The Last Kaiser - Wilhelm II in Exile
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- Wilhelm II, who reigned from 1888 to 1918, was the last German emperor. Find out the story of how his dynasty fell and how he managed to escape to the Netherlands, where he lived in exile until his death.
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Credits: Bundesarchiv Commons, Basvb, Kasteelbeer, Wolfgang Staudt, Rictor Norton & David Allen
They knew how to work a moustache in those days.
I know right!
Imperial Moustaches looked fabulous.
The Kaiser took his facial hair rather seriously. He knew how to rock the moustache in his day.
Then along came that guy with the funny little square patch above his lip.
You forgot to talk about when he told hitler after the battle of France "Congratulations, you won using my troops"
Yes, the Kaiser dropped a few clangers in his time - one of the reasons why he was sidelined before WW1.
They got rid of him and in 10 years they got Hitler.....they got rid of Louis and 10 years later they got Napoleon. They got rid of the Czar and in 10 years they got Stalin.
Toraguchi Toraguchi Lmao
So.. do not ditch the king. Or you might have a dictator
@@ammazzamoro So if it isnt the state its the church and vice versa?
Actually he sent a telegram congratulating Hitler when he entered Paris which after the war cost him the confiscation of his house in Doorn. The Kaiser was proud that “his generals” had finally conquered Paris.
InjuredShrek666 -The ex Kaiser died in 1941 unrepentant for WW1 which he, despite modern claims to the contrary, was responsible for turning the local Austro-Serbia crises into an international one by supporting Austria against Serbia which had a treaty with Russia. He knew perfectly well what he was doing and deliberately let the events unfold.
Al Mol - You are absolutely right about the telegram. He died the following year totally unrepentant for his responsibility for the deaths of millions. From him flows the birth of the USSR, the rise of Hitler and therefore WW2 and one could almost stretch it to the Cold War. The comment made in the video that his generals were in charge is only partly true. He certainly was in total charge in August 1914 and he was the KAISER so the buck stopped with him NOT his generals.
Thank you for the highlight. If anyone thinks my comment that the Kaiser was not responsible for the birth of communist Russia, let me remind them it was the Kaiser who gave permission for Lenin to travel to Russia through wartime Germany from his exile in Switzerland.
@@adrianlarkins7259 Don't stretch it too far, the Treaty of Versailles and the Great Depression paved the road to WW2, not the Kaiser.
@Cherusci - It's been pretty well established that Germany "sent" Lenin and other communists back to Russia hoping to cause a situation that would take Russia out of the war. It worked, too, but it was too late. American troops were in Europe and Germany's defeat became inevitable.
The Kaiser was a complex man , I wonder if Victoria had lived a bit longer wether this could have prevented the Great War , another great video Mark, thank you again.
His Grandmother, or mother ?
He was in queen Victoria(Grandmother) arms,
The day of her death. He was her favorite...
Wilhelm himself once sarcastically remarked that his grandmother would have never allowed for such a pointless war to be waged in the first place. And I think he was right about that. Even if she abdicated from the throne she would have summoned her grandchildren during the July-Crisis and made her point perfectly clear
The Kaiser was also somewhat in awe of his uncle, Edward VII. I've also heard it said that if he had lived a few years longer himself that the war might have been prevented. There are just too many factors, though.
Y'all all seem to forget the slightly less than 10 years that his uncle Bertie ruled. He, more than his his nutty mother, maintained contact and exercised some control over his nephew Willie. When dying he said, when 77
Richard Evans From my reading, Victoria never got over the the Kaiser's declaration of war on his cousins, the British. (Anglo-Saxons were a German tribe.) it is highly unlikely she could have influenced him, or for that matter other German aristocrats, about the folly of going to war with Europe's other great powers. WWI was a terrible meat grinder of a war and it led to one even more terrible.
*Tree chopping intensifies*
If the current law of succession for the British crown were in place at the time of Queen Victoria’s death, the throne would have passed to her daughter, the Princess Royal Victoria, Dowager Empress of Germany ...for about a month, until she too (as happened to her husband) succumbed to cancer. Then the crown would have passed to her child, William, AKA Wilhelm the Second of Germany.
Yes but if Princess Vicki was the Heir to the Throne she wouldn't have been married off to a foreign prince and heir
@Don Spartan That's just how the Brits are
Don Spartan how are the post WW2 jabbering idiots and different than the pre-WW2 jabbering idiots?
Interesting fact: a Dutch programme recently found out that the emperor already knew he would be granted asylum, as diplomats had been negotiating its terms over the second half of 1918.
