Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: 12Gauge687

Georgie, Nikki, and Willi were cousins. Met each other as children often. Big falling out when Willi wanted as big a navy as Georgie had; Nikki agreed with Georgie.


12 posted on 05/25/2008 7:52:40 AM PDT by kjo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies ]


To: kjo

I read an article that said the Catholic church people wanted Willi out


13 posted on 05/25/2008 8:02:28 AM PDT by South Dakota
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies ]

To: kjo
Georgie, Nikki, and Willi were cousins. Met each other as children often. Big falling out when Willi wanted as big a navy as Georgie had; Nikki agreed with Georgie.

Succinct summary, that...LOL! The real lesson there is for those who would read European history with annotations on the various "royal family histories" there might begin to be a basic understanding of the isolationist movement in the US prior to WW2. Of course, the royal cousin branch that included cousin FDR in the colonies helped the US sneak into the follow-on fray, aka Round 2 of the War to End All Wars, by way of the back door.

14 posted on 05/25/2008 8:15:50 AM PDT by T-Bird45 (It feels like the seventies, and it shouldn't.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies ]

To: kjo

As T-Bird says, good summary.

Mostly Willi was the absolute worst kind of politician or officer: active and stupid.

Bismarck knew that Germany could dominate the Continent with properly planned alliances. He set one up with Austria and Russia. Britain, while not allied, had no real beefs with Germany. France would never be friendly, but was thoroughly isolated.

Bismarck also knew that Germany couldn’t simultaneously dominate Europe and compete with Britain for control of the seas. So he didn’t plan to try. Europe was a big enough chunk.

Willi wanted to dominate Europe AND the world. As you say, his naval program scared the tar out of the Brits, since a competitive navy would have no logical use other than against them. Since the Brits had no real Army, the RN was their only defense. He also managed to alienate the Russkies over inconsequential Balkans stuff, with the result that he got both the Brits and Russians (and eventually Italians) lined up against him.

Way to go, Willi!


15 posted on 05/25/2008 8:37:31 AM PDT by Sherman Logan (Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves. - A. Lincoln)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson