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Wilhelm II
Person page: Wilhelm II →
Tag
(31)
1890
June
18
Germany does not renew the Reinsurance Treaty
On 18 June 1890 the secret German-Russian treaty of 1887 expired. After Bismarck's departure Berlin rejected Russian requests to renew it.
1898
April
10
Germany passes its first Navy Law
On 10 April 1898 Wilhelm II signed Tirpitz's first Navy Law. It fixed the fleet at 19 battleships and laid the foundation of the German battle fleet.
1905
March
31
Wilhelm II lands at Tangier
On 31 March 1905 Wilhelm II went ashore at Tangier and declared that he saw the Sultan of Morocco as an independent ruler, openly challenging French plans.
1914
July
05
Kaiser promises Austria-Hungary full support
On 5 July 1914 Wilhelm II promised Austria-Hungary full support against Serbia, giving political impetus to the further escalation of the crisis.
26
Kaiser Wilhelm II cuts short his cruise and returns to Germany
On 26 July 1914 Wilhelm II, against his chancellor's advice, broke off his Norwegian fjord cruise and sailed for Kiel, to return thence to Potsdam.
27
German High Seas Fleet recalled from Norway to its war bases
On 27 July 1914 the German High Seas Fleet assembled off the coast of Norway, broke off its summer cruise and set course for its war bases.
31
Germany proclaims a state of imminent danger of war
On 31 July 1914 Germany proclaimed a "state of imminent danger of war" (Kriegsgefahr), the last step before mobilisation. The chancellor admitted it meant war.
August
01
Key event
Germany mobilises and declares war on Russia
On 1 August 1914 Germany ordered general mobilisation and in the evening declared war on Russia. The war ceased to be a Balkan conflict.
02
Moltke becomes Chief of the General Staff of the Field Army
On 2 August 1914 General Helmuth von Moltke, Chief of the Great General Staff since 1906, took charge of the staff of Germany's field army.
September
14
Falkenhayn replaces Moltke
On 14 September 1914 Helmuth von Moltke, broken by defeat on the Marne, was removed from command. Erich von Falkenhayn took over direction of the German army.
November
27
Hindenburg becomes field marshal
On 27 November 1914 Paul von Hindenburg, Commander-in-Chief of German forces in the East, was promoted to the rank of field marshal.
1915
January
14
End of the Battle of Soissons
On 14 January 1915 the French, driven off the heights at Crouy by a German counter-attack, fell back across the flooded Aisne, losing over 5,000 prisoners.
21
Wild von Hohenborn becomes minister of war
On 21 January 1915 Adolf Wild von Hohenborn became Prussian minister of war. Falkenhayn handed him the ministry but remained Chief of the General Staff.
May
31
Key event
First airship raid on London
In the night of 31 May – 1 June 1915 the German airship LZ 38 bombed east London. Seven people were killed, including children, and 35 were injured.
1916
August
28
Key event
Germany declares war on Romania
On 28 August 1916 Germany declared war on Romania, a day after it turned against Austria-Hungary. The surprise at Pless cost Falkenhayn his post.
1917
September
03
The Germans take Riga
On 3 September 1917 Hutier's troops entered Riga, abandoned by the Russians. Baltic Germans greeted them with flowers; Petrograd feared a march on the capital.
November
01
Hertling becomes Chancellor
On 1 November 1917 the Kaiser dismissed Georg Michaelis and appointed the 74-year-old Bavarian premier Georg von Hertling, a Centre politician, Chancellor.
1918
March
15
Protectorate over Courland
On 15 March 1918 Wilhelm II recognised the Duchy of Courland, proclaimed a week earlier by a Baltic German council, as a state closely tied to the Reich.
May
12
Meeting at Spa
On 12 May 1918 at Spa Emperor Charles I, compromised by the Sixtus affair, agreed with Wilhelm II on a close military and economic alliance with Germany.
June
24
Kühlmann's speech
On 24 June 1918 Richard von Kühlmann told the Reichstag that the war could not be ended by military decisions alone. The right was outraged.
July
09
Hintze becomes foreign secretary
On 9 July 1918 Richard von Kühlmann lost his post as Foreign Secretary. He was replaced by Rear Admiral Paul von Hintze, a candidate acceptable to the generals.
August
11
Battle of Amiens ends
On 11 August 1918 Haig halted the Amiens offensive, which had stalled on the old 1916 trenches. At Avesnes Ludendorff offered his resignation.
13
Resignation of Capelle
On 13 August 1918 Admiral Eduard von Capelle left the Imperial Naval Office. His departure was part of a shake-up of the navy's leadership directed by Scheer.
14
Key event
Crown council at Spa
On 14 August 1918 a crown council at Spa accepted that Germany could not win the war militarily. It resolved to seek peace, but only at a "suitable moment".
September
30
Hertling resigns
On 30 September 1918 the Kaiser accepted Chancellor Georg von Hertling's resignation and announced that men trusted by the nation would join the government.
October
03
Max von Baden becomes chancellor
On 3 October 1918 Prince Max von Baden became Reich chancellor. For the first time in the Empire's history Social Democrats joined the government.
23
Wilson's third note
On 23 October 1918 Wilson passed the armistice question to the Allies and warned that with Germany's old rulers he could discuss only surrender.
26
Ludendorff dismissed
On 26 October 1918 the Emperor accepted General Erich Ludendorff's resignation, demanded by the chancellor after an army order rejecting Wilson's third note.
November
09
Key event
Revolution in Berlin
On 9 November 1918 the revolution reached Berlin. The chancellor announced the Kaiser's abdication and handed power to Ebert; Scheidemann proclaimed a republic.
10
Kaiser Wilhelm in the Netherlands
On 10 November 1918 Wilhelm II left Spa and crossed the Dutch border at Eijsden. The government of the neutral Netherlands granted him asylum.
28
Abdication of Wilhelm II
On 28 November 1918 at Amerongen Wilhelm II signed a renunciation of the crowns of Prussia and the Reich, 19 days after his abdication was announced in Berlin.