Kaiser Wilhelm II

Christopher Clark's remarkably concise biography of Wilhelm II, one of the more controversial figures of German history, very ably presents the last Kaiser in the context of his times and his political position. It is a well written work of political science and history, with incisive analysis of how the Kaiser operated within the constraints of the powers he enjoyed as emperor. Since this is a volume in a series entitled "Profiles in Power," it is perhaps not surprising that its focus is primarily the 30 years in which Wilhelm reigned: 1888-1918. Because of this, as a biography, the book is somewhat less satisfying, in that it gives relatively limited attention to the first 29 years of his life and to the last 23 years of his life (a chapter each for these two periods as compared to 6 chapters for the period of his reign and a summary chapter). The book presents a relatively limited portrait of Wilhelm as an individual, except insofar as his personal strengths and weaknesses affected his role as monarch. Because his personality affected his rule so greatly, this seems a greater deficit here than in other political biographies.Nonetheless, the book presents a great deal of information in a relatively short scope-261 pages, including footnotes. Among the topics the book explores: Wilhelm's difficult relations with his father and his closer relationship to his grandfather, Wilhelm I; the challenges posed by his dual role as German Kaiser and King of Prussia; his difficult position between the Reichstag and Cabinet, on one hand, and the German military, on the other; the divide between the early years of his reign, when he chose to intervene more often in politics and governance of Germany, and the latter years, when a combination of World War I and his seeming reduced interest seemed to lessen his interventions; his role as Commander in Chief of the German army; and, of course, the question of his culpability for the First World War, which Clark handles especially well. He also addresses the issue of whether Wilhelm's reign was, as many historians claim, largely a personalized exercise of power. Many of these topics are presented with alternate interpretations by other historians, and the author's synthesis or conclusions. This is certainly one of the most balanced portrayals of Wilhelm I have read.This biography is bound to appeal to aficionados of German and modern European history as well as those interested in the causes of World War I. It both was quite informative and held my interest throughout.

Cambridge historian Christopher Clark?s 2000 study of the Kaiser is, despite its brevity, a concise and balanced account of Wilhelm?s life into which he incorporates much recent historiography of Wilhelmine Germany. Clark paints a picture of an emperor whose power and influence gradually weakened over time. By the late 1890s, he argues, Wilhelm had ?emerged as a significant factor in high politics, launching ambitious (if often doomed) legislative schemes, intriguing with individual ministers, and gradually hollowing out the authority of the chancellor.? (117) In the realm of foreign policy, however, Clark argues that Wilhelm became increasingly ?marginal?to the real centers of policy making,? particularly after several notable blunders including the Zabern incident and the Daily Telegraph affair, both of which witnessed his impetuous and ?undiplomatic? style, to the horror of professional diplomats. With regard to the outbreak of war in 1914, however, Clark argues that while Helmuth von Moltke, chief of the German General Staff, ?pressed his sovereign?at crucial moments? in the months leading to war, at no point did the monarch ?surrender the power of decision to the military.? (215) Far from being a warmonger, Clark asserts, Wilhelm was ?reluctant to entangle Germany in a continental war,? (214) and maintained ?his own outlook on policy [that] differed in crucial ways from that of the military leadership.? (216) He never supported the ?preventive war? strategy espoused by top army officials, nor did he regard mobilization as irreversible. Clark points to Wilhelm?s attempts to mediate between Serbia and Austria-Hungary as evidence of his ?reluctance to allow Germany to be sucked into a Balkan engagement? in 1914. (218) This initiative was ?overridden by the chancellor,? Clark notes, which provides further proof of the Kaiser?s declining stature in affairs of the state?affairs he could ?influence?but did not control.? (218) What of Wilhelm?s involvement in the prosecution of and involvement in the Great War? Clark concludes that the Kaiser?s ?capacity to exercise a command function was narrowly circumscribed,? which considerably diluted his influence among Germany?s military leaders. Furthermore, he ?lacked an overview of strategic planning? leading up to and including the early stages of the war because, Clark maintains, the general staff regarded him as a security risk and refused to take him in to their confidence. As a result, he was displaced from the center of military affairs, shielded from much bad news from the front, and ?was excluded from the sphere of operational command of the land forces?though he did exercise a more direct?influence on the wartime operations of the German navy.? (227) Clark warns that one should not push the argument that the Kaiser was marginal too far. ?By virtue of his position,? he writes, Wilhelm was a ?figure of crucial importance,? namely for his authority to ?appoint and dismiss ?his? officers

I just finished this book, and found it very interesting and useful. It is not intended as a "life" of the Kaiser, but only as an analysis of his rule. I was looking for this kind of focus, so was happy with the book. The author's main thesis is that under the German constitution in effect at the time, the Kaiser had little actual power. While able to influence events, he could not control them. Only in the German shipbuilding plan did the Kaiser play a leading role. The author feels that Wilhelm sincerely wanted to avoid war in 1914. Actually, most of the book is not about the war years, giving the reader a more balanced overview of the reign. It is suggested that Wilhelm was one of the first "media" personalities, partly because of his penchant of making off-the-cuff remarks that continually got him bad publicity. The author discusses these various remarks based on the context in which they were made and the audience they were intended for, in a partially sucessful attempt to show they were not so outrageous as usually presented. While the book is not a whitewash of the Kaiser, the author does try to show he was not the arch-fiend of Allied propaganda. Since this is my personal view, I was in sympathy with the author's approach.