I just finished the book "King, Kaiser, Tsar" by Caterine Clay. The subtitle is "Three Royal Cousins Who Led the World to War." With permission from Her Majesty Elizabeth II, the author was given access to and allowed to quote from personal letters of King George V, Kaiser Wilhelm II, and Tsar Nicholas II as well as diaries of George V. The result is a window on the relationships of the rulers during the historic period leading up to and including The Great War.
"Willy," who became Kaiser Wilhelm II, was born with a deformed arm which was shorter and essentially useless. It kept him from playing with his royal cousins "Georgie" and "Nicky." Servants had to cut his food for him his entire life.Willy's feelings of inferiority, envy and jealousy followed him into adulthood as he assumed his position as the all powerful Kaiser. In 1914 Kaiser Wilhelm II repeated in several of his speeches to excited German crowds, 'Remember, you are the chosen people! The spirit of the Lord has descended upon me, because I am Emperor of the Germans! I am the instrument of the Most High! I am his sword. His representative. Woe and death to all who resist my will!'
May 1915, back in the U.S., Elbert Hubbard told journalists before boarding the ill fated Lusitania that he hoped he might have a word with the Kaiser to talk him out of the war then underway in Europe. Elbert wouldn't have gotten a meeting with the Kaiser, much less had a chance to influence him with mere words. WIlly was beyond reach. He was hell bent on war and he got it.
- Sue
Sounds like a good read! Thanks for the recommendation.
Posted by: sandyk | February 22, 2013 at 09:35 AM