Figure 1.--

We do not at this time have much information on Wilhelm's nursery. We have created this page because it is a subject of interest which we hope to describe in some detail. Given the number of brothers and sisters, however, it must have been a busy place. We do not know how the nursery was organized and to what extent the parents and grandparents supervised the nursery. We hope to find some information about the nursery. One important note is the grain strain that Wilhelm's parents were under at the time that he was a young boy in the nursery.

Nursery Life

We do not at this time have much information on Wilhelm's nursery. We have created this page because it is a subject of interest which we hope to describe in some detail. Given the number of brothers and sisters, however, it must have been a busy place.

Nursery Organization

We do not know how the nursery was organized and to what extent the parents and grandparents supervised the nursery. We hope to find some information about the nursery. We do know that the royal parents, Friederich and Victoria were not solely in charch. Vicky, for example, wanted to breast feed Wilhelm. Her mother-in-law was opposed to the idea, considering it an "odious habit", she even wrote to Vicky's mother Queen Victoria about it. Augusta knew that Queen Victoria agreed with her. As a result, a wet-nurse was found for Wilhelm. [Van der Kriste, pp. 8-9.]

Routien

We do not yet have information on the nursery routien. Available information suggests, however, that the children were not as nearly cinfined to the nursery as many privildged children at the time. They appear to have spent considerable time with their parents, even at an eraly age.

Parents

Friedrich and Victoria's attitude toward parenthood meant that nursery life was a very different experience than had been the case for Friederich or in fact was common for many children born into affluent families.

Victoria and Motherhood

It can easily be said that Vicky was the most important mother in the 19th century. How her first soon Wilhelm developed and the country he guided until 1918 in large measure determined the course of world history in the 20th century. We are still collecting information on Vicky's role as a mother. She has been described as an indifferent mother. HBRC is not at all sure that this is the case. She clearly doted on babies and unchrasterictically for royal mothers wanted to breast feed her first son. She loved having him with her as a boy. Victoria was, however, clearly became estraigned from her eldest son. We are not sure just whose fault this was. It seems likely that Wilhelm's relatives and court officials may have poisoned his relatiinship with his mother.

Friederich and Fatherhood

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.

Difficult Times

One important note is the grain strain that Wilhelm's parents were under at the time that he was a young boy in the nursery. Of course, little Wilhelm and his brothers and sisters had no idea of what was going on outside the nursery, but the period following Wilhelm's birth was a very difficult time. Vicky had almost died from Wilhelm's breech birth. It took her some time to recover. Then Prince Albert, Vicky' revered father died in 1861 when Wilhelm was not yet 2 years old. Vicky was shatered. Friederich and Victoria were still quite young and one of their principal supports in standing up to their conservative father and court were removed. At this time a crisis emerged in the goverment over the King's efforts to reform the Prussian Army. As a result of the 1848 disorders, the Prussian parliament, the Lantag, had achieved considerable power and refused to authorize the funds needed. The King considered abdication. The result was that Otto von Bismarck was asked by the King to form a goverment and usher the reforms through the Landtag. Friederich and Victoria were horified at the appointment. When they came to England in 1863 for the Prince of Wales' mairrage, they considered asking Queen Victoria's permission to live half the year in England, but reconsidered when they realized that it would look like they were running away. After they returned to Berlin, the Prince Friedrich delivered a speech in Danzig later in 1863 in which he disassociate himself from a measure promoted by his father and Bismark which limited press freedom. King Wilhelm was outraged and wanted to have his son imprisoned. Bismark urged more caution, not wanting to create a martyr. Bismark did not, however, forgive or forget the "Danzig Incident" and never again fully trusted Prince Friedrich. [Van der Kriste, pp. 10-11]

Age

Wilhelm left the nursery at age 7 years. It is likely that the other boys also left the nursery atvthis age, but we do not yet have details. I'm not sure about the girls. Wihelm moved into a school room where his formal education began. The governors were in effect tutors and always military officers.

Sources

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 Wilhelm II: Germany's Last Emperor (Bodmin: Sutton Publishing, 1999), 244p.

Created: June 30, 1998
Last updated: July 1, 2001