‘Nothing Is Too Colossal, Nothing Too Expensive’: William II and Berlin

Abstract

The German Emperor William II wanted to be a modern monarch and desired a capital to match, but he was never able to realise that dream. Although he did manage to provide the godless city with over thirty churches (one of them to his own designs), he failed to have it rebuilt in the chunky romanesque style he favoured. He was even less able to reshape Berlin than several of his ancestors. This was a reflection of the fact that he did not possess as much power as is generally credited to him.