Welcome to the second KKT book discussion. Here are some highlights from chapters 7-10.
I Bide My Time:
Key pages: 110, 112, 114, 116-117, and 120.- Dysfunctional and otherwise strained relationship between Willy and his parents continue.
- The Bismarck's: Otto and Herbert
- 1884 trip to Russia and a "turning point for Willy..." Impressed even the most hardened Russian.(110)
- Left Russia before a major wedding. Acted like a child again because his first "love", Ella, was about to marry another.
- Bismarck uses Willy as a pawn.
- Married Auguste Viktoria Friederike Luise Feodora Jenny of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg on Feb 27, 1881. To me, it was a "duty" marriage even though they had several children together there was no real love or passion between the two. Willy rather spend his time with his Prussian officers than his wife. (112)
- Changing personality of Willy: Cold, calculating to an extent, had a strong feeling of self importance, slightly paranoid, whiney, immature, unpredictable, impatient, control freak, liked to play "military man", resentful, and otherwise big giant baby. Like to get a rise out of people; to shock them to see what happens. He also liked to lecture hours on end to his Prussian officers about military history.
- His grandfather, Kaiser Wilhelm I, promoted Willy to command of the Elite Guards of Hussars. Why I have no idea. Wily didn't deserve it. He did nothing to really earn his rank and orders. He loved the idea of being a strong military man, but he didn't have the overall skills in my opinion. (114)
- QUESTION: Why was he so comfortable hanging out with his Prussian military officers?
- The rise and stability of the German Empire under the Kaiser and Bismarck. (120)
Willy, the Kaiser:
Key pages: 131-132
Questions:- Had political intrigue and tensions not surrounded him (Willy) between the Crown Prince and Vicky, do you believe Willy would have been an excellent ruler in Germany or another country like England?
- Had he not been surrounded himself with anti-England officials do you believe Willy may have been more receptive towards England? If so, why?
A Wedding and a Betrothal:- Eddy needed a bride and quick.
- Princess Victoria Mary Augusta Louise Olga Pauline Claudine Agnes of Teck aka Fat Mary. May's grandmother was the granddaugher of George III so there was, already, a nice tie with the British royal family.
- Death of Prince Eddy, The Duke of Clarence and Avondale. Sad, but the family seemed relieved, unfortunately.
- Georgie, Duke of York, now heir to the throne and marries Eddy's finacee, May.(151) Though engaged to his brother, the marriage between May and Georgie was a good on in my opinion. She may have not been as "glamourous" Alexandra, but she was a very interesting woman.
- Given Cliff Notes version and training as the new PoW. (150)
Nicky and Willy:- Poor Nicky. He never had a chance with a father like Sasha. "Weak as water" described by his Uncle Bertie. (173)
- Rise of revolutionary activity. It was inevitable to say the least.
- Willy constantly bugging Nicky, the new Tsar, with advice.(174) He hoped, I believe, to influence him and perhaps manipulate to poor weak and otherwise inept ruler of Russia.
Questions:
1. Why was he so comfortable hanging out with his Prussian military officers? What do you think was his fascination with all things military? Was it an ego boost? Or escapism of sorts?
2. Had political intrigue and tensions not surrounded him (Willy) between the Crown Prince and Vicky, do you believe Willy would have been an excellent ruler in Germany or another country like England?
3. Had he not been surrounded himself with anti-England officials do you believe Willy may have been more receptive towards England? If so, why?
4. By the end of this section of the book, Nicky and Willy are both rulers but Georgie isn't. Do you think this makes the treatment of the three cousins in these chapters unbalanced?
5. The three cousins are now all married. Does the influence of their wives make any difference to them compared with the influence of their mothers?
6. If the circumstances in Russia were different, hence had a better mentor such as Alexander II, do you believe Nicky may have turned out to be a better Tsar and implemented some reforms in Russia?
7. Better yet, if Alexander III didn't react to the assassination of his father by ruling Russia as a despot thus Russia became an intolerable place to live
and because of that the ever increasing
rise of underground revolutionary activities, do you believe Nicky would have been more prepared... more inspired for change? Moreover, how could the Imperial Court remained so incredibly oblivious to the stirrings of revolution? Why was Nicky so blind to the obvious?
8. Autocratic rule. Is that the only way Russia can function? Could anyone have been strong enough to rule Russia?