The programme is called ‘Andere Tijden’.
Definitely got off better than Niki and Alex.
That's because the Dutch did the right thing. Not like the British who refused a as asylum th o the Tsar and his family.
Nicolas
Tsar and Tsarina
David Smith yes surely the King should have had some compassion for his relatives and old wartime allies.
One of my german relatives fought in ww1, he was given a medal by the kaiser!
Calling all Kaiserreich fans!
Thanks for the wonderful video again, Mark. Every time I see you upload I learn something.
I thought this was going to be a voiceoverpete reference
Is it time for the O R G A N I C K I N G D O M?
Well, whatever else you can say about him, his right arm was probably strong as hell.
a fine example of a mustache that grew an emperor behind it
greatest history channel on youtube
Eric Marangell between potential history of course.
Wow that's interesting. We in Germany just get told at school that he simply just walked away. But this is more insightful.
Never too late for a restoration...
Indeed
Certainly better than Merkel!
Intensify forward firepower!
@@JHorsti Ahhh you.
"How cute.. But its wrong!!" 💜🖖🤓 u know.. from two stupid dogs.. the coach?? U know? I think ppls feelings are still to alive for this topic to say that if you want to avoid saying noneseense things probably hurtful to some. Suggestion ok? Omg.. im a bit stupid.. i see the name of comment maker is Admiral Piett.. omg.. whT he say.. i edit this to say i have no idea wht that fake Piett is saying.. your comment was 100% cool then nonesense to nonesense maximum firepower hahahaha! Thank you. That is cool. 🖖😄
I edit again with my cigarete on my balcony at night time in less than 1 minute and state ill watch it now. Ty ty. GL Hf
Well.. i guess the original comment was suggesting some (i must) peeps are not down with the dude .. that is.. some ppl think some ppl think he was way not cool but in fact he probably was not too uncool at least.. something like it.. i can and will not and really may not say i have all the facts.. sry. Be cool. Ty. Sry. Ty.
Piett was an admiral!
The official statement has always been that Queen Wilhelmina was surprised and unhappy by her uncle Kaiser Wilhelm showing up at the German-Dutch border at Eijsden and requesting assylum in the Netherlands. Only recently historical research by Dutch professor in historical intl. relations, Beatrice de Graaf in the state archive in Berlin actually demoted this statement and unveiled that in the final days of the great war, and probably instigated by the German govt. Wilhelmina personally tried to arrange a "compromised peace" between Germany and the allies. When this failed (mainly due to opposition by the German military high command), in all secrecy arrangements were made by the Royal household to prepare the arrival of the Kaiser in The Netherlands . A later request for extradition by the allies after the war was rejected by the Dutch govt. When in Holland Wilhelm refused to renounce the thrown, Wilhelmina arranged the reunification of Wilhelm with his wife Auguste Viktoria who finally convinced him to sign the act. The Dutch royal involvement could not be made public because that would severely damage Dutch international relations. Wilhelmina never officially met her uncle during his asylum. Princess (later Queen Juliana) visited House Doorn frequently.
The life of his father, Kaiser Friedrich would make an interesting episode.
Mark Felton, I have enjoyed the historical topics you cover for all of my life. Everything I have heard for the last many years has been covered countless times before.
I didn’t believe there was anything new to learn, then you came along.
Your subject matter is so fresh, entertaining and exquisitely presented. Thank you so much for what you’re doing. Your videos always brighten my day and surely the same must be true for countless others as well.
His old estate in doorn, is now a museum. Its great if you have the chance you should go see it.
The prohibition against members of the former royal family serving in the military is no longer in effect. Georg Friedrich, the Prince of Prussia, is now 35 and served a two year commision in the alpine troops of the German Army, and was commissioned a major in the reserves at the end of his service. He is reputed to be a top notch skier and was able to outski most others in his company. He's also an expert mountain climber and was considered to be an asset to his unit. He is also the last heir to the throne so the royal line will die with him.
He has 3 sons and a daughter, Carl Friedrich Franz Alexander of Prussia is the next in line, followed by his twin brother. Georg Friedrich is currently 170th in line to the British throne after the Succession to the Crown Act of 2013.
Prussia no longer exists, so he’s prince of nothing
Come on Johnny and show a little respect for the royal bloodline. Had we helped the Germans in WWI instead of the British and the French, WWII could have been avoided and Germany would likely have evolved into a constitutional monarchy.
His service does not count as violating any law it was compulsory military service
kunekune i don’t play in “what if’s”
Another fun fact: While in exile he devoured the works of P G Wodehouse and enjoyed them enormously.
