crucial figures of early 20th-century history, and essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the era he dominated.
Praise for Alan Palmer:
‘Mr Palmer is one of those rare historians who can unravel and enliven the motivations of diplomacy.' NEW STATESMAN
'This biography is in the classic tradition, a pleasure to read and unlikely to be replaced for many years.' Philip Ziegler, THE TIMES
'As may confidently be expected of so experienced an author's work, this is a lucid, scholarly study, tackling with skill the narration of a biography which is tangled with detail, true and false, because it is the story of a master of dissimulation and intrigue.' DAILY TELEGRAPH
'Mr Palmer, who has established a deservedly high reputation as a biographer with his studies of Metternich and Tsar Alexander I, here adds worthily to his oeuvre. He develops a new depth for English readers in Bismarck's personal and domestic life.' THE ECONOMIST
Alan Palmer was head of the History Department at Highgate School from 1953 to 1969 when he gave up his post to concentrate on historical writing and research. His many books include ‘Metternich: Councillor of Europe’; ‘Alexander I: Tsar of War’ and ‘Bismarck’.
Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent publisher of digital books.
307 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1978
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250 people want to read
About the author
Alan Warwick Palmer
78 books24 followersAuthor also writes under Alan Palmer
Alan Palmer was Head of the History Department at Highgate School from 1953 to 1969, when he gave up his post to concentrate on historical writing and research.
Alan Palmer was Head of the History Department at Highgate School from 1953 to 1969, when he gave up his post to concentrate on historical writing and research.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
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December 30, 2018I picked this book up because the kindle version was at one time free and I’ve been doing more reading about WWI recently. For readers most interested in the Kaiser’s role in WWI, know that the book covers his whole life fairly evenly. WWI starts about 50% into the book, and the end material starts at 64%.
It was interesting to learn about his early life and his connections with all the other royal families of Europe (England’s Queen Victoria was his grandmother). I wondered why his parents didn’t do something different when, as a teenager, they thought he wasn’t turning out very well. His most prominent traits seemed to have been a large ego and an obsession with all things military. He was intent on being a complete autocrat, at least until WWI. Then he seemed to be carried away by events.
I found his reaction on seeing Serbia’s reply to Austria-Hungary just before WWI started interesting. After he saw it, he said, “This is more than one could have expected. A great moral victory for Vienna and with it every reason for war disappears.” I guess every reason for war disappeared, except that Austria-Hungary was looking for an excuse to attack Serbia, and Germany expected war to come anyway and preferred it to happen sooner rather than later. Sigh. Sometimes such little things in history turn into such big things.
Not a flattering biography, but it was informative and (based on my admittedly small prior knowledge of the Kaiser’s life) it felt fair.
It was interesting to learn about his early life and his connections with all the other royal families of Europe (England’s Queen Victoria was his grandmother). I wondered why his parents didn’t do something different when, as a teenager, they thought he wasn’t turning out very well. His most prominent traits seemed to have been a large ego and an obsession with all things military. He was intent on being a complete autocrat, at least until WWI. Then he seemed to be carried away by events.
I found his reaction on seeing Serbia’s reply to Austria-Hungary just before WWI started interesting. After he saw it, he said, “This is more than one could have expected. A great moral victory for Vienna and with it every reason for war disappears.” I guess every reason for war disappeared, except that Austria-Hungary was looking for an excuse to attack Serbia, and Germany expected war to come anyway and preferred it to happen sooner rather than later. Sigh. Sometimes such little things in history turn into such big things.
Not a flattering biography, but it was informative and (based on my admittedly small prior knowledge of the Kaiser’s life) it felt fair.
March 27, 2018
This book has quite a bit about Wilhelm before 1914 so I did learn things I didn't know about the early years. However, it moves very quickly through the war years almost as if the author wanted to prove that Wilhelm II talked big, but that his personal responsibility for the war was miniscule. Obviously, he did not 'lead' the troops, but his role in the days of the start of the conflict still seem ambiguous. Like most of Europe, he could not have imagined the death and chaos, which would be unleashed.
He certainly did not want the tragedy that befell the Russian Imperial family, but the Germans were naive enough to believe they could control events in Russia. 25 years later, they would pay heavily for that misjudgment.
The book ends with a short discussion of the post-war years. He was very fortunate to find asylum in Holland where he stayed until his death. One thing you can say about Wilhelm, he was not taken in about the Nazis. He played along with them to a certain extent, hoping they would restore his throne, but once that became an impossibility, he wanted nothing more to do with them. Fortunately for him, he died before seeing the catastrophe they caused for Germany and the world.
This book moved slowly at times, but it stuck to Wilhelm's life faithfully. Perhaps, that was part of the problem, he became so insulated in his role as War Lord that he could not see the changes, which the war brought with it. 1914-18 changed everything.
