Editing History of Germany (section)

====Wilhelm II====
[[File:1890 Bismarcks Ruecktritt.jpg|thumb|upright|"[[Dropping the Pilot]]" – British editorial cartoon depicting Bismarck's dismissal by Wilhelm II in 1890]]
Emperor William I died in 1888. His son [[Frederick III, German Emperor|Frederick III]], open for a more liberal political course, reigned only for ninety-nine days, as he was stricken with throat cancer and died three months after his coronation. His son [[Wilhelm II, German Emperor|Wilhelm II]] followed him on the throne at the age of 29. Wilhelm rejected the liberal ideas of his parents and embarked on a conservative autocratic rule. He early on decided to replace the political elite and in March 1890 he forced chancellor Bismarck into retirement.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Neugebauer |first=Wolfgang |title=Die Hohenzollern. Band 2 – Dynastie im säkularen Wandel |date=2003 |publisher=[[Kohlhammer Verlag]] |isbn=978-3-1701-2097-6 |location=Stuttgart |pages=174–175 |language=de}}</ref> Following his principle of "Personal Regiment", Wilhelm was determined to exercise maximum influence on all government affairs.<ref>{{Citation |last=Kroll |first=Franz-Lothar |title=Preussens Herrscher. Von den ersten Hohenzollern bis Wilhelm II. |pages=290 |date=2000 |editor-last=Kroll |editor-first=Franz-Lothar |contribution=Wilhelm II. (1888–1918) |place=Munich |publisher=C. H. Beck |language=de}}</ref><ref>Christopher Clark, ''Kaiser Wilhelm II'' (2000) pp. 35–47</ref><ref>John C. G. ''Wilhelm II: the Kaiser's personal monarchy, 1888–1900'' (2004).</ref>