The adored Crown Prince, spent his early youth in Berlin in winter and at the
New Palace in Potsdam in summer. At age 10, he began informal military
training and when he was 14 years old, he and his brother were sent to the
Academy at Ploen in Schleswig-Holstein, where he became a cadet. A
Hohenzollern family rule was that every Prince had to learn a trade and
Wilhelm chose to become a drechsler, or lathe operator. After graduating in
1900, he began officer training in Potsdam and began active service with his
regiment. He studied civil law and administration at the University of Bonn,
and in 1904 he met beautiful Princess Cecilie of Mecklenburg at a wedding.
New Palace in Potsdam in summer. At age 10, he began informal military
training and when he was 14 years old, he and his brother were sent to the
Academy at Ploen in Schleswig-Holstein, where he became a cadet. A
Hohenzollern family rule was that every Prince had to learn a trade and
Wilhelm chose to become a drechsler, or lathe operator. After graduating in
1900, he began officer training in Potsdam and began active service with his
regiment. He studied civil law and administration at the University of Bonn,
and in 1904 he met beautiful Princess Cecilie of Mecklenburg at a wedding.
| The Last Hohenzollern Crown Prince |
His future wife was the third child of the Grand Duke Friedrich Franz III and his wife the Grand
Duchess Anastasia Michailowna Romanov, a niece of Tsar Alexander II. The Crown Prince later
said he loved her at first sight. They were wed on June 6, 1905. Guests from all over Europe were
there to greet the 18 year old Princess.
Duchess Anastasia Michailowna Romanov, a niece of Tsar Alexander II. The Crown Prince later
said he loved her at first sight. They were wed on June 6, 1905. Guests from all over Europe were
there to greet the 18 year old Princess.
The crown Prince served as chief of his regiment in Potsdam and the first years were carefree and
happy. They had 4 sons, born in 1906, 1907, 1909 and 1911, and two daughters later. He was sent
to Danzig in September, 1911 while a home of their own was built in Potsdam, and in 1914 they
were back in Berlin. After the German declaration of War on France on August 3, the Crown Prince
joined his regiment and saw action for which he was awarded the Iron Cross, but the Crown Prince
favored an end to the senseless hostilities. At the end of the war, the opposing nations demanded the
abdication of his father, but the Kaiser refused to give up. In the chaos following the war, Chancellor
Max von Baden announced on his own initiative that the Kaiser of Germany and King of Prussia,
Wilhelm II, had decided to denounce the throne. The Kaiser and the Crown Prince had no choice but
to abdicate and then flee. They avoided capture and left for Doorn, Holland in November of 1918.
With this, the 500-year-old dynasty which had started in 1412, when Friedrich of Hohenzollern was
made Markgraf of Brandenburg, had come to an end.
happy. They had 4 sons, born in 1906, 1907, 1909 and 1911, and two daughters later. He was sent
to Danzig in September, 1911 while a home of their own was built in Potsdam, and in 1914 they
were back in Berlin. After the German declaration of War on France on August 3, the Crown Prince
joined his regiment and saw action for which he was awarded the Iron Cross, but the Crown Prince
favored an end to the senseless hostilities. At the end of the war, the opposing nations demanded the
abdication of his father, but the Kaiser refused to give up. In the chaos following the war, Chancellor
Max von Baden announced on his own initiative that the Kaiser of Germany and King of Prussia,
Wilhelm II, had decided to denounce the throne. The Kaiser and the Crown Prince had no choice but
to abdicate and then flee. They avoided capture and left for Doorn, Holland in November of 1918.
With this, the 500-year-old dynasty which had started in 1412, when Friedrich of Hohenzollern was
made Markgraf of Brandenburg, had come to an end.
The Prince worked in a local blacksmith shop and wrote his memoirs on the island of Wieringen.
When it was finally safe, he left the island to return home in 1923. He reunited with his wife and
children, and they returned to Potsdam, where he finally saw their home Cecilenhof for the first time
since its completion, but they would enjoy it for only a few years. The Royal couple gave a reception
there in 1936 for Charles Lindbergh, who was in Berlin for the Olympic Games.
When it was finally safe, he left the island to return home in 1923. He reunited with his wife and
children, and they returned to Potsdam, where he finally saw their home Cecilenhof for the first time
since its completion, but they would enjoy it for only a few years. The Royal couple gave a reception
there in 1936 for Charles Lindbergh, who was in Berlin for the Olympic Games.