He certainly did not want the tragedy that befell the Russian Imperial family, but the Germans were naive enough to believe they could control events in Russia. 25 years later, they would pay heavily for that misjudgment.
The book ends with a short discussion of the post-war years. He was very fortunate to find asylum in Holland where he stayed until his death. One thing you can say about Wilhelm, he was not taken in about the Nazis. He played along with them to a certain extent, hoping they would restore his throne, but once that became an impossibility, he wanted nothing more to do with them. Fortunately for him, he died before seeing the catastrophe they caused for Germany and the world.
This book moved slowly at times, but it stuck to Wilhelm's life faithfully. Perhaps, that was part of the problem, he became so insulated in his role as War Lord that he could not see the changes, which the war brought with it. 1914-18 changed everything.
April 27, 2010
Interesting biography of Kaiser William III and his times. Like many other books that deal with the Kaiser and his role in World War I, this book makes him out to be a bombastic man who did not exactly fit into his time, rather than a villain. Very insightful about the period.
July 10, 2018
World War 1 might have been first of its kind, but it has definitely been overshadowed by its successor for many nefarious reasons, may it be Hitler's atrocities, the sheer magnitude of it owing to the involvement of multiple nations, the use of atom bombs, etc.
It all began with one shot; that was enough for multiple nations to engage in a war that lasted for more than four years. At the beginning of the book, the involvement of Kaiser Wilhem II is touted to be an important, and is even likened to that of Hitler's. This grandson of Queen Victoria and the King of the now non-existent Prussia was definitely a difficult person. Whether or not he was directly involved in this huge war is a subject covered in great detail through this book.
The author's meticulousness over covering minute details of the Kaiser's life is impressive. You get a very clear portrait of 'Willy' as he is referred to by his near and dear ones.
The dynamics of war are difficult to understand. The same gets proved for WW1. While tensions are seen to be simmering for years between the nations, the possibility of a war is difficult to fathom given the blood relations between the rulers of these very nations. But then, if blood is thicker than water, it is also messier.
It all began with one shot; that was enough for multiple nations to engage in a war that lasted for more than four years. At the beginning of the book, the involvement of Kaiser Wilhem II is touted to be an important, and is even likened to that of Hitler's. This grandson of Queen Victoria and the King of the now non-existent Prussia was definitely a difficult person. Whether or not he was directly involved in this huge war is a subject covered in great detail through this book.
The author's meticulousness over covering minute details of the Kaiser's life is impressive. You get a very clear portrait of 'Willy' as he is referred to by his near and dear ones.
The dynamics of war are difficult to understand. The same gets proved for WW1. While tensions are seen to be simmering for years between the nations, the possibility of a war is difficult to fathom given the blood relations between the rulers of these very nations. But then, if blood is thicker than water, it is also messier.
December 8, 2018
As I write this review of a book I finished about 3 weeks ago, I’m slightly embarrassed and puzzled that there’s not much about this book that I actually remember. Although that’s not a good thing, I do recall that I enjoyed the book. This is one of those books that I read on a Kindle (not sure if there’s a physical copy even in existence. Maybe there is, but Amazon says nothing of such). The description page on Amazon does say that it’s slightly over 300 pages, but many eBooks don’t have page numbers. I remember that about half of the volume was indices, source notes, bibliography, etc. so the book may have been significantly shorter than the advertised 300 pages. Why am I droning on about page length? Because it did seem a rather short book. So maybe my lack of recollection is due to the fact that there wasn’t that much to remember in the first place.
Kaiser Wilhelm II (‘William’, as he’s mainly referred to here) has a bit of a bad rap. Many would say that he was the Hitler of the first World War. After all, he was the German leader, and the Germans were the ‘bad’ guys. So….. After reading this book, I didn’t feel he was evil at all. Power hungry, maybe, and definitely incompetent. I would argue most monarchs during this time were just as incompetent though, so Wilhelm was in pretty good company, so to speak.
History tells us that he was actually England’s Queen Victoria’s grandson. Her other grandchildren were Russian’s Tsar Nicholas and, of course, King George V of England. Apparently, the desire back then was to arrange such marriages between powerful countries to form alliances. That doesn’t seem such a bad idea, but the plan doesn’t work during the years leading up to World War I. Wilhelm comes across as a bit of a spoiled brat. Such is the case when a monarchy is in place – it’s a crap shoot how good the leader will be. So we see Wilhelm throughout his whole life acting very pompous, peacocking his feathers, and bragging how strong the German navy is. One is led to believe he wasn’t pleasant company at a cocktail party.
