Superlative history and approach to the study of history!
A new approach is narrative history - lived experiences - and it reinforces Great Man, especially in the form of the biographies and autobiographies of the decision-makers. Barbara Tuchmann (of Guns of August fame) believes that biography is an important prism of history. Thucydides did too.
The people of that era were prodigious letter writers, so the History From Below can also shed a light on the decision-makers' thinking, in that they wrote to their wives and their friends almost as much as we write emails and social media. But can you imagine the workload on future historians having to wade through the WhatsApp messages of Xi Jinping as he was causing WW3?!
(PS. No mention of Bethmann Hollweg? Yes, you wrote "Chancellor", but since you mentioned Anniker Mombauer, you could have added him to the other individual Great Men ... )
Sounds like Trump. Willful, impulsive, not too smart, not guided by any consistent rationale, surrounded by advisors picked for their loyalty and physical appearance (ie “central casting.”) He turns his country into a “rogue state” which neither enemies not allies can trust. Shies from war, then jumps in. Germany was stuck with Wilhelm, but we elected Trump. Does not end well.
Germany was particularly unfortunate that Wilhelm was not just a particularly unsuitable personality for the time he reigned, but that he enjoyed such a long reign. Had his father, Frederick III, spent decades on the throne instead, the entire 20th century would be vastly different.
“One of the most conspicuous expressions of political insight is the sense of timing. Without it, great intelligence can be ineffective. Coupled with strong will, it can carry a mediocre mind to the heights.” Sidney Hook, The Hero in History. (New York: The John Day Company, 1943) p. 220.
In principle a true character assesement of Trump, but he does have his principles: the interests of the Jews are most important and in that regard he has been very consistent. That the US military is increasingly incompetent in trying to enforce these interests is honestly not his fault.
“The bride at every wedding” is very funny considering the kind of rumors that swirled around Wilhelm throughout his life, especially when Harden-Eulenburg and its consequences went down. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietrich_von_H%C3%BClsen-Haeseler#Death for an example of what kind.
Interestingly, Alice Roosevelt said something very similar about her father Theodore (a great man by almost any metric). Paraphrased, it’s that he wanted to be the baby at every christening, the bride at every wedding, and the deceased at every funeral.
Yes, nice reminder to those who study military history and are aware of his comments on the 4 archetypes of officers. One of his daughters, possibly two, began to spy for Stalin in the Weimer days and later when Hitler was appointed to power passed along intelligence in the early days of the Nazi government.
You could add further to the strength of your argument by including his first major act after becoming Emperor, i.e. the sacking of Bismarck. Arguably this was Wilhelm's greatest folly as Bismarck saw Germany as a satiated power and recognised the need to continue to isolate France and ensure Russia was, as a minimum, neutral towards Germany.
Within four years of his sacking, the result was the Franco-Russian alliance which, of course, was a key factor in German belief that they were being encircled. "Dropping the pilot" (as Punch called it) - a spectacular own goal
OTH, “One of the most conspicuous expressions of political insight is the sense of timing. Without it, great intelligence can be ineffective. Coupled with strong will, it can carry a mediocre mind to the heights.” Sidney Hook, The Hero in History. (New York: The John Day Company, 1943) p. 220.
Superlative history and approach to the study of history!
A new approach is narrative history - lived experiences - and it reinforces Great Man, especially in the form of the biographies and autobiographies of the decision-makers. Barbara Tuchmann (of Guns of August fame) believes that biography is an important prism of history. Thucydides did too.
The people of that era were prodigious letter writers, so the History From Below can also shed a light on the decision-makers' thinking, in that they wrote to their wives and their friends almost as much as we write emails and social media. But can you imagine the workload on future historians having to wade through the WhatsApp messages of Xi Jinping as he was causing WW3?!
(PS. No mention of Bethmann Hollweg? Yes, you wrote "Chancellor", but since you mentioned Anniker Mombauer, you could have added him to the other individual Great Men ... )
Sounds like Trump. Willful, impulsive, not too smart, not guided by any consistent rationale, surrounded by advisors picked for their loyalty and physical appearance (ie “central casting.”) He turns his country into a “rogue state” which neither enemies not allies can trust. Shies from war, then jumps in. Germany was stuck with Wilhelm, but we elected Trump. Does not end well.
Germany was particularly unfortunate that Wilhelm was not just a particularly unsuitable personality for the time he reigned, but that he enjoyed such a long reign. Had his father, Frederick III, spent decades on the throne instead, the entire 20th century would be vastly different.
“One of the most conspicuous expressions of political insight is the sense of timing. Without it, great intelligence can be ineffective. Coupled with strong will, it can carry a mediocre mind to the heights.” Sidney Hook, The Hero in History. (New York: The John Day Company, 1943) p. 220.
In principle a true character assesement of Trump, but he does have his principles: the interests of the Jews are most important and in that regard he has been very consistent. That the US military is increasingly incompetent in trying to enforce these interests is honestly not his fault.
“The bride at every wedding” is very funny considering the kind of rumors that swirled around Wilhelm throughout his life, especially when Harden-Eulenburg and its consequences went down. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietrich_von_H%C3%BClsen-Haeseler#Death for an example of what kind.
Interestingly, Alice Roosevelt said something very similar about her father Theodore (a great man by almost any metric). Paraphrased, it’s that he wanted to be the baby at every christening, the bride at every wedding, and the deceased at every funeral.
Yes, nice reminder to those who study military history and are aware of his comments on the 4 archetypes of officers. One of his daughters, possibly two, began to spy for Stalin in the Weimer days and later when Hitler was appointed to power passed along intelligence in the early days of the Nazi government.
Great article, many thanks.
You could add further to the strength of your argument by including his first major act after becoming Emperor, i.e. the sacking of Bismarck. Arguably this was Wilhelm's greatest folly as Bismarck saw Germany as a satiated power and recognised the need to continue to isolate France and ensure Russia was, as a minimum, neutral towards Germany.
Within four years of his sacking, the result was the Franco-Russian alliance which, of course, was a key factor in German belief that they were being encircled. "Dropping the pilot" (as Punch called it) - a spectacular own goal
Great Article
Compelling stuff
Many readers of this description would find the comparison with a current leader of a great power very striking.
Suggested music: "History Is Made By Stupid People", by The Arrogant Worms
Cringe
OTH, “One of the most conspicuous expressions of political insight is the sense of timing. Without it, great intelligence can be ineffective. Coupled with strong will, it can carry a mediocre mind to the heights.” Sidney Hook, The Hero in History. (New York: The John Day Company, 1943) p. 220.
I hold with Hammerstein-Equord on the dangers of a strong will and mediocre mind.