German Royalty: Friederich III--Fatherhood


Figure 1.--

Friedrich appears to have been a very engaged father. He spent much more time with his children than his father had spent with him. He was delighted with Wilhelm. Friederich delighted in carrying the baby around the palace showing him off to everyone. The Prince wrote an aunt, "... in his clear blue eyes we can already see signs of sparking intelligence." Surely Victoria incouraged her husband to spend time with the children as she did. Also important was that because of the Danzig incident, the King and Bismarck did their best to keep him away from official duties. Friedrich was interested in ancient and medieval history and archeology and loved to tell stories to the children and show them pictures in books. Wilhelm was apparently fascinated. Friedrich expressed his hopes of restoring the German Empire that had existed in medieval Europe. He loved to take the children on outings and to visit relatives. Outings included visits to museums and art galleries. They went on long walks in the country together. He taught them how to swim in the Havel River. Even Prince Wilhelm became a good swimmer despite his handicapped arm. The river became a favored place and Friedrich and the children would swim and boat there. Wilhelm along with the other children learned to row and sail. Wilhelm idealised his father. Some historians, however, question whether Friederich developed a close personal relationship with his son.

Delighted with Wilhelm

Friederich delighted in carrying the baby around the palace showing him off to everyone. The Prince wrote an aunt, "... in his clear blue eyes we can already see signs of sparking intelligence."

Engaged Father

Friedrich appears to have been a very engaged father. He spent much more time with his children than his father had spent with him. He was delighted with Wilhelm.

Victoria

Surely Victoria incouraged her husband to spend time with the children as she did.

Activities

Also important was that because of the Danzig incident, the King and Bismarck did their best to keep him away from official duties. He loved to take the children on outings and to visit relatives. Outings included visits to museums and art galleries. They went on long walks in the country together. He taught them how to swim in the Havel River. Even Prince Wilhelm became a good swimmer despite his handicapped arm. The river became a favored place and Friedrich and the children would swim and boat there. Wilhelm along with the other children learned to row and sail. [Van der Kriste, 1999, p. 13]

History

Friedrich was interested in ancient and medieval history and archeology and loved to tell stories to the children and show them pictures in books. Historians describe Friederich helping Wilhelm turn the pages of heavy historical and archeolgical tomes and explaining the pictures to him at an early age. Wilhelm was apparently fascinated and did develop an interest in history. Friedrich expressed his hopes of restoring the German Empire that had existed in medieval Europe.

Upbrining

Some historians report that Friedrich reportedly left the upbringing of his children in the hands of Victoria. [Kohut, 1982, p. 68]

Personal Relationship

Wilhelm idealised his father. Most of Wilhelm's memories of his father were positive. They seem to have speant considerable time together. Some historians, however, assert that Friedrich and his son never developed a close personal relationship. Despite this, Wilhelm glorified his father. Friedrich's presence in his son's life, however, was not strong enough to play a real paternal role towards Wilhelm. As a teenager, Wilhelm came to regret this. Seeing that his mother in may ways dominated his father, especially in questions concerning the children, Wilhelm began to blame his mother for the lack of a close relationship with his father. [Kohut, 1982, p. 68] I am not sure about how close Friederich was to his other children.

Wilhelm's View

Wilhelm as an adult strongly preferred male companionship. This may have reflected the outgrowth of his longing for a strong idealised father and experiences in his family life. He saw his father as dominated by his mother. Surely Victoria was an impressive, intelligent woman. Her studies were directed and overseen by Prince Albert. Friederich had no such advantage. In fact, Albert explained Friedrich's more limited education to the fact that he had to play soldier as a boy. Wilhelm saw his mother's influence as the reason for his father's absence in his life. This seems a rather unfair assessment, pergaps incouraged by many in his family who did not like Victoria and his personal need to constantly prove his masulinity.

Sources

Kohut, Thomas A. "Kaiser Wilhelm II and his parents," in John C. G. Röhl and Nicolaus Sombart (eds). Kaiser Wilhelm II. New Interpretations. The Corfu Papers (Cambridge, 1982).

Morier, Sir Robert. Memoirs and Letters, (Edward Arnold, 1911), 2 volumes.

Röhl, John C.G. Young Wilhelm : the Kaiser's early life, 1859-1888, translated by Jeremy Gaines and Rebecca Wallach.

Van der Kriste, John. Kaiser Wihelm II: Germany's Last Kaiser (Bodmin: Sutton Publishing, 1999), 244p.






Christopher Wagner








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Created: July 1, 2001
Last updated: July 1, 2001