There’s very little in this book about his wife and children. Most of the book focuses on relations with the various German chancellors (none good) and his attempt to form strong relations with other countries. The details can get a bit wearisome – the book is a lot of fact and not much feeling, but as I mentioned, the overall length is short, so it never gets a chance to drag you down too much.
Did Wilhelm cause the first World War? I would say he did not, although he was certainly influential. Plus, being a poor leader of such a strong nation is never a good thing. After Germany’s defeat in 1918, he’s forced to abdicate and live in exile in the Netherlands for the rest of his life. He quietly wishes that the monarch will be reinstated during the 1930s, but once Hitler is in charge, all of his dreams go out the window. It should also be noted that Wilhelm never cared for Hitler, and felt he was ruining Germany. The Kaiser died in 1941.
I would recommend this book as it was a fairly quick read. There are a lot of names and places to digest, but this is usually the case with biographies about historical figures. It was refreshing to read about Germany’s “other” World War leader, and I felt I learned an awful lot about the man, the monarch, and the times.
Kaiser Wilhelm II (‘William’, as he’s mainly referred to here) has a bit of a bad rap. Many would say that he was the Hitler of the first World War. After all, he was the German leader, and the Germans were the ‘bad’ guys. So….. After reading this book, I didn’t feel he was evil at all. Power hungry, maybe, and definitely incompetent. I would argue most monarchs during this time were just as incompetent though, so Wilhelm was in pretty good company, so to speak.
History tells us that he was actually England’s Queen Victoria’s grandson. Her other grandchildren were Russian’s Tsar Nicholas and, of course, King George V of England. Apparently, the desire back then was to arrange such marriages between powerful countries to form alliances. That doesn’t seem such a bad idea, but the plan doesn’t work during the years leading up to World War I. Wilhelm comes across as a bit of a spoiled brat. Such is the case when a monarchy is in place – it’s a crap shoot how good the leader will be. So we see Wilhelm throughout his whole life acting very pompous, peacocking his feathers, and bragging how strong the German navy is. One is led to believe he wasn’t pleasant company at a cocktail party.
There’s very little in this book about his wife and children. Most of the book focuses on relations with the various German chancellors (none good) and his attempt to form strong relations with other countries. The details can get a bit wearisome – the book is a lot of fact and not much feeling, but as I mentioned, the overall length is short, so it never gets a chance to drag you down too much.
Did Wilhelm cause the first World War? I would say he did not, although he was certainly influential. Plus, being a poor leader of such a strong nation is never a good thing. After Germany’s defeat in 1918, he’s forced to abdicate and live in exile in the Netherlands for the rest of his life. He quietly wishes that the monarch will be reinstated during the 1930s, but once Hitler is in charge, all of his dreams go out the window. It should also be noted that Wilhelm never cared for Hitler, and felt he was ruining Germany. The Kaiser died in 1941.
I would recommend this book as it was a fairly quick read. There are a lot of names and places to digest, but this is usually the case with biographies about historical figures. It was refreshing to read about Germany’s “other” World War leader, and I felt I learned an awful lot about the man, the monarch, and the times.
March 18, 2018
I have been intrigued for some time about European history from 1870 and the building blocks that were laid down then for the causes of the two world wars and this book filled in some of the gaps for me. Whether the Kaiser was as difficult as he is portrayed in this book is open to discussion, but he did effectively put an end to the concept of dynastic political leadership. What really gets me with this book is how the world drifted towards World War 1. Didn't they realise the potential blood bath that would ensure as a result in the growth of the effectiveness of defensive weaponry which was well established in the siege of Richmond during the America Civil War? I suspect that the answer is that they either didn't know or care as evidenced by the blind stupidity of British and German generals throwing troops at machine guns with little prospect of victory, which is still something we are grappling with today. As a book the narrative is a bit uneven and there is also a danger that it can be biased by the selection of quotes, but to I learned something from it, so it was well worth the read for that reason alone.
July 6, 2017
An interesting account of one of the architects of WWI. Although not as much as I previously thought because he is often isolated from decision making because he was such a loose cannon.
I'm somewhat surprised I never read this when I studied for my History Degree because it was published in 1978. This also means that I'm minded to read something more recent, as I know there has been research into his strict Prussian childhood, which casts further light on his personality.
Nonetheless, there is plenty here to round out your understanding of Wilhelm II and it doesn't just concentrate on WWI, so you get the complete picture, with before and after, given suitable treatment. It was certainly interesting to note that, despite a typically Victorian base level of antisemitism, he saw himself as not antisemitic and indeed, their antisemitic policies was one of the things which distanced him from the Nazis. Now, I hadn't realised that.
I'm somewhat surprised I never read this when I studied for my History Degree because it was published in 1978. This also means that I'm minded to read something more recent, as I know there has been research into his strict Prussian childhood, which casts further light on his personality.
