“only gradually through events themselves”
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Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg
Theobald Theodor Friedrich Alfred von Bethmann Hollweg was a German politician who was imperial chancellor of the German Empire from 1909 to 1917. He oversaw the German entry into World War I and played a key role during its first three years. He was replaced as chancellor in July 1917 due in large part to opposition to his policies by leaders in the military.
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politics · Chancellor of the German Empire from 1909 to 1917 · politician · jurist · head of government · local government officer · minister · also Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg, Theobald Theodor Friedrich Alfred von Bethmann Hollweg, Hollweg
Born 29 November 1856 · Died 1 January 1921 · Q77113
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2026· 3 entries
“the madness of the self-destruction of Europe”
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“s strategic route through Belgium (a key part of the Schlieffen Plan for the German attack on France) ultimately undermined all of Bethmann Hollweg”
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1921· 7 entries
“What I am able to say concerning the direction and aim of our terms, I have already said repeatedly. To put an end to the war with a durable peace that will compensate us for all the wrongs we have suffered and will safeguard the existence and future of a strong Germany—that is our aim.”
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“The Italian Government has now written her perfidy indelibly with letters of blood on the pages of history.”
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“Germany and England have undertaken all steps to avoid a European war. ... [W]e have lost control and the landslide has begun, As a political leader I am not abandoning my hope and my attempts to keep the peace as long as my démarche in Vienna has not been rejected.”
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“We can assure the English cabinet—presupposing its neutrality—that even in case of a victorious war, we will seek no territorial aggrandizement in Europe at the cost of France.”
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Bethmann Hollweg stressed Germany's difficult geographical position, admitted that the government and the Emperor had made mistakes leading up to the war and that Germany bore some of the guilt for it but that only a "co
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“We will create real guarantees to ensure that Belgium shall not become a Franco-British vassal and shall not be used as a military and economic high road against Germany. Germany cannot abandon the so long enslaved Flemish people to Latinisation. We will, on the contrary, ensure for it a sound development corresponding to its resources and based on the Flemish language and character.”
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Died 1921-01-01.
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1919· 2 entries
Stressed that he had never revoked the confession of wrongdoing
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That he had not wanted to give way to the "Pan-Germans' rule by the saber"
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1918· 1 entry
That demanding the restoration of Belgium would probably have been the best thing to do
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1914· 1 entry
“The barriers must fall, a new era will begin after the war. The differences of class have receded as never before.”
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1913· 1 entry
“s uniform must be respected under all circumstances, he gave the impression that he was fully behind Minister of War Erich von Falkenhayn. The parties that had hitherto supported Bethmann Hollweg because of his progressive policies – the Centre, the Progressive People”
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1912· 2 entries
“trusting and friendly relations”
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The Reich Chancellor took advantage of a meeting between the Emperor and the Tsar in Baltischport (now Paldiski, Estonia) for a friendly discussion
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1910· 3 entries
Submitted a bill to reform Prussia's three-class electoral law, but it was rejected by the Prussian state parliament (Landtag)
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“great task of the political education of the people, eliminating the rule of slogans and superficial evaluations”
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Tsar Nicholas II had been in Potsdam, which Bethmann Hollweg described in a letter as a "stepping stone to an understanding with England"
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1909· 3 entries
In part because he approved of his conciliatory political style
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Career landmark: Imperial chancellor (1909–1917).
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Career landmark: Chancellor of Germany (1909–1917).
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1896· 1 entry
After ten years as a district administrator, he received two rapid promotions and then in 1899, at the age of 43, became the youngest provincial governor (Oberpräsident) in Prussia as the head the province of Brandenburg
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1856· 1 entry
Born 1856-11-29.
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