He would read out excerpts to his domestic staff and guffaw loudly.
Shows a more human side to him.
Thanks Mark. I appreciate all the effort you put into these videos.
Thanks for your kind words
Only in 2018, it was discovered that German diplomats negotiated the exile with Dutch diplomats as early as June 1918. Not as plan A or B, but as kind of plan C. Eventually plan C was carried out.
40K subscribers! This channel is growing!
Emils you’ll love this channel. It’s top notch!
Better than cable tv.
Very interesting!
They way he was able to live the rest of his life was very comfortable, if you look at what happened for example to the tsar family.
Very good video Mark, you’re doing a great work for us!
(I hope I didnt make a lot of mistakes, sorry for my bad English)
It's simple; he did not fall in the hands of murderous communists.
1. German Revolution much different than Russian. none of the other German royal;s were touched. 21 Romanovs slain.
2. Kaiser close to Dutch border at the crucial hour- Nicholas and family were trapped for various reasons, couldn't get to Sweden Denmark or Britain.....
the fate of Tsar nicolas was one of the prime reasons Wilhelmina pushed for granting Wilhelm this asylum.
Royalty should not be handed over to bloodlusting crowds.
..
And the same unwritten agreement stands today for politicians and captains of industry and bankers.
No matter what fuck up you make ...you simply resign, step down, get voted out...and you are supposed to live as if nothing happened.
Great video, I've always been fascinated about how things exactly played out in Germany during the last days of the war, there is so little information out there as to the details of the abdication and how they got from Germany to Holland. Thanks you've answered a lot of my questions.
Hey man thank you for making this video . Your videos are awesome . They help me get away from my daily troubles of life and it’s so interesting and fun to learn about stuff like this . Thanks again and keep making them , I’ll watch all your videos . I’m sharing as much as I can
There is a movie (somewhat poorly written) called "The Exception" in which Christopher Plummer brilliantly plays the part of Wilhelm II during WWII. It's not a bad movie, but this video surely helps clear up a number of things that I didn't understand about that movie. You have my thanks, Mark Felton Productions. I'll need to see one or two more of your videos before I subscribe, however.
We Japanese sent 9,000 cherry blossom trees to Germany in 1990. It is said that the money of this cherry blossom trees is gathered by the donation of the Japanese and bought a cherry blossom trees . Almost all Japanese people participated in donations. The Japanese always cooperate with Germany.This cherry blossom tree is still in Berlin.We Japanese love Germany and Germans very much. Germany and Germans are great.
The Japanese always cooperate with Germany.We pleased to welcome Germans . Japanese and Germans are smart, diligent and serious. When making the Japanese constitution in the Meiji era, japanese made it with reference to the German constitution.The army is also German style. We invited Klemens Wilhelm Jacob Meckel, a soldier of the Kingdom of Germany, from Germany. The Japanese army became very strong thanks to him. The Japanese was very happy when he came to Japan. Because he is a great German. All thanks to Germany. Germany is a Japanese teacher. japanese also made medical science with reference to Germany. Because I admitted that Germany was the best in the world from that time. Even now the doctor has a person who writes the Karte in German. For example, a car is.The most imported cars in Japan are German cars. Japanese Prime Minister told the Japanese Emperor that Germany and Germans absolutely can trust when we form an alliance with Germany in World War II.
Japan is always a German friend.
This is a story that Japanese people helped Germans in japanese Okinawa Miyakojima, Japan. In 1873, the German Merchant shipRobertoson was hit by a typhoon,ran aground off Miyakojima Miyakuni. At that time, the islander rescues the crew,They gave some food to the Germans.They gave Germans a place to sleep. The days were 34 days.And sent Germans back to Germany safely.There are still monuments sent from Germany in Okinawa.Japan will always help Germans from now on.There are two Germans statues at the University of Tokyo. Germans are still respected in Japan.
The Japanese were able to become strong Japan thanks to Bismarck.
Many Japanese respect Bismarck. The first Prime Minister was called Japan's Bismarck. In my town there is a tower that prays that the Germans soul will be saved. There is no statue of Klemens Wilhelm Jacob Meckel now.
Another great production my friend. You deserve 1,000,000 subs. Thank you sir. 👍🏼
I live nearby and have visited both places where Wilhelm lived in the Netherlands. Both are worth a visit.
At castle Amerongen, he was just a house guest and apparently, his hosts were quite glad that he finally left.
Also, he was only allowed limited movement and had to get permission for certain trips.
Outstanding work
Thanks again Mark!
