Glen
Moderator
In 1901, three heads of state would die, one of advanced old age, the other two by an assassin's bullet.
On January 22, 1901, Queen Victoria died. At her bedside for much of the end of her life was her devouted grandson, Kaiser Wilhelm II of the German Empire. Many British citizens were touched by this display of filial affection from the Emperor of Germany.
And thus were doubly grieved, when less than two months later, on March 6, 1901, an assassin killed Kaiser Wilhelm II in Bremen. The young Kaiser Wilhelm III would appoint a new Chancellor to usher his new reign, Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg.
Another assassin would strike at American president William McKinley, mortally wounding him on September 6, 1901, though he would not succumb until eight days later. Theodore Roosevelt would be sworn