Abdication of Wilhelm II

The abdication of Wilhelm II as German Emperor and King of Prussia was declared by Chancellor Maximilian of Baden on 9 November 1918; it was formally affirmed by a written statement of Wilhelm on 28 November, made while in exile in Amerongen, the Netherlands. The abdication caused the German Empire to dissolve and concluded the House of Hohenzollern's 500-year rule over Prussia and its predecessor state, Brandenburg. Wilhelm reigned from 15 June 1888 to 9 November 1918. As a result of the abdication and the German Revolution of 1918–19, the nobility as a legally-defined class was abolished. Following the proclamation of the Weimar Constitution on 11 August 1919, all Germans were declared equal before the law.^[1] The rulers of the twenty-two constituent states of the Empire also had to relinquish their monarchical titles and domains.

Statement of Abdication. I herewith renounce for all time claims to the throne of Prussia and to the German Imperial throne connected therewith. At the same time I release all officials of the German Empire and of Prussia, as well as all officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the and of the Prussian army, as well as the troops of the federated states of Germany, from the oath of fidelity which they tendered to me as their Emperor, King and Commander-in-Chief. I expect of them that until the re-establishment of order in the German Empire they shall render assistance to those in actual power in Germany, in protecting the German people from the threatening dangers of anarchy, famine, and foreign rule. Proclaimed under our own hand and with the imperial seal attached. Amerongen, 28 November 1918. Signed WILLIAM.^[10]

navy

Wilhelm first settled at Amerongen Castle, where on 28 November he issued a belated statement of abdication of both the Prussian and imperial thrones. He also released his soldiers and officials in both Prussia and the empire from their oaths of loyalty to him.^[9]

For initial details of the abolished Kaiserreich of see: List of German monarchs in 1918

Wilhelm II

For post abdication NSDAP membership of the abolished nobility see:

German nobility in Nazi Germany

Abdication of Nicholas II

The German Emperor as shown in his public utterances

The German emperor's speeches: being a selection from the speeches, edicts, letters, and telegrams of the Emperor William II

at Internet Archive, mostly in German

Works by or about Abdication of Wilhelm II

. Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911.

"William II. of Germany"

on YouTube

The Last German Emperor, Living in Exile in The Netherlands 1918-1941

at European Film Gateway