The Innocence of Kaiser Wilhelm II cover art

The Innocence of Kaiser Wilhelm II

And the First World War

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The Innocence of Kaiser Wilhelm II

By: Christina Croft
Narrated by: Jack Wynters
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About this listen

Almost a century after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, Kaiser Wilhelm II is still viewed as either a warmonger or a madman, as the hundred-year-old propaganda posters remain fixed in the general consciousness. Was he, though, truly responsible for the catastrophe of the First World War, or was he in fact a convenient scapegoat, blamed for a conflict which he desperately tried to avoid?

©2015 Christina Croft (P)2017 Christina Croft Americas Europe Military Politics & Activism Royalty United States Imperialism War Middle ages Russia Imperial Japan Socialism Africa Interwar Period

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Great narrative and truly eye opening account from an under served pint of view. This rehabilitation of Wilhelm may raise an eyebrow for many, but it deserves serious examination by those who continue to be interested in who the catastrophe of the Great War was allowed to happen. My only gripe: I’m sure the author means ‘specific’, no ‘pacific’.

Facinating and overdue

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A very different positive view of the Kaiser that portrays him as a peace maker

Peace-loving Kaiser

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Sometimes to you need read to different point of view. But I love this book!!!

To me it's a great book!

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Unconvincing in the end. Even Bismark said 'that man wants war'. Poor narration didn't help the cause.

Wilhelm a pacifist - who knew?

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the best thing I've ever heard on the real causes of the first world war. a moving portrait of a man and a time and a world. delivered everything and much more than I expected. superbly read. full marks.

Truly Incredible

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As a Millennial I believe I had looked on this time in history (until I studied it at a level and then further at degree level) as a time when Germany were persistently "the bad guys" for whatever reason. I suppose this opinion was relatively all lumped together as here in the UK we have always seen ourselves as 'the allies', the side of good. while during the second world war there is certainly good reason to suppose we were fighting something very sinister, this reflection on kaiser Wilhelm in his own time with his European familial connections certainly over turn such an uneducated view. This book is a very good reflection of the kaiser's life and does well to show that he is not the monster the Allies made him to be. Although this is only one such source on the topic it is well worth a listen!

A different perspective

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The story of Kaiser Wilhelm is a compelling one and is well worth the read. However, I found the narration annoying. A slavish adherence to pauses after commas had me listening out for the next occurrence and not to the story.

Great narrative, not sure about narrator

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The immage of the German Empire has been demonized by the Entante and later the nazis and the modern nazis in germany using the imperial symbolism for their own gain, if only the bias of the demonising of the once greate nation of Germany should aknowledge their true heritage and should accept the truth of the Great Kaiser that wanted the best for his people.

Should be a History changer

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He was and probably still is portrayed to be the bad guy in the story, however this book makes him out to be the most kindest gentlest man who ever walked the planet.

It seems every point narrated goes like this "Wilhelm was accused of doing X, but infact Wilhelm was doing the opposite of X".

Theres only so much of that I could listen to. I have given up with 2 hours to go.

The only book i've gave up on

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