Princess Cecilie remained in Germany and devoted herself to her six children. She continued living in
the official residence, named "Cecilienhof " until she moved in with her mother-in-law at the New
Palais where they felt safer. She spent some time in Silesia at an estate they were allowed to keep,
her younger children accompanying her while her two oldest sons remained in school in Potsdam. In
the meantime, the German Crown Prince lived with no electricity or running water. After a year, the
Dutch government relaxed restrictions, and his two youngest sons, Hubertus and Friedrich, were
allowed to visit in September 1919. The Prince did not meet with his father until May 21, 1920.
the official residence, named "Cecilienhof " until she moved in with her mother-in-law at the New
Palais where they felt safer. She spent some time in Silesia at an estate they were allowed to keep,
her younger children accompanying her while her two oldest sons remained in school in Potsdam. In
the meantime, the German Crown Prince lived with no electricity or running water. After a year, the
Dutch government relaxed restrictions, and his two youngest sons, Hubertus and Friedrich, were
allowed to visit in September 1919. The Prince did not meet with his father until May 21, 1920.
The prince was not political in the World War Two years. In the first year of the war their eldest son
was wounded in France and died. On June 4, 1941, the German Kaiser died in exile and was buried
in Doorn, Holland in accordance with his last will and testament. By 1944, the royal couple was
saddened and heavy of heart.
was wounded in France and died. On June 4, 1941, the German Kaiser died in exile and was buried
in Doorn, Holland in accordance with his last will and testament. By 1944, the royal couple was
saddened and heavy of heart.
During the last days of the war, the Prince was at a friend's hunting lodge in Austria. French troops
reached the region, and the Prince was recognized on the street and arrested. He was taken to Lindau
and kept under guard at a hotel. The French Supreme Commander did not allow him to return to his
friends hunting lodge, but let him find living quarters in the French zone and the Prince chose to stay
in 2 cold rooms at Hechingen, the ancestral home of the Hohenzollern. He was technically a French
prisoner until October, 1945. Princess Cecilie stayed at Cecilienhof until she had to flee in February
1945 when the Red Army was approaching. She then stayed with the family of the Kaiser's former
doctor in the town of Kissingen. In October 1945, and on a couple of other occasions, she managed
to meet her husband in Hechingen but they had grown apart. He had a lifelong friendship with opera
singer Geraldine Farrar (1882-1967). His son would later say of his father, "he lived alone with his
few earthly possessions he was able to save out of all this chaos. He lived in this small house in
Hechingen, where he was stranded, looking daily up to the ancestral Burg, where so many hundred
years before his ancestors had begun their unbelievable glorious ascent." On July 20, 1951 the
German Crown Prince died of a heart attack at age 69. Princess Cecilie moved into a house in
Stuttgart in 1952 and soon became ill and died two years later in 1954 on her husband's birthday.
reached the region, and the Prince was recognized on the street and arrested. He was taken to Lindau
and kept under guard at a hotel. The French Supreme Commander did not allow him to return to his
friends hunting lodge, but let him find living quarters in the French zone and the Prince chose to stay
in 2 cold rooms at Hechingen, the ancestral home of the Hohenzollern. He was technically a French
prisoner until October, 1945. Princess Cecilie stayed at Cecilienhof until she had to flee in February
1945 when the Red Army was approaching. She then stayed with the family of the Kaiser's former
doctor in the town of Kissingen. In October 1945, and on a couple of other occasions, she managed
to meet her husband in Hechingen but they had grown apart. He had a lifelong friendship with opera
singer Geraldine Farrar (1882-1967). His son would later say of his father, "he lived alone with his
few earthly possessions he was able to save out of all this chaos. He lived in this small house in
Hechingen, where he was stranded, looking daily up to the ancestral Burg, where so many hundred
years before his ancestors had begun their unbelievable glorious ascent." On July 20, 1951 the
German Crown Prince died of a heart attack at age 69. Princess Cecilie moved into a house in
Stuttgart in 1952 and soon became ill and died two years later in 1954 on her husband's birthday.
The last Hohenzollern Crown Prince, Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Ernst, was born to the 23 year old
Prince, later Kaiser Wilhelm II, and his wife Auguste Viktoria of Schleswig-Holstein in 1882.
Prince, later Kaiser Wilhelm II, and his wife Auguste Viktoria of Schleswig-Holstein in 1882.
Soon after coming to the throne in 1888, the next Kaiser distanced himself
from his mother and dismissed his former mentor, Bismarck. Wilhelm II, King
of Prussia and German Kaiser from June 15,1888 to November 9,1918, was
born on January 27, 1859 in Berlin to Wilhelm I and Victoria, Princess Royal
of the United Kingdom. As the eldest grandchild of Queen Victoria, Wilhelm
II journeyed to England in January 1901 to be at the bedside of his dying
grandmother and held her in his arms at the moment of her death. He and
Bismarck had one thing in common: they were ardent Anglophiles, and he
often stated that he could not envisage a war with Britain. Wilhelm
symbolized the era of the great empire builders and global competition.
from his mother and dismissed his former mentor, Bismarck. Wilhelm II, King
of Prussia and German Kaiser from June 15,1888 to November 9,1918, was
born on January 27, 1859 in Berlin to Wilhelm I and Victoria, Princess Royal
of the United Kingdom. As the eldest grandchild of Queen Victoria, Wilhelm
II journeyed to England in January 1901 to be at the bedside of his dying
grandmother and held her in his arms at the moment of her death. He and
Bismarck had one thing in common: they were ardent Anglophiles, and he
often stated that he could not envisage a war with Britain. Wilhelm
symbolized the era of the great empire builders and global competition.
