Der Kaiser
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Pierre Grande Guerre
New member
This photo is of 1924 and of course without naval uniform, which was not allowed to wear in his exile in the Netherlands. See also his exile photos on my web-page about the Kaiser and Huis Doorn: http://pierreswesternfront.punt.nl/index.php?r=1&id=410295&tbl_archief=0#410295" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ;.
Wyliecoyote
New member
I totally enjoyed that article! What was your Grandpa's opinion of Wilhelm as an employer & as a person?
Terribly interesting topic!
Terribly interesting topic!
Pierre Grande Guerre
New member
George, Thank you for your comment here and on my website! It has been a long time ago, my friend, since my grandfather told me his story and at the time I was then about 12 years old.
During the war years my grandfather has been mobilised for the Dutch army. After the war, from about 1922-1923 he was a simple forester worker on the estate, who was only allowed to watch from a distance the Kaiser doing his thing in his park. Often he participated in cutting the trees down. Sometimes he “was allowed to assist” the Kaiser, when he was chopping the trunks into slices. For well regarded guests the Kaiser used to sign his autograph on such a wooden slice and give it to them as a souvenir. My grandpa was never allowed to speak to him at all, unless asked for, which did not occur.
Many Dutch had in those times still strong sympathies for the Germans and their Kaiser. My grandpa, during that period being a socialist an, as I said, George, a former mobilized soldier sympathised more with the Allies. His view was, as I stated on my website: “It looked like the Kaiser wanted to recreate another devastated battlefield around Huis Doorn!" He was not content that he had to cut so many trees for the Kaiser, or that he had to work for him, but he had no choice, as jobs in those times were very scarce to become. No matter what: He was glad that he did have a job in those fresh after war times. Anyway he referred sometimes to the devastation at the Somme and he simultaneously expressed his feelings, that he was afraid that the Huis Doorn estate would finally look the same. After all the park did not suffer like that and it has luckily not been devastated like that. The estate and the manor are still in a splendid state, a time machine, where you can even, so to speak, still smell the presence of the Kaiser.
During the war years my grandfather has been mobilised for the Dutch army. After the war, from about 1922-1923 he was a simple forester worker on the estate, who was only allowed to watch from a distance the Kaiser doing his thing in his park. Often he participated in cutting the trees down. Sometimes he “was allowed to assist” the Kaiser, when he was chopping the trunks into slices. For well regarded guests the Kaiser used to sign his autograph on such a wooden slice and give it to them as a souvenir. My grandpa was never allowed to speak to him at all, unless asked for, which did not occur.
Many Dutch had in those times still strong sympathies for the Germans and their Kaiser. My grandpa, during that period being a socialist an, as I said, George, a former mobilized soldier sympathised more with the Allies. His view was, as I stated on my website: “It looked like the Kaiser wanted to recreate another devastated battlefield around Huis Doorn!" He was not content that he had to cut so many trees for the Kaiser, or that he had to work for him, but he had no choice, as jobs in those times were very scarce to become. No matter what: He was glad that he did have a job in those fresh after war times. Anyway he referred sometimes to the devastation at the Somme and he simultaneously expressed his feelings, that he was afraid that the Huis Doorn estate would finally look the same. After all the park did not suffer like that and it has luckily not been devastated like that. The estate and the manor are still in a splendid state, a time machine, where you can even, so to speak, still smell the presence of the Kaiser.
RON
Well-known member
Cool story Pierre!
When you say your grandpa 'wasn't allowed to speak to him', who actually imposed this and why? Was it based on rank/class considerations—commoners not being allowed 'the honor of addressing his sublime magnificence'—or simply because the Kaiser was basically under home arrest same as Napoleon and wasn't allowed to talk to many people?
When you say your grandpa 'wasn't allowed to speak to him', who actually imposed this and why? Was it based on rank/class considerations—commoners not being allowed 'the honor of addressing his sublime magnificence'—or simply because the Kaiser was basically under home arrest same as Napoleon and wasn't allowed to talk to many people?
Pierre Grande Guerre
New member
Xcuse me for my late reply, Ron. It was simply a matter of "... rank/class considerations—commoners not being allowed 'the honor of addressing his sublime magnificence'", as you wrote.
