Key Historical Figure: Kaiser Wilhelm II

Symbol of Instability

• No single event or person caused WWI; however, Kaiser Wilhelm II symbolizes the instability that led to it.
• Known for being bombastic and mercurial.

Personal Background

• Aspired to embody the German Warrior tradition.
• Physical impairment: had a withered left arm due to a birth injury.
• This impairment led to a need to project a dashing external image.
• Parents attempted various unsuccessful treatments to fix the arm.

Upbringing and Education

• Wilhelm's parents were firm believers in discipline.
• His tutor, Dr. Georg Hinzpeter, made no allowances for his disability.
• An episode at age 8 where Wilhelm was forced to overcome balance issues through relentless horseback riding practice.

Relationship with Britain

• Mother was the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria, leading to happy childhood visits to England.
• Developed an obsession with the British Navy and battleships.

Military Career

• Entered the army at 18, found happiness and contentment there.
• Compensated for personal insecurities through aggressive personality.

Criticism and Relationships

• Criticized by Queen Victoria and his uncle, the Prince of Wales, for his personality.
• Described by his uncle as living in a bygone era.
• Desired to rival the stature of his British cousins.

Political Impact and Legacy

• Germany's Empire was only established in 1871.
• Bismarck had maintained peace through alliances among European powers.
• Wilhelm dismissed Bismarck, disrupting the balance of power.

Geopolitical Influence

• Aimed to build a world-class Navy, turning Britain from an ally to an adversary.
• His actions pushed Russia and France closer together.
• Germany found itself in a minority of two, allied only with Austria-Hungary.
• Austria-Hungary was fragile, with internal ethnic conflicts.

Technological Era

• Period marked by rapid technological advancement in Europe, impacting military capabilities.