The forty years following the foundation of the German empire were years of peace in Europe.
Under Bismarck's policy there would be no conflicts among the major powers in central Europe and
Germany would be secure without seeking hegemony in Europe. Several European wars were
avoided because of his diplomatic genius, and Bismarck acquired a reputation of a solid peace-maker,
and the respect of the European leaders as well as people all over the world, as did Kaiser Wilhelm I,
who well-liked and noted for his abilities as a fair and just mediator.
Under Bismarck's policy there would be no conflicts among the major powers in central Europe and
Germany would be secure without seeking hegemony in Europe. Several European wars were
avoided because of his diplomatic genius, and Bismarck acquired a reputation of a solid peace-maker,
and the respect of the European leaders as well as people all over the world, as did Kaiser Wilhelm I,
who well-liked and noted for his abilities as a fair and just mediator.
| Nihil sine Deo |
They produced electors, kings and emperors of Prussia, Germany, and Romania under their motto
"Nihil sine Deo" (nothing without God). The mighty German dynasty of Hohenzollern originated in
Swabia during the 11th century, taking the name from their castle, Burg Hohenzollern. Its brilliant
leaders managed to take backwater Brandenburg to a pinnacle of power and prosperity in Europe.
The Hohenzollerns were one of the most important and oldest royal families of Europe, eventually
lending their power to the state in the Unification of Germany and in the creation of the German
Empire in 1871. They ruled until they abdicated the German throne in 1918.
"Nihil sine Deo" (nothing without God). The mighty German dynasty of Hohenzollern originated in
Swabia during the 11th century, taking the name from their castle, Burg Hohenzollern. Its brilliant
leaders managed to take backwater Brandenburg to a pinnacle of power and prosperity in Europe.
The Hohenzollerns were one of the most important and oldest royal families of Europe, eventually
lending their power to the state in the Unification of Germany and in the creation of the German
Empire in 1871. They ruled until they abdicated the German throne in 1918.
Hohenzollern Castle was reconstructed from the old castle ruins where only the
original chapel was intact. Work began in 1819 by crown prince Friedrich
Wilhelm of Prussia. In 1844, as King Friedrich Wilhelm IV, he wrote how he
relished the memory of that year as a beautiful dream, particularly a sunset
when he recalled watching from the castle bastions, hoping to see the old castle
made habitable again. the castle, left, is in the beautiful Swabian Alps next to
the town of Hechingen. The Hohenzollern-Hechingen line finally became extinct
in 1869.
original chapel was intact. Work began in 1819 by crown prince Friedrich
Wilhelm of Prussia. In 1844, as King Friedrich Wilhelm IV, he wrote how he
relished the memory of that year as a beautiful dream, particularly a sunset
when he recalled watching from the castle bastions, hoping to see the old castle
made habitable again. the castle, left, is in the beautiful Swabian Alps next to
the town of Hechingen. The Hohenzollern-Hechingen line finally became extinct
in 1869.
The Hohenzollern- Sigmaringen family became the Romanian
royal family in 1866 before Sigmaringen was ceded to
Prussia. The palace of Sigmaringen of the princes of
Hohenzollern is built on a long stretch of a Weissjura rock
overlooking the Danube. This palace, of which the first
documented mention was in 1077, experienced comprehensive
restructuring under the prince Karl Anton (1848 – 1885) who
turned it into a meeting place of the European high nobility.
Following the destruction of the east wing by a fire in 1893,
this Hohenzollern residence was rebuilt on an even greater
scale. Sigmaringen is in the south of Baden-Württemberg
royal family in 1866 before Sigmaringen was ceded to
Prussia. The palace of Sigmaringen of the princes of
Hohenzollern is built on a long stretch of a Weissjura rock
overlooking the Danube. This palace, of which the first
documented mention was in 1077, experienced comprehensive
restructuring under the prince Karl Anton (1848 – 1885) who
turned it into a meeting place of the European high nobility.
Following the destruction of the east wing by a fire in 1893,
this Hohenzollern residence was rebuilt on an even greater
scale. Sigmaringen is in the south of Baden-Württemberg
