THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE, U. S. A.
Translator’s Preface
Upon the titlepage of the original of this little volume stands inscribed, “A life picture for German youth and the German people.” It might, with equal pertinency, have been written, “A life picture for all youth and all people.” Emperor William First was a delicate child, but was so carefully nurtured and trained that he became one of the most vigorous men in Germany. At an early age he manifested a passionate interest in everything pertaining to war. In his youth he received the Iron Cross for bravery. He served under his father in the final wars of the Napoleonic campaign, and in his twenty-third year mastered not only the military system of Germany, but those of other European countries. During the revolutionary period of 1848 he was cordially hated by the Prussian people, who believed that he was wedded to the policy of absolutism, but before many years he was the idol of all his kingdom, and in the great war with France (1870), all Germans rallied round him.
After the close of this war he returned to Berlin and spent the remainder of his days in peace, the administration of internal affairs being left largely to his great coadjutor, Prince Bismarck. In connection with Von Moltke, these two, the Iron Emperor and the Iron Chancellor, made Germany the leading power of Europe. In simpleness of life, honesty of character, devotion to duty, love of country, and splendor of achievement, the Emperor William’s life is a study for all youth and all people.
G. P. U.
Chicago, May 10, 1909.
Contents
Chapter Page I [Early Life] 11 II [A Hard School] 19 III [Years of Peace] 36 IV [Troublous Times] 42 V [In Trust] 49 VI [The Austro-Prussian War] 56 VII [The Franco-Prussian War] 64 VIII [Sedan] 73 IX [Army Anecdotes] 88 X [Family Life of the Emperor] 101 XI [The Emperor’s Death] 112 [Appendix] 128
Illustrations
[Emperor William First]Frontispiece [The cornflower wreaths]22 [The two Emperors]68 [The Emperor’s deathbed]116