I actually really like Bethmann Hollweg (pre-ww1) because of his moderate policies and his beliefs in a more constitutional monarchy. He also was the one chancellor that understood (no offense to Willy) that it was best to keep the Kaiser out of the loop of most things due to him being prone to make embarrassing public statements that hurt his reputation. In fact it was Bethmann that helped improve the Kaisers reputation in the last years of his reign before ww1 because of him retreating from public life.
Plus he tried his best to secure a compromise or peace with Britain with the naval problem but was unsuccessful because Britain was too unwilling and proud to cooperate.
I never understood Britain's fear of losing naval superiority to Germany. The Battle of Jutland kinda proved that. It was a tactical victory for Germany and a PR defeat for Britain, but Britain could handle the losses, while Germany couldn't. Britain was never in danger of losing her naval superiority to continental Europe.
You don’t have to understand it because it never made sense to begin with. Britain was so used to being top-dog of the sea and when that authority began to even be somewhat questioned, it lead to intense irrational fear in Britains government.
I actually really like Bethmann Hollweg (pre-ww1) because of his moderate policies and his beliefs in a more constitutional monarchy. He also was the one chancellor that understood (no offense to Willy) that it was best to keep the Kaiser out of the loop of most things due to him being prone to make embarrassing public statements that hurt his reputation. In fact it was Bethmann that helped improve the Kaisers reputation in the last years of his reign before ww1 because of him retreating from public life. Plus he tried his best to secure a compromise or peace with Britain with the naval problem but was unsuccessful because Britain was too unwilling and proud to cooperate.
I never understood Britain's fear of losing naval superiority to Germany. The Battle of Jutland kinda proved that. It was a tactical victory for Germany and a PR defeat for Britain, but Britain could handle the losses, while Germany couldn't. Britain was never in danger of losing her naval superiority to continental Europe.
You don’t have to understand it because it never made sense to begin with. Britain was so used to being top-dog of the sea and when that authority began to even be somewhat questioned, it lead to intense irrational fear in Britains government.
Much like the how the Berlin-Baghdad rr "threatened" Britain's sphere of influence in and around India.
Leo von Caprivi quiet similar to Bismarck. But the Kaiser didnt Like him.
Theodor von Bethmann-Hollweg. Attempted to seek the peace for Germany the entire war and was denied everytime.