Wilhelm, German Crown Prince
Wilhelm | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wilhelm II | |||||
Successor | Louis Ferdinand | ||||
Born | Marmorpalais, Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire | 6 May 1882||||
Died | 20 July 1951 Hechingen, Württemberg-Hohenzollern, West Germany | (aged 69)||||
Burial | 26 July 1951 , Württemberg-Hohenzollern, West Germany | ||||
Spouse | |||||
Issue | |||||
| |||||
Wilhelm II, German Emperor | |||||
Mother | Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein | ||||
Religion | Lutheranism (Prussian United) |
Prussian Royalty |
House of Hohenzollern |
---|
Wilhelm II |
Wilhelm, German Crown Prince, Crown Prince of Prussia (Friedrich Wilhelm Victor August Ernst; 6 May 1882 – 20 July 1951) was the eldest child of the last
Wilhelm became crown prince at the age of six in 1888, when his grandfather
Early life
Wilhelm was born on 6 May 1882 as the eldest son of the then Prince
, making Wilhelm third in line to the throne.His birth sparked an argument between his parents and his grandmother Crown Princess Victoria. Before Wilhelm was born, his grandmother had expected to be asked to help find a nurse, but since her son did everything he could to snub her, the future Wilhelm II asked his aunt Princess Helena to help instead. His mother was hurt and his grandmother, Queen Victoria, who was the younger Wilhelm's great-grandmother, was furious.[1]
Prince Wilhelm would have five younger brothers: Prince
In 1888, the
Wilhelm was a supporter of association football, then a relatively new sport in the country, donating a cup to the German Football Association in 1908 and thereby initiating the Kronprinzenpokal (now Länderpokal), the oldest cup competition in German football.[2] The German club BFC Preussen was also originally named BFC Friedrich Wilhelm in his honour.
In 1914, the kaiser ordered the construction of Schloss Cecilienhof in Potsdam for Prince Wilhelm and his family which angered him. The Schloss was loosely inspired by Bidston Court in Birkenhead, England, resembling a Tudor manor.[3] Completed in 1917, it became the main residence for the Crown Prince for a time.
World War I
Wilhelm had been active in pushing German expansion, and sought a leading role on the outbreak of war. Despite being only thirty-two and having never commanded a unit larger than a regiment, the German crown prince was named commander of the 5th Army in August 1914, shortly after the outbreak of World War I. However, under the well-established Prussian/German General Staff model then in use, inexperienced nobles who were afforded commands of large army formations were always provided with (and expected to defer to the advice of) experienced chiefs of staff to assist them in their duties. As emperor, Wilhelm's father instructed the crown prince to defer to the advice of his experienced chief of staff Konstantin Schmidt von Knobelsdorf.[4]
In October 1914 Wilhelm gave his first interview to a foreign correspondent and the first statement to the press made by a German noble since the outbreak of war.[5][6] He denied promoting military solutions to diplomatic problems, and said this in English:
Undoubtedly this is the most stupid, senseless and unnecessary war of modern times. It is a war not wanted by Germany, I can assure you, but it was forced on us, and the fact that we were so effectually prepared to defend ourselves is now being used as an argument to convince the world that we desired conflict.
From August 1915 onwards, Wilhelm was given the additional role as commander of the Army Group German Crown Prince. In 1916 his troops began the Verdun Offensive, a year-long effort to destroy the French armies that would end in failure. He personally ordered a naval gun to fire the first shot on 21 February 1916, starting the deadly battle.[7] Wilhelm relinquished command of the 5th Army in November of that year, but remained commander of the Army Group German Crown Prince for the rest of the war.
1918–34
After the outbreak of the
In June 1926, a
Wilhelm broke the promise he had made to Stresemann to stay out of politics.
The former crown prince was reportedly interested in the idea of running for
1934–51
After the murder of his friend Kurt von Schleicher, the former Chancellor, in the Night of the Long Knives (1934), Wilhelm withdrew from all political activities.
When Wilhelm realised that Hitler had no intention of restoring the monarchy, their relationship cooled. Upon his father's death in 1941, Wilhelm succeeded him as head of the House of Hohenzollern, the former German imperial dynasty. He was approached by those in the military and the diplomatic service who wanted to replace Hitler, but Wilhelm turned them down. After the ill-fated assassination attempt on 20 July 1944, Hitler nevertheless had Wilhelm placed under supervision by the Gestapo and had his home at Cecilienhof watched.[9]: 11–15
In January 1945, Wilhelm left Potsdam for Oberstdorf for a treatment of his gall and liver problems. His wife Cecilie fled in early February 1945 as the Red Army drew closer to Berlin, but they had been living apart for a long time. At the End of World War II in Europe, Wilhelm's home, Cecilienhof, was seized by the Soviets.[9]: 15–16 The palace was subsequently used by the Allied Powers as the venue for the Potsdam Conference.[9]: 16
At the end of the war, Wilhelm was captured by French Moroccan troops in
Wilhelm and his wife are buried at Hohenzollern Castle.[11][12]
Family and children
Wilhelm married
Their children were:
- Dorothea von Salviati, and had issue
- Louis Ferdinand, Prince of Prussia (1907–1994); married 1938 Grand Duchess Kira Kirillovna of Russia and had issue
- Prince Hubertus of Prussia (1909–1950); married 1941 Baroness Maria von Humboldt-Dachroeden, 1943 Princess Magdalena Reuss and had issue
- Prince Frederick of Prussia (1911–1966); married 1945 Lady Brigid Guinness and had issue:
- Princess Alexandrine of Prussia, called "Adini" (1915-1980)
- Princess Cecilie of Prussia (1917–1975); married Clyde Kenneth Harris on 21 June 1949, and had issue
In literature and popular culture
Wilhelm's reputation as a military commander was satirised by Neil Munro in his Erchie MacPherson story, "Bad News", first published in the Glasgow Evening News on 8th January 1917.[13]
Honours
- Kingdom of Prussia:
- Knight of the Black Eagle, 6 May 1892;[16] with Collar
- Knight of the Royal Crown Order, 1st Class, 6 May 1892[16]
- Grand Commander's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, 6 May 1892[16]
- Grand Cross of the Red Eagle, with Crown, 12 June 1892[16]
- Iron Cross (1914), 2nd and 1st Classes
- Pour le Mérite (military), 22 August 1915; with Oak Leaves, 8 September 1916
- Hohenzollern: Cross of Honour of the Princely House Order of Hohenzollern, 1st Class with Swords
- Anhalt:
- Grand Cross of the Order of Albert the Bear, with Swords
- Friedrich Cross, 1st Class
- Baden:
- Knight of the House Order of Fidelity, 1900[17]
- Grand Cross of the Order of Berthold the First, 1900
- Kingdom of Bavaria:
- Knight of St. Hubert, 1900[18]
- Grand Cross of the Military Order of Max Joseph
- Duchy of Brunswick:
- Grand Cross of the Order of Henry the Lion, 1902;[19] with Swords
- War Merit Cross
- Ernestine duchies:
- Grand Cross of the Saxe-Ernestine House Order, with Swords
- Cross for Merit in War (Saxe-Meiningen)
- Free Hanseatic Cities: Hanseatic Crosses
- Hesse and by Rhine:
- Grand Cross of the Ludwig Order, 6 May 1900[20]
- General Honor Decoration
- Lippe:
- War Honor Cross for Heroic Deeds
- War Merit Cross
- Mecklenburg:
- Grand Cross of the Wendish Crown, with Crown in Ore
- Military Merit Cross, 1st Class (Schwerin)
- Oldenburg: Grand Cross of the Order of Duke Peter Friedrich Ludwig, with Golden Crown
- Reuss: War Merit Cross
- Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach: Grand Cross of the White Falcon, 1896;[21] with Swords
- Kingdom of Saxony:
- Knight of the Rue Crown, 1900[22]
- Commander of the Military Order of St. Henry, 1st Class
- Württemberg:
- Royal Hungarian Order of St. Stephen, 1898[25]
- Belgium: Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold
- Kingdom of Bulgaria: Grand Cross of St. Alexander
- Qing dynasty: Order of the Double Dragon, Class I Grade II
- Denmark: Knight of the Elephant, 6 May 1900[26]
- Greece: Grand Cross of the Redeemer
- Kingdom of Italy: Knight of the Annunciation, 13 April 1896[27]
- Empire of Japan: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum, 19 September 1899[28]
- Monaco: Grand Cross of St. Charles, 15 January 1900[29]
- Netherlands: Grand Cross of the Netherlands Lion
- Norway: Grand Cross of St. Olav, with Collar, 15 December 1906[30]
- Ottoman Empire:
- Order of Distinction
- Order of Osmanieh, 1st Class in Diamonds
- Order of Glory
- Persia: Order of the Aqdas, 1st Class
- Kingdom of Portugal:
- Grand Cross of the Sash of the Two Orders
- Grand Cross of the Tower and Sword, with Collar
- Kingdom of Romania:
- Collar of the Order of Carol I
- Grand Cross of the Crown of Romania
- Kingdom of Serbia: Grand Cross of the White Eagle
- Siam: Knight of the Order of the Royal House of Chakri
- Spain: Knight of the Golden Fleece, January 1900[a]
- Sweden: Knight of the Seraphim, 27 July 1888[34]
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland:
- Stranger Knight Companion of the Garter, 27 January 1901[35] (expelled in 1915)
- Recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain, June 1904[36] (expelled in 1915)
- Russian Empire:
- Knight of St. Andrew
- Knight of St. Alexander Nevsky
- Knight of the White Eagle
- Knight of St. Anna, 1st Class
- Knight of St. Stanislaus, 1st Class
- Foreign military appointments
- During a visit to Russia in January 1903 he was appointed Honorary Colonel of the Little Russian Dragoon Regiment No. 40.[37]
Coat of arms
Ancestry
Ancestors of Wilhelm, German Crown Prince | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Notes
References
Citations
- ^ Queen Victoria's Family, A Century of Photographs, Charlotte Zeepvat
- ^ "Kick it like Kronprinz" (in German) Spiegel Online. Retrieved 11 June 2009
- ^ "Hidden Wirral Myths & Legends Tours". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
- ^ Chief of Staff: Napoleonic Wars to World War I, David Zabecki
- ^ a b Elter page 74
- ^ a b Wiegand page 3
- ^ Afflerbach, Holger. "Planning Total War? Falkenhayn and the Battle of Verdun, 1916". Cambridge University Press. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
- ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
- ^ ISBN 3-910068-16-2.