The Kaiser himself was allowed to receive any guests, he preferred. On the estate only he could move as freely as he liked.
His son, Little Willie, was deported to the Dutch island of Wieringen. If you like to know some facts about his stay, read the frame about Wieringen in my photo page about the L'Abri de Kronprinz in the Argonne, France: http://pierreswesternfront.punt.nl/?id=415495&r=1&tbl_archief=&" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; .
You will read that Little Willie decided on his own to finish his exile in Holland and that after some years he secretly left the island and the country to his Heimat.
The Kaiser himself was allowed to receive any guests, he preferred. On the estate only he could move as freely as he liked.
His son, Little Willie, was deported to the Dutch island of Wieringen. If you like to know some facts about his stay, read the frame about Wieringen in my photo page about the L'Abri de Kronprinz in the Argonne, France: http://pierreswesternfront.punt.nl/?id=415495&r=1&tbl_archief=&" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; .
You will read that Little Willie decided on his own to finish his exile in Holland and that after some years he secretly left the island and the country to his Heimat.
chrispaulodale
Active member
Congratulations Pierre on another great article. I didn't know about the Crown Prince's exile before...
Cheers
Chris
Cheers
Chris
Pierre Grande Guerre
New member
Well, Thanks, Chris! 
Wyliecoyote
New member
Nor did I, and I enjoyed the article too!
:bravo:
:bravo:
Pierre Grande Guerre
New member
George and Ron, you are welcome and thank you too! I expected to be this old page already "known", but now I am glad that I put my doubts aside, and that I referred to the page about Little Willie also.
Pierre Grande Guerre
New member
I can not imagine that, Glenn, can you show some of these pictures here, please? Perhaps the photos would clarify this.
Pierre Grande Guerre
New member
P.S. Glenn, can you imagine the political problems the neutral Dutch government had already with the Allies about giving exile to the Kaiser? If the Dutch governement had allowed the Kaiser to wear his uniforms in Holland and to be photographed in uniform, it would have been considered as a political statement. This political statement would have aroused again the Allied suspicions to the Dutch government, and could have lead to all kinds of sanctions, economical and possibly even a temporarily occupation of the country!
Four years long the Dutch had struggled with much effort to stay neutral, which is not that simple as it sounds! On the contrary, with neighbours like England, an occupied Belgium and Germany, it is very difficult not to get involved in the conflict. So, the Dutch had no other choice than to forbid him to wear his uniforms.
Four years long the Dutch had struggled with much effort to stay neutral, which is not that simple as it sounds! On the contrary, with neighbours like England, an occupied Belgium and Germany, it is very difficult not to get involved in the conflict. So, the Dutch had no other choice than to forbid him to wear his uniforms.
Pierre Grande Guerre
New member
Glenn, On this page of the Huis Doorn website you will find only this 1921 postcard of the Kaiser in uniform: http://fotocollectie.huisdoorn.nl/HuDF-1133" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; . It is unclear to me, if this postcard has ever been published, but I doubt it.
BUT in all other photos of the Huis Doorn period you will see the Kaiser dressed as a civilian. These photos are to be found here, also via the Huis Doorn website: http://fotocollectie.huisdoorn.nl/lijst?locatie=Huis+Doorn%2c+Doorn%2c+Nederland&p=1#albuminhoud" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; .
Please show me your pictures, Glenn, because this topic interests me greatly and I prefer just to learn from "new" facts.
BUT in all other photos of the Huis Doorn period you will see the Kaiser dressed as a civilian. These photos are to be found here, also via the Huis Doorn website: http://fotocollectie.huisdoorn.nl/lijst?locatie=Huis+Doorn%2c+Doorn%2c+Nederland&p=1#albuminhoud" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; .
Please show me your pictures, Glenn, because this topic interests me greatly and I prefer just to learn from "new" facts.
Pierre Grande Guerre
New member
Thanks, Ron, these photos amaze me! :bravo: Glenn's remarks and your photos, Ron, prove me to be wrong. The Dutch governmment was sleeping or too lenient. I wonder where these pictures have been published , only in Germany or also outside Germany, or were these photos used simply as private luxury posh greeting cards to acquaintances? You both offered me food to dig deeper, than I already did! One is never too old to learn. Thanks a lot.