Wilhelm II: Volume 2: Emperor and Exile, 1900-1941

Lamar Cecil should be applauded for writing an objective biography of Wilhelm II. Whilst this volume is in keeping with the high standards of the first, I am a little bit disappointed that his life after his 1918 abdication is a bit too sketchy, possibly due to the fact that Wilhelm II managed to outlive most of his contemporaries. This book is not about Wilhelmine dilpomatic history, or the Great War, but a well researched treatise on the malignant effects of autocratic rule by an unstable, pompous incompetent.

One of the most critically acclaimed studies of Wilhelm II is Lamar Cecil?s two-volume biography (1989, 1996 ), deemed by one reviewer as ?the best-available English treatment of the waning years of the last Kaiser? available. Cecil?s portrait of Wilhelm is largely critical: the emperor ruled ?maladroitly,? throughout a ?barren career that was without virtue or accomplishment? (ix); ?bluster, rhetoric, and natural swagger cloaked a profound emptiness, for ignorance and self-indulgence were his primary characteristics.? (1). Cecil?s assessment of the Kaiser?s war role is no less disapproving. ?Domestic issues rarely interested Wilhelm II,? he notes (191), and emphasizes that the Kaiser was far more enamored by foreign policy and military minutiae. Despite this martial enthusiasm, Wilhelm was ?by nature peaceful,? (194) and opposed war in 1914, afraid that a European conflict would distract Germany from the internal threat of socialism. Once the war began, Cecil shows, Wilhelm?s function was symbolic and superficial, at least as far as the imperial army was concerned. He often resided close to the front, was occasionally exposed to hostile fire, and relished hearing the roar of the guns. Cecil makes it clear that the Kaiser?s duties were limited to sending telegrams, war zone tours, medal presentations and other purely ceremonial tasks??it was as empty an existence as he had had in peacetime.? Cecil flatly asserts that Wilhelm?s ?part in the war, especially as it concerned the army, took a secondary place behind the role of his officers.? (210). He was for the most part shielded by his ubiquitous military entourage, fearful that his inability to ?withstand the strains of warfare? would break him. ?The Kaiser?s ignorance of the true nature of the struggle in which Germany was engaged,? Cecil frankly summarizes, ?was profound and his utility to his military leaders quite limited.? He was in essence a figurehead, ?content merely to hear and endorse? the opinions of his generals. Soon after the war began, Cecil concludes, Wilhelm became ?a ?shadow Kaiser? (schattenkaiser), out of sight, neglected, and relegated to the sidelines in imperial Germany?s hour of trial.? (212)This is the gold standard of Kaiser Wilhelm II biographies.

For a German history junkie, these volumes are a good 'fix'. The text is written humorously and yet fairly, without the usual bias one sees when "the victor writes the history". The analysis of the last Kaiser's life is placed in the context of the monarchical attitude of 19th century Europe, as well as the influence that his relatives in the British Empire had on his outlook. I've read the books twice. Without understanding at least some german it would be difficult to get the complete gist of what the author is trying to convey without it.

For the past several years Ihave been a student of late 19th and early 20th century Europe. A starting place had to be found, which is much easier said than done. My readings kept leading me back to Germany, i.e., Prussia. I only wish I had discovered Professor Cecil earlier. His two-part biography of Wilhelm II has proved indispensable. I can't fathom reading one volume without the other, but since this review speaks to Volume II, "Wilhelm II,Emperor and Exile, 1900-1941,we'll have a go. The best way to read Volume II is to read the last sentence of the book first, where Professor Cecil applies a paraphrase from the Duke of Wellington who was describing the late George IV. Cecil thusly applies it to Wilhelm: "a sovereign who lived and died without having been able to assert so much as a single claim on the gratitude of posterity." The joy of the book is getting to that last sentence. It's all in there: feuding with his uncle, King Edward VII of England; the "Mad Hare" Telegraph article; the absolute idiocy of the naval arms race with England;his ill-fated dependence on the rotting Habsburg Empire; his hatred of any form of parlimentary government; and finally his almost tragic descent when he had lost the confidence of German Military Command, members of his own family, and millions of the German people. Good books on Wilhelm are hard to find. This one, especially when taken with Volume I, is outstanding.

Lamar Cecil presents a suspenseful yet satisfying book in Willhelm II. Not only does he express the inner thoughts of Willhelm, yet shows a personal side which expresses the crown prince's poryphia stricken reduced him to a stalk raving mad wildabeast. Not only was he stalk raving mad, the wildabeast confronted his homosexual tendencies with Eulenburg and Walderee.