- ^ The Life of Crown Prince William by Klaus Jonas, 1961 pp. 214–30.
- ^ "Preussen.de - Kronprinz Wilhelm". Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
- ^ "Preussen.de - 50. Todestag der Kronprinzessin Cecilie". Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
- ISBN 9781841582023
- ^ Handbuch über den Königlich Preußischen Hof und Staat (1918), Genealogy p.1
- ^ a b c Justus Perthes, Almanach de Gotha (1913) pp. 68–69
- ^ a b c d "Königlich Preussische Ordensliste (supp.)", Preussische Ordens-Liste (in German), 1, Berlin: 5, 7, 66, 100, 1886 – via hathitrust.org
- ^ Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Großherzogtum Baden (1910) Großherzogliche Orden p. 40
- ^ Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Königreich Bayern (1908), "Königliche Orden" p. 9
- ^ Hof- und Staatshandbuch des Herzogtums Braunschweig für das Jahr 1908. Braunschweig 1908. Meyer. p. 9
- ^ "Ludewigs-orden", Großherzoglich Hessische Ordensliste (in German), Darmstadt: Staatsverlag, 1914, p. 6 – via hathitrust.org
- ^ Staatshandbuch für das Großherzogtum Sachsen / Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach Archived 6 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine (1900), "Großherzogliche Hausorden" p. 17
- ^ Sachsen (1901). "Königlich Orden". Staatshandbuch für den Königreich Sachsen: 1901. Dresden: Heinrich. p. 5 – via hathitrust.org.
- ^ "Königliche Orden", Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Königreich Württemberg, Stuttgart: Landesamt, 1907, p. 31
- ^ "Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor August Ernst, Kronprinz des Deutschen Reiches und von Preußen K.u.K.H." the Prussian Machine. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- ^ ""A Szent István Rend tagjai"". Archived from the original on 22 December 2010.
- ISBN 978-87-7674-434-2.
- ^ Italia : Ministero dell'interno (1898). Calendario generale del Regno d'Italia. Unione tipografico-editrice. p. 54.
- ^ 刑部芳則 (2017). 明治時代の勲章外交儀礼 (PDF) (in Japanese). 明治聖徳記念学会紀要. p. 149.
- ^ Journal de Monaco
- ^ Norway (1908), "Den kongelige norske Sanct Olavs Orden", Norges Statskalender (in Norwegian), p. 869-870, retrieved 17 September 2021
- ^ "Court Circular". The Times. No. 36036. London. 11 January 1900. p. 7.
- ^ "Court Circular". The Times. No. 36080. London. 3 March 1900. p. 11.
- ^ Boettger, T. F. "Chevaliers de la Toisón d'Or - Knights of the Golden Fleece". La Confrérie Amicale. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
- ^ Sveriges statskalender (in Swedish), 1925, p. 807, retrieved 6 January 2018 – via runeberg.org
- ^ Shaw, Wm. A. (1906) The Knights of England, I, London, p. 71
- ^ Shaw, p. 416
- ^ "Latest Intelligence - The German Crown Prince". The Times. No. 36980. London. 17 January 1903. p. 1.
Literature
- Andreas Elter (April 2003), Die andere Front: Pressepolitik in den USKriegen des 20. Jahrhunderts (PDF) (in German), Cologne, archived from the original (PDF) on 18 July 2011, retrieved 5 April 2009
{{citation}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Karl Henry von Wiegand (1915), Current misconceptions about the war, New York: The Fatherland corporation, inc., retrieved 5 April 2009,
Copyright 1914, United Press ... 20 November
External links
- The memoirs of the Crown Prince of Germany
- The Life of Crown Prince Wilhelm
- Interview in Fox Movietone News 1932
- Encyclopædia Britannica (12th ed.). 1922. .
- Newspaper clippings about Wilhelm, German Crown Prince in the 20th Century Press Archives of the ZBW
- A review of his memoir from The New Republic (1922)
- His difficulty with his father: Current Literature Magazine, 1912
- The exiled Crown Prince in Holland: The Literary Digest, 1919