Título: Wilhelm II, German Emperor
Seção: Dismissal of Bismarck
Background: Wilhelm II (Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert von Hohenzollern; 27 January 1859 - 4 June 1941) was the last German Emperor (Kaiser) and King of Prussia, ruling the German Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia from 15 June 1888 to 9 November 1918. He was the eldest grandchild of the Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and related to many monarchs and princes of Europe, most notably King George V of the United Kingdom and Emperor Nicholas II of Russia. Acceding to the throne in 1888, he dismissed the Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, in 1890. He also launched Germany on a bellicose "New Course" in foreign affairs that culminated in his support for Austria-Hungary in the crisis of July 1914 that led in a matter of days to the First World War.

Conteúdo: Bismarck resigned at Wilhelm II's insistence in 1890, at the age of 75, to be succeeded as Chancellor of Germany and Minister-President of Prussia by Leo von Caprivi, who in turn was replaced by Chlodwig, Prince of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfurst, in 1894. Following the dismissal of Hohenlohe in 1900, Wilhelm appointed the man whom he regarded as "his own Bismarck", Bernhard von Bulow.  In foreign policy Bismarck had achieved a fragile balance of interests between Germany, France and Russia--peace was at hand and Bismarck tried to keep it that way despite growing popular sentiment against Britain (regarding colonies) and especially against Russia. With Bismarck's dismissal the Russians now expected a reversal of policy in Berlin, so they quickly came to terms with France, beginning the process that by 1914 largely isolated Germany.  In appointing Caprivi and then Hohenlohe, Wilhelm was embarking upon what is known to history as "the New Course", in which he hoped to exert decisive influence in the government of the empire. There is debate amongst historians as to the precise degree to which Wilhelm succeeded in implementing "personal rule" in this era, but what is clear is the very different dynamic which existed between the Crown and its chief political servant (the Chancellor) in the "Wilhelmine Era". These chancellors were senior civil servants and not seasoned politician-statesmen like Bismarck. Wilhelm wanted to preclude the emergence of another Iron Chancellor, whom he ultima

user: when was Bismarck dismissed?

assistant: Bismarck resigned at Wilhelm II's insistence in 1890, at the age of 75, to

user: to what?

assistant: be succeeded as Chancellor of Germany and Minister-President of Prussia by Leo von Caprivi, who

user: who replaced him?

assistant: replaced by Chlodwig, Prince

user: what reasond did he have for dismissing Bismark?

assistant: 1900, Wilhelm appointed the man whom he regarded as "his own Bismarck", Bernhard von Bulow.

user: had Bismark done anything that Wilhelm didn't like?

assistant: policy Bismarck had achieved a fragile balance of interests between Germany, France and Russia--peace was at hand and Bismarck tried to keep it

user: didn't wilhelm want peace?

assistant: Russia. With Bismarck's dismissal the Russians now expected a reversal of policy in

user: reversal of policy in what?

assistant: Berlin, so they quickly came to terms with France, beginning the process that by 1914 largely isolated Germany.

user: what else about Bismark did he not like?

assistant: Bismarck did manage to create the "Bismarck myth," the view (which some would argue was confirmed by subsequent events) that Wilhelm II's dismissal

user: what about Wilhelm's dismissal?

assistant: of the Iron Chancellor effectively destroyed any chance Germany had of stable and effective government.

user: what about effective government?

assistant: creation of a German navy that would rival that of Britain and enable Germany to declare itself a world power. He ordered his military

user: he ordered his military to do what?

assistant: power. He ordered his military leaders to read Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan's book,

user: what else is interesting?

assistant: affairs, while Wilhelm began to spread alarm in the chancellories of Europe with his increasingly eccentric views on foreign affairs.