The Kaiser's Kids
The Kaiser's Kids
1913--left to right,Kaiser Wilhelm,and his sons,Crown Prince Wilhelm,Prince Eitel Friedrich,Prince Aldabert,Prince August Wilhelm,Prince Joachim and Prince Oskar.
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Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Otto Ernst von Hohenzollern, Kronprinz von Preussen
(1882-1951)
Kaiser Wilhelm II's eldest son, referred to as the Crown Prince (Kronprinz). At six years (1888) became youngest corporal in the Prussian Army. He was commissioned in the 1st Foot Guards in 1900 and commanded the Death's Head Hussars in 1910. A trip to India pre-war lead to the rumour of him partaking in Opium smoking and a taste for Oriental mistresses. As a 32-year old General of the infantry, he commanded the Fifth Army (1914-15) and Army Group Deutsches Kronprinz (1915-18 ). In 1914 he was tasked with holding the French along the Ardennes front. He also lead forces at Verdun (1916) and the Aisne front (1918). He was not a great commander(more a ‘show’ position due to his regal position) and was ridiculed by the allies as an imbecile(Little Willie), but he was a decent man with sound insight and good instincts; he was astute enough to claim Germany should sue for peace after the Battle of the Marne.Also fairly militaristic (at least in the Press), he was quoted prior to the war as saying, "...only by relying on the sword can we gain the place in the sun that is our due, but that is not voluntarily accorded us." Awarded a much-coveted Pour le Merite in 1915. After the armistice, joined his father in exile in the Netherlands. Later returned to Germany and supported the Nazis.
Wilhelm joined the SA and Nazi Party with two of his sons,Prinz Wilhelm(1906-1940) and Prinz Hubertus(1909-1950).The oldest son,Prinz Wilhelm,the heir to the Hohenzollern crown,renounced his claim when he married an Italian ‘commoner ‘in 1933.Young Prinz Wilhelm died on wounds in France,May 1940,while serving as a Leutnant in a Motorised unit.His funeral at Potsdam attracted 50,000 mourners leading Hitler to exclaim that “no more Hohenzollerns would serve in the military”,the second grandson of the Kaiser to die in action within that year.His brother Hubertus ended up leaving the service of the Luftwaffe due to the Hitler directive.
CrownPrinz’s Wilhelm’s other two sons Prinz Louis-Ferdinand(1907-94) and Prince Friedrich(1911-66) did not serve in the military in WW2.Louis took over the succession role from his brother in 1933 and worked in the aircraft industry in WW2(he was also involved in the July 1944 plot against Hitler); Friedrich is stated as living in England pre 1939 and being interned during the war.Friedrich was found drowned in the Rhine in 1966.
Prinz Louis’ son,the great grandson of the Kaiser,Louis II (1944-77),died during Bundeswehr maneuvers in 1977.
(1882-1951)
Kaiser Wilhelm II's eldest son, referred to as the Crown Prince (Kronprinz). At six years (1888) became youngest corporal in the Prussian Army. He was commissioned in the 1st Foot Guards in 1900 and commanded the Death's Head Hussars in 1910. A trip to India pre-war lead to the rumour of him partaking in Opium smoking and a taste for Oriental mistresses. As a 32-year old General of the infantry, he commanded the Fifth Army (1914-15) and Army Group Deutsches Kronprinz (1915-18 ). In 1914 he was tasked with holding the French along the Ardennes front. He also lead forces at Verdun (1916) and the Aisne front (1918). He was not a great commander(more a ‘show’ position due to his regal position) and was ridiculed by the allies as an imbecile(Little Willie), but he was a decent man with sound insight and good instincts; he was astute enough to claim Germany should sue for peace after the Battle of the Marne.Also fairly militaristic (at least in the Press), he was quoted prior to the war as saying, "...only by relying on the sword can we gain the place in the sun that is our due, but that is not voluntarily accorded us." Awarded a much-coveted Pour le Merite in 1915. After the armistice, joined his father in exile in the Netherlands. Later returned to Germany and supported the Nazis.
Wilhelm joined the SA and Nazi Party with two of his sons,Prinz Wilhelm(1906-1940) and Prinz Hubertus(1909-1950).The oldest son,Prinz Wilhelm,the heir to the Hohenzollern crown,renounced his claim when he married an Italian ‘commoner ‘in 1933.Young Prinz Wilhelm died on wounds in France,May 1940,while serving as a Leutnant in a Motorised unit.His funeral at Potsdam attracted 50,000 mourners leading Hitler to exclaim that “no more Hohenzollerns would serve in the military”,the second grandson of the Kaiser to die in action within that year.His brother Hubertus ended up leaving the service of the Luftwaffe due to the Hitler directive.
CrownPrinz’s Wilhelm’s other two sons Prinz Louis-Ferdinand(1907-94) and Prince Friedrich(1911-66) did not serve in the military in WW2.Louis took over the succession role from his brother in 1933 and worked in the aircraft industry in WW2(he was also involved in the July 1944 plot against Hitler); Friedrich is stated as living in England pre 1939 and being interned during the war.Friedrich was found drowned in the Rhine in 1966.
Prinz Louis’ son,the great grandson of the Kaiser,Louis II (1944-77),died during Bundeswehr maneuvers in 1977.
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Last edited by Peter H on 04 Jun 2003, 12:49, edited 5 times in total.
Prinz Wilhelm(1906-1940),son of the Crown Prince,grandson of Wilhelm II,died of wounds 1940.
From Corbis.com
From Corbis.com
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Last edited by Peter H on 04 Jun 2003, 07:45, edited 1 time in total.
Prinz Eitel-Friedrich von Preussen
(1883-1942)
Family Nickname: Fritz
Major general who was Kaiser Wilhelm II's second child. Although he had an unspectacular military career, at mobilization he received a top regimental command with the 1st Foot Guards,the premier Regiment of the German army. He also distinguished himself early on during the Battle of Guise in 1914.His Regiment faltering,he seized a regimental drum from a bandsman and lead the advance against the French positions. He then commanded the 1st Guards Infantry Brigade as a Colonel (1914-15) when he was awarded the Pour le Merite,serving in Russia,Champagne in 1915. From 1916 through most of 1918, he commanded 1st Guards Infantry Division which saw service at the Somme(1916),Chemin les Dames(1917),the Somme,Aisne and Argonne(1918). In October 1918, he lost his command, ostensibly due to health reasons, but it was in actuality politically motivated. He was vehemently anti-Nazi during post war years even though he also belonged to the Stalhelm Veterans organisation.
(1883-1942)
Family Nickname: Fritz
Major general who was Kaiser Wilhelm II's second child. Although he had an unspectacular military career, at mobilization he received a top regimental command with the 1st Foot Guards,the premier Regiment of the German army. He also distinguished himself early on during the Battle of Guise in 1914.His Regiment faltering,he seized a regimental drum from a bandsman and lead the advance against the French positions. He then commanded the 1st Guards Infantry Brigade as a Colonel (1914-15) when he was awarded the Pour le Merite,serving in Russia,Champagne in 1915. From 1916 through most of 1918, he commanded 1st Guards Infantry Division which saw service at the Somme(1916),Chemin les Dames(1917),the Somme,Aisne and Argonne(1918). In October 1918, he lost his command, ostensibly due to health reasons, but it was in actuality politically motivated. He was vehemently anti-Nazi during post war years even though he also belonged to the Stalhelm Veterans organisation.
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Prinz Augustus Wilhem von Preussen
(1887-1949)
Family Nickname:Auwi
Staff officer in the German army 1914-18.August was the most pro-Nazi of the Hohenzollerns in the early years(joined the Nazi party and SA),but later had a falling out with Hitler and remained under house arrest during the war.
(1887-1949)
Family Nickname:Auwi
Staff officer in the German army 1914-18.August was the most pro-Nazi of the Hohenzollerns in the early years(joined the Nazi party and SA),but later had a falling out with Hitler and remained under house arrest during the war.
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Last edited by Peter H on 04 Jun 2003, 12:24, edited 1 time in total.
Prinz Oskar von Preussen
(1888-1958)
Also somewhat pro-Nazi and joined the Party.Guards officer in WW1 but suffered a nervous breakdown in late 1915 and withdrawn from frontline service.Prinz Oskar served in the Heer in 1939/40 until his services were terminated by the Hitler directive on royals serving.His son,Prinz Oskar von Ruppin(1915-39) was killed in Poland in September 1939.
(1888-1958)
Also somewhat pro-Nazi and joined the Party.Guards officer in WW1 but suffered a nervous breakdown in late 1915 and withdrawn from frontline service.Prinz Oskar served in the Heer in 1939/40 until his services were terminated by the Hitler directive on royals serving.His son,Prinz Oskar von Ruppin(1915-39) was killed in Poland in September 1939.
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Last edited by Peter H on 04 Jun 2003, 12:30, edited 1 time in total.
Prinz Joachim von Preussen
(1890-1920)
Cavalry officer in 1914 and wounded at Battle of Masurian Lakes in September 1914.Clashed with his father when pulled out of frontline duties in late 1917.Joachim liked his drink and gambling,and depressed,shot himself at a Potsdam hunting lodge in 1920.
(1890-1920)
Cavalry officer in 1914 and wounded at Battle of Masurian Lakes in September 1914.Clashed with his father when pulled out of frontline duties in late 1917.Joachim liked his drink and gambling,and depressed,shot himself at a Potsdam hunting lodge in 1920.
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Last edited by Peter H on 04 Jun 2003, 12:33, edited 1 time in total.
Prinzien Victoria Louise von Preussen
(1892-1980)
The youngest child,and only daughter,of the Kaiser.Married Ernst,Duke of Brunswick in 1913,the last major social event of European Royalty pre WW1.None of her sons served in WW2...the eldest son was arrested by the Gestapo after the July 1944 plot but later released.
(1892-1980)
The youngest child,and only daughter,of the Kaiser.Married Ernst,Duke of Brunswick in 1913,the last major social event of European Royalty pre WW1.None of her sons served in WW2...the eldest son was arrested by the Gestapo after the July 1944 plot but later released.
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Last edited by Peter H on 04 Jun 2003, 12:32, edited 1 time in total.
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Gwynn Compton
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- Posts: 2840
- Joined: 10 Mar 2002, 23:46
- Location: United Kingdom
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Gwynn Compton
- Member
- Posts: 2840
- Joined: 10 Mar 2002, 23:46
- Location: United Kingdom