Another outstanding production. I read recently that due to financial issues, the Kaiser's home in Holland was in danger of closing.
Nice Video, I always wondered what happened to him during ww2
Yes, I knew he had gone into exile to The Netherlands but not exactly when or where he died.
this was published on my birthday! thank you for such a lovely gift!
Congratulations on getting 80 thousand subscribers I found this channel only recently and I am really enjoying the content you have uploaded as I am learning a lot keep up the good work cheers
How often do we think of the perspective of a Monarch or Emperor who has fallen from Grace?
This video was quite the interesting story. I myself, even as a historian, never thought of the Kaiser once he was dethroned, until now.
Well explained and great clips. Well done !
Very interesting. His early life was quite miserable, so presumably his personality and behaviour in his adult years were negatively influenced by that.
I was just "reading" about that (An Audio Book) in "Stephen Fry's Victorian Secrets". There it is theorised that the coldness QV & England showed towards him in his Youth lead him to hate England & a War was a good way to exact his revenge. A very interesting "read"
5:13
Makes me happy, thats my kaiser right therE
well the kaiser of my great grands, BUT MY KAISER TOO
Thanks for the video Mark. Keep it up!
Will do
I don't know a ton about wilhelm as a person but he seemed like a good guy. Perhaps in another world he's just remembered as good king Wilhelm of Germany and father to the current king of Germany.
So the Kaiser was a really nice guy?
The kaiser isnt bad but because most of us are in amercia or something we always see him as bad but he really isnt yes you might say he doomed his counrty or left it to die but i mean what would you do? Anyways the its nice to see that he just adapted to “normal” life in the netherlands
You can criticizie his politics but i really like his style
Great Video. I did not have that topic on my radar at all!
I am Dutch. This part of history is not something that is usually taught at school
Wonderful video of Mark's again.
Very educational. I was wondering what happened to the Kaiser after 1918. Thank you for the video
A pleasure
Very interesting history lesson, thanks for sharing.
I've been to house Doorn last summer. It was a beautiful edwardian home, surely nothing compared to his old palaces. But he had a modest office with pictures of empress Sisi on the wall which I spotted. And in his office he had a saddle-chair where he could work in his office sitting on a saddle!
The car of the Kaiser, Mercedes-Benz Type Nürburg 500, can be seen in The Hague in the Louwman car Museum.
0:13 "Barber, make my mustache look like a W. Ya know, W for Wilhelm....Shuttup, it's totally a cool idea"
And hipsters today
Wilhelm was terrible to his parents. Evicted his mother “Vicky” at gunpoint immediately upon his father’s death from throat cancer after only 100 days of rule. I often think of Vicky when I hear about abusive children.
I like the work you do .
Wilhelm and Germany were both framed for WWI. Sad really..
Well done and compelling.
A Good video; well done Mark F. I'm reading the Guns of August (by Barbara Tuchman) re: the build up to WW 1. Fascinating subject, well written book and through the whole mess leading up to the Declaration of War looms the master muddler, Kaiser Wilhelm II. All the more ironic and tragic aftermath is the lack of learning, the over compensation and of course WW 2. And then the Cold War; followed by the present day War on Terrorists. So much for Mankind evolving & making Progress...
Thanks
My new favorite channel
I studied him for my GCSE history project at school. He was very much a product of his time and also a victim of it.
World War One would have occurred anyway. Germany & Austria were intent on war with Serbia & Russia. Given their tradition of victory, particularly against the French, they had every reason to be confident of Victory.
A great piece of work sir. Well made. 👍
He certainly cut quite a regal picture, that mustache and beard is impressive.
Well thank you Mark!
Where did he get his money? Did he receive a salary from Germany? Did he have a large stash in a bank somewhere or was his estate a working estate that produced an income for him? Thank for great videos.
I think Willy was demonized by allied propaganda at most he was a bumbling idiot who didn’t know how pissed his subjects were at him. (Pretty standard for a Emperor a 1917-1918.) Honestly compared to Nicholas II or Hitler some 20 years later I’d say he did ok!
I agree with your description of him as a bumbling idiot
Thank you for this very interesting video.
It's nice to hear foreigners butcher Dutch names. But as always: jolly good job
Apologies to my Dutch fans - I can manage German pronunciation but Dutch is damned tricky. No offence intended.
Interesting to reflect how extremely isolationist the Dutch were pre WW2.
Guess Nazi occupation changed all that
@@MarkFeltonProductions Don't worry, you did great.