Nonetheless, there is plenty here to round out your understanding of Wilhelm II and it doesn't just concentrate on WWI, so you get the complete picture, with before and after, given suitable treatment. It was certainly interesting to note that, despite a typically Victorian base level of antisemitism, he saw himself as not antisemitic and indeed, their antisemitic policies was one of the things which distanced him from the Nazis. Now, I hadn't realised that.
August 18, 2017
Took a while to get into this one, but once I did I enjoyed it. Provides a new perspective on the Kaiser, painting him as a more complex and accomplished figure than I had expected. His uncle, Edward VII, called him "the most brilliant failure in history." A worthwhile read
October 26, 2017
Kaiser Wilhelm is a fascinating figure and this book chronicles a fascinating period in modern history. The book itself is literary, insightful and thoroughly unputdownable! I hardly ever read non-fiction but this has changed me!
September 25, 2016
Did Queen Victoria and Prince Albert cause World War I?
Not personally, since both were dead long before 1914. However, their intensive breeding program did create a strange situation with serious repercussions in European history. Since Albert was German and Victoria's bloodline was German, it was natural for them to arrange marriages for their many daughters with the heirs to various German monarchies. Their idea was to bind Germany and England with such strong dynastic ties that they would form an unofficial super-power invincible against all enemies. By 1914, One grandson was King of England, one was Emperor (Kaiser) of Germany, and a third was Czar of Russia.
This author portrays Kaiser Wilhelm as an unfortunate mixture of uncertainty and entitlement. His slight physical deformities left him feeling inferior and determined to prove his toughness. And his position as part of the Victoria&Albert dynasty gave him an unrealistic sense of his own power. When one elected German official approached him about an international issue he replied grandly, "My cousins and I will decide this at the correct time." Not an attitude likely to gain supporters in a country which was supposed to be a limited monarchy
Of course, no one man starts a major war, but this is an interesting look at the Kaiser's complicated personality and how it affected European affairs during his lifetime. It's not light reading, but I learned a great deal.
Not personally, since both were dead long before 1914. However, their intensive breeding program did create a strange situation with serious repercussions in European history. Since Albert was German and Victoria's bloodline was German, it was natural for them to arrange marriages for their many daughters with the heirs to various German monarchies. Their idea was to bind Germany and England with such strong dynastic ties that they would form an unofficial super-power invincible against all enemies. By 1914, One grandson was King of England, one was Emperor (Kaiser) of Germany, and a third was Czar of Russia.
This author portrays Kaiser Wilhelm as an unfortunate mixture of uncertainty and entitlement. His slight physical deformities left him feeling inferior and determined to prove his toughness. And his position as part of the Victoria&Albert dynasty gave him an unrealistic sense of his own power. When one elected German official approached him about an international issue he replied grandly, "My cousins and I will decide this at the correct time." Not an attitude likely to gain supporters in a country which was supposed to be a limited monarchy
Of course, no one man starts a major war, but this is an interesting look at the Kaiser's complicated personality and how it affected European affairs during his lifetime. It's not light reading, but I learned a great deal.
October 14, 2014
A thorough analysis of Kaiser Wilhelm's political machinations throughout his adult life, this book gives an excellent accounting of politics and diplomacy, but relatively few insights into the man himself.
February 13, 2015
Interesting. Possibly well researched, but the text seems a little less than well researched. Lots of gaps in information also. Still an intriguing portrait, but very much leaving me wanting to know more.
July 28, 2014
the man was totally mad
August 24, 2016
Gives a rounded but nuanced portrait of a ruler pilloried for a conflagration that was more of a mutual suicide pact than thought..
September 21, 2016
Very concise biography
September 21, 2016
Good insight into Kaiser Wilhelm although understandably very unsympathetic toward him.
June 8, 2014
a tad lightweight.
April 20, 2017
A fascinating look at the life of Kaiser William in the period running up to and after the First World War.Some of the parallels with events we see happening now are quite remarkable and worrying. One slight criticism, the dates jump around a little bit in places so events aren't necessarily described in strictly chronological order, which I found a little confusing at times. Also the book content is about 40% references, which seems a tad high.
Good for history buffs or people just wanting to find out more about a remarkable period in history.
Good for history buffs or people just wanting to find out more about a remarkable period in history.
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May 30, 2018Alan Warwick Palmer paints a surprising picture of Kaiser Wilhelm II. Instead of the evil mastermind whose aggression started World War I, the German emperor was a confused, bumbling ineffective ruler who was no capable of strategic planning. and was often ignored by his generals. I did not know that he was never the absolute ruler of Germany. At that time the Reichstag still exercised a great deal of power, especially over his spending.
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