Wilhelm II, former Kaiser of Germany (1918-1941)
On November 10th 1918 the German Kaiser Wilhelm II arrived at the Dutch border. On the 11th he signed the instrument of his abdication. This was the start of his long exile in the Netherlands that would last until his death on June 4th 1941. Most of his stay he spent at the castle-like residence he had purchased known as Huis Doorn. The archive of the Kaiser held by Het Utrechts Archief mostly covers the period of his residence in the Netherlands from 1918 to 1941. (toegang 14)
Tips
- The archive contains in the first place much correspondence with members of the imperial family, other royal and noble families, political, cultural and religious figures in Germany and elsewhere, military and paramilitary organizations, civil organizations and others. Furthermore you will find guest books, registers, menu books for Huis Doorn. The correspondence and guestbooks are ordered chronological. Therefore it costs some time to find the correspondent or guest you are looking for. Het Utrechts Archief can conduct this research for you.
- There are also documents relating to the Kaiser's many activities; to his properties and revenues; and to the running of his household.
- The archive contains also his personal collection of maps of military operations in the First World War and other conflicts, many with annotations.
- There are few documents dating from before 1918.
- There are no photographs. Please contact in this case the museum Huis Doorn.
- The entire collection is digitised and accessible online: you can see or dowlnload images for a reasonable price
- In Het Utrechts Archief you can consult this archive only on scans / microfiche in our reading room, location Alexander Numankade.
- MMF Publications has put the complete archive on microfiche.
- In the following libraries and archives you can also consult this archive on microfiche:
- Geheimes Staatsarchiv in Berlijn
- Deutsche Bibliothek in Leipzig
- Bayerische Staatsbibliothek in München
- Harvard University in Cambrigde USA
- University of California in Berkeley
- Library of Congress in Washington
- Find here the complete inventory of this archive (in German).