My father learnt Dutch at a young age and is very fluent , but 60 years of not speaking it much it is a little off , a Taxi driver asked after much conversation if he came from Belgium when he said No , the man just said -Good
west brit yeh, English is a really soft language and Flemish Dutch is a lot softer than regular Dutch so when you stop speaking Dutch for a long time you will start sounding flemish.
You teach us those stories not spoken of in History, and that is what i like about this channel. Only thing you failed to mention in this video was that Hitler told the kaiser that he was allowed to move back to Germany, but he refused. Great video as usual.
Thank you again for a great V.D.OH!!! I was always wondering what happened to, and where are the European royals now
He stayed at Huize Doorn in The Netherlands. Idk if there is also English information to be found on their site, but I think it is really interesting
A good man who tried to end the war before it started. He communicated with the Tsar tirelessly to try and cool the situation but the people insisted on a fight. It wasn’t the leaders it was the people...
Rommel the Cat just to keep them in check
Love your videos
Congrats on 40K!!
Another great job with this video. 151 monarchists in the comment below this one. OMG! My grandfather (born 1899) considered Wilhelm 2 to be a big-headed villain and regretted that the Germans had not chosen the French solution in the 1918 revolution. He also told us that at the end Wilhelm had stolen 1 ton of gold from the German people. He probably referred to the railway transports mentioned in the video, which caused quite a stir in the young Weimar Republic.
Excellent as always
Excellent History lesson...many thanks....
Very interesting part of our common European history this!
Thanks so much for sharing Mark!
A bit of history I did not know. Thank You Mark. I am a subscriber.
Mark you must do a full ww ll vid your voice and intelligence call for this. Very very good stuff you are putting out on the war
You should make a video about how Stalin’s strict policies ultimately led to his death
Very interesting , thanks
The Dutch Queen already know that the emperor was coming. She arranged some things in advance.
It's quite ironic that if the UK had the changes to the Succession in force during the reign of Queen Victoria Wilhelm would not only have been Kaiser of Germany but King of England and its dominions.
During the Kaiser, My country, Albania, did a progressive svilupation. We would be very happy to have Austria as aleat again
All in all from what I read he was not terrible as a person as a leader on the other hand he was disastrous utter incompetent a heroic bungler and that is being very kind!! Love Your Presentation Ace as always Mark!!!
Removing Bismarck is like voluntarily throw away your very best cards when playing… Also depending on Austria-Hungary once again is taking a huge risk when your rivals in the east is Russia and you know France hates you and is allied to Russia & Great Britain. In 1940 he could have went into exile in London for sure making him and the German monarchy much more likely to come back later. After all Hitler had already said no to it so nazi Germany whould never do it. Not a sound strategist this one.
I have started hitting the like button on Dr. Feltons videos before I even start watching!
Great video as always.
You could do a video about german Beutepanzer, captured tanks.
Sascha der versteht schon deutsch😂
Why do I see you every were
Hello Lego man
Nicely done. Thank you. Liked.
Thats why Hitler lost the war.
He make Mr.Prussia sad and German Riech got curst and Wilhem is a Wizard.
Do any of the royals still live today?
Wikipedia exists for such ?s to be comparatively easily answered. Use it.
Yes. Georg Friedrich Prince of Prussia, 35, and his fiancé, Sophie Princes of Isenburg, 33. He's the great great grandson of Wilhelm II. They were married on August 25, 2018 in the German equivalent of a royal wedding.
Any of the royals of what country?
Germany?
Yes.
ua-cam.com/video/z3j81Ed1fpc/v-deo.html
@@Horizon344 no need to be a dick mate😉
@@Horizon344 the point was for him to make a video about it.
Heil Kaiser dir!! Much respect from the Kingdom of the Netherlands🇳🇱
Excellent job as is usual for your channel. Do you have any idea what happened to the train?
I saw one carriage in a museum in Berlin recently.
I think it would be good for the sole of Germany to reinstate the Monarchy with Prince Georg, Kaiser Wilhelm's Grandson, being crowned King and having all the ceremonial duties of the other Royals of Europe such as Queen Elizabeth II of the U.K., or King Philippe of Belgium, or Harold V of Norway, etc
I have been wondering about his fate for many years. Thanks.
Does anyone realize Mark Felton sounds like the narrator of World War 2 in Color
I mentioned that as a response to Mark in one of his first videos....I think he was honored but also maybe somewhat offended as the narrator for the WWII series is much older !!!
Fascinating.
Fascinating video.
Very interesting. Thank you.
Thank you for saying so
I think one of his sons served in the Wehrmacht, and was killed in 1940 during the Battle for France.