Five Brothers and a War

(Kaiser) Wilhelm II in Holland

Following the establishment of the German Weimar Republic in 1918, and the simultaneous abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II, Holland offered refuge to the deposed emperor. The wartime victors sought his extradition to face a war crimes trial, but

Koningin Wilhelmina refused all demands. She never visited him though. Wilhelm II settled in a large house in Doorn, just southeast of Utrecht.

One of the palaces of Wilhelm II—this one in Potsdam.

The Huis Doorn, where deposed Wilhelm II lived his last years. He died in the house on June 3, 1941.

holland

Upon the conquest of Poland, Wilhelm II sent Hitler a note of congratulations, which he also did after the invasion of Holland in 1940. Aside from agreeing on the need to exterminate the Jews, Wilhelm II wanted to re-establish the German monarchy, and told Hitler so, all the while passing

Wilhelm outside the Huis Doorn, 1933

on praises of the Führer. Hitler was apparently not impressed. His response was, “What an idiot!” As Holland was invaded, Churchill offered Wilhelm II protection in England, which was promptly refused. He obviously felt that his only hope of reestablishing the monarchy was by the acts of Hitler. He did make the request that his body not be returned to Germany, as he vowed to never return if he was not the Kaiser. He also requested that at his funeral, the swastika not be displayed.

Five Brothers and a War

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