Editing Wilhelm II (section)

===Shadow-Kaiser===
[[File:Hindenburg, Kaiser, Ludendorff HD-SN-99-02150.JPG|thumb|[[Paul von Hindenburg|Hindenburg]], Wilhelm, and [[Erich Ludendorff|Ludendorff]] in January 1917]]

Wilhelm's role in wartime was one of ever-decreasing power as he increasingly handled awards ceremonies and honorific duties. The high command continued with its strategy even when it was clear that the [[Schlieffen plan]] had failed. By 1916, the Empire had effectively become a military dictatorship under the control of Field Marshal [[Paul von Hindenburg]] and General [[Erich Ludendorff]].{{Sfn | Craig|1978| pp = 374, 377–378, 393}} Increasingly cut off from reality and the political decision-making process, Wilhelm vacillated between defeatism and dreams of victory, depending upon the fortunes of his armies. Nevertheless, Wilhelm still retained the ultimate authority in matters of political appointment, and it was only after his consent had been gained that major changes to the high command could be brought about. Wilhelm was in favour of the dismissal of Colonel General Helmuth von Moltke in September 1914 and his replacement by General [[Erich von Falkenhayn]]. In 1917, Hindenburg and Ludendorff decided that Bethman-Hollweg was no longer acceptable to them as Chancellor and called upon the Kaiser to appoint somebody else. When asked whom they would accept, Ludendorff recommended [[Georg Michaelis]], a nonentity whom he barely knew. Despite this, the Kaiser accepted the suggestion. Upon hearing in July 1917 that his cousin George V had changed the name of the British royal house to [[House of Windsor|Windsor]],<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30186|page=7119|date=17 July 1917}}</ref> Wilhelm remarked that he planned to see [[Shakespeare]]'s play ''[[The Merry Wives of Windsor|"The Merry Wives of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha"]]''.{{sfn|Carter|2010| p=xxiii }} The Kaiser's support base collapsed completely in October–November 1918 in the military, the civilian government, and in German public opinion, as President [[Woodrow Wilson]] made it very clear that the monarchy must be overthrown before an end of the war could take place.{{Sfn | Cecil | 1989 | p = 283}}{{Sfn | Schwabe | 1985 | p = 107}} That year also saw Wilhelm sickened during the worldwide [[Spanish flu]] outbreak, though he survived.{{Sfn|Collier| 1974|p={{page needed|date=May 2021}} }}