The Innocence of Kaiser Wilhelm II

And the First World War

By: Christina Croft

Narrated by: Jack Wynters

Almost a century after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, Kaiser Wilhelm II is still viewed as either a warmonger or a madman, as the hundred-year-old propaganda posters remain fixed in the general consciousness. Was he, though, truly responsible for the catastrophe of the First World War, or was he in fact a convenient scapegoat, blamed for a conflict which he desperately tried to avoid?

©2015 Christina Croft (P)2017 Christina Croft

Really make you re-think what your were told

The audio performance was great, I like the change of accents by the narrator. Overall the book it's self was very interesting. I kind thought it was going to be a overly slanted affair in reverse, all in the Kaiser's favor. However, She is not afraid to call him out when he was wrong. However, since so much of history seems based more on propaganda from the time, and the winners writing history, the author is faced with an up hill battle. This forces the bulk of the book making the case in the Kaiser favor which it does well, supported and countered with well thought out examples. Sure some of the examples are likely spin or or propaganda from the time that was in the favor of the Kaiser, but on the whole, there are a lot of facts that seem to be on his sides and Christina Croft does a great job making the case.

The book makes me want to learn more. I am not going to say this 100 percent convinced me, and not blaming Croft but after 100 years it is interesting to get a different perspective. I am not ready to say the Kaiser and Germany were innocent or did not make some mistakes, but at the same time did Britain really want to go to war out of their love for Belgium, or France who had to go war because of a treaty with Russia, who was going to war over a dispute over Serbia with the Austrians, so was France really willing to risk it's nation over that? Wilson who was going to make "the World Safe for Democracy" but in the end abandon his deal with Germany and allowed the victors to take their spoils and continue their reign over their colonial subjects. There has to be more to it, and maybe this does explain some.

Therapy for historians sick of being lied to!

Narrator is English, and that normally puts me sleep as an American reader but he does an excellent job with accents and different voices to keep it engaging… The content is wonderful, it’s so refreshing to see all the lies of 20th century history being unveiled. If your interested in the Kaiser, or even just an accurate account of the broad strokes of WW1 this is an excellent read.

Great Book

Lots of insights and learning that were new for me even though I’m a history buff. Worth listening to.

Very readable, just not believable

What did you love best about The Innocence of Kaiser Wilhelm II?

The details that are overlooked in standard histories of World War I. It's that much more fun that a few of them are Internet myths or were even made up by the author. Don't miss the part about the French poison gas with the English name Turpinite.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Woodrow Wilson, who doublecrossed the Kaiser. He is the bad guy in this story.

What does Jack Wynters bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The sneering way he reads the snotty comments from the author and various historical figures. I was almost ready to vote against President Wilson in the next election.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The Kaiser, in retirement, blaming World War I on the freemasons.

Any additional comments?

I look forward to trips to the grocery store because I can read the headline in the Inquirer while I'm waiting for checkout. I think that's why I liked this book so much. Meet Kaiser Bill, the nicest autocrat in Europe, beloved by all except for Germany's neighbors. Like many other leaders, he talks incessantly of his desire for peace, but he really means it. He made only two mistakes, however: he allied himself with some Austrian thugs who murdered the heir to their own throne, blamed it on a terrorist organization that had been dormant for a decade, and dragged Bill into a world war against all his best efforts. His second mistake was to preside over a government that never gave straight answers to his questions and ignored his decrees. It's not easy being the All Highest.

Good book

While this was a good book with a good narrator. Some facts (one in particular) were simply not true. For example, the easter rising in Dublin in 1916 was not carried out to support the concept of home rule, but complete independence for the island of Ireland from the tyranny if the UK. Also the subsequent executions of the leaders DID NOT galvanise support in Ireland for the allies war effort. In fact it resulted in a war of independence which resulted in the partition of the island. Other than this poor use of historical facts, the book was a good listen.

History is not as it seems

History is written by the victor is a statement as old as Time. In the crusade against the fatherland his Imperial Majesty was labeled a tyrant to hide the actions of a malevolent force from international finance and global liberalism. May you rest in peace even though the world spits on your grave

Eye-Opener

This story is really an eye-opener. Casts Wilhelm II in a whole new light. Informative

the real history behind ww1

This book is the best I've read on the real causes and players behind ww1. And by listing to this book you will find out how this horrible war really started.

Lies Unearthed

After finishing this book, I have been filled with anger, about the lies that have told about the Kaiser. The Kaiser was an innocent, loving, caring, and peaceful man. Who has been falsely made into a war mongrel by Britain, France, and the United States. This book reveals that the Kaiser and Germany was not behind World War I. It also show the true motives of Czar Nicholas, who like the Kaiser, didn't want war. It also shows the true colors of England, France, and, the wanna be dictator, Woodrow Wilson. Which if you don't know anything about Wilson. He was a horrible, socialist, war mongrel, and racist President. I recommend this book, for those who love the truth.

A wild swing into conspiracy theories

This book starts out as an interesting, alternative take on the causes of World War 1 but gets progressively less believable until the final chapter blames the Freemasons and the Rothschilds for starting the war. There is certainly a case to be made that the Kaiser was unfairly given all the blame for the war but this is not that, this is conspiracy theorism and wild distortion. A terrible waste of my time and money.