Hallo,
By June 1919 Kaiser Wilhelm II was settling into his exile in Holland. From exile, did he personally or through agents/representatives directly attempt to influence the German government's negotiations, deliberations, or final acceptance of the Versailles Treaty?
Regards,
Durand
Wilhelm II and the Versailles Treaty
Giles MacDonogh's The Last Kaiser mentions that on the 9th May 1919 the Allied peace conditions were published---relevant to the Kaiser was they also called for him to be delivered for trial as a war criminal.
Article 227 demanded the extradition of a thousand or so 'war criminals'.
The Treaty came into force in January 1920 but the Dutch refused to comply.A dying Bethmann-Hollweg,Hindenburg and Crown Prince Wilhelm all offered to stand in his place but the Allies didn't force the issue.
As a sidenote,eight drunken American officers on New Year's Eve,the 31st December 1918,devised a plan to capture the Kaiser; they drove up from Luxembourg to the Kaiser's place of exile on the 5th January 1919.Arriving late they were ushered inside and served sandwiches by a servant.The Kaiser remained upstairs in bed.A suspicious German orderely called the Dutch police and they were graciously shown the border.Back in the States they later faced disciplinary charges.
Article 227 demanded the extradition of a thousand or so 'war criminals'.
The Treaty came into force in January 1920 but the Dutch refused to comply.A dying Bethmann-Hollweg,Hindenburg and Crown Prince Wilhelm all offered to stand in his place but the Allies didn't force the issue.
As a sidenote,eight drunken American officers on New Year's Eve,the 31st December 1918,devised a plan to capture the Kaiser; they drove up from Luxembourg to the Kaiser's place of exile on the 5th January 1919.Arriving late they were ushered inside and served sandwiches by a servant.The Kaiser remained upstairs in bed.A suspicious German orderely called the Dutch police and they were graciously shown the border.Back in the States they later faced disciplinary charges.
