Wilhelm II
King of Prussia, emperor of Germany
Wilhelm II (Berlin 1859 - Doorn 1941) succeeded his father Friedrich III as King of Prussia and Emperor of Germany in 1888. He reigned until 1918 and was in office during the First World War (1914-1918).
As German Emperor, his goal was to push the German Empire into the forefront of world affairs. He was known for his love of modern technology and encouraged the modernisation of the German industry. His person is not without controversy.
As Oberster Kriegsherr (Commander-in-Chief), he was partly responsible for the invasion of Belgium in early August 1914, which means that he can be seen as one of the instigators of the First World War. Wilhelm II's role in the execution of the German army's military actions against the population of South West Africa, now Namibia, in 1904-1908 also deserves critical attention. These military actions have since been recognised by Germany as genocide against the indigenous Herero and Nama population.
Due to the hopeless situation in which the German army found itself in November 1918 against France, Great Britain and the US, it had to give up the fight. Wilhelm II had no choice but to flee from Spa in Belgium to the neutral Netherlands. He ended up with Count Aldenburg Bentinck at Amerongen Castle, where he abdicated the German throne on 28 November 1918.
At the end of 1919, after the Netherlands had rejected the French and British extradition requests, he bought the Huis Doorn estate. He had 64 train carriages bring furniture from Berlin and Potsdam to his residence in exile in Doorn. He continued to hope for a return to the German imperial throne for the rest of his life. Like some of his close relatives, he saw National Socialism as an opportunity to remain involved in power. This proved to be a dead end. Wilhelm II became the last resident of Huis Doorn and stayed here from 1920 until his death in 1941. His body was buried in the mausoleum on the estate.
After the Second World War, Huis Doorn was confiscated by the Dutch state as enemy property. As the property of the Dutch state, the Foundation for the Management of Huis Doorn has developed this heritage site into the current Museum Huis Doorn. Here, visitors can learn about the last German emperor in exile, the history of the Netherlands during the First World War and the interbellum period heading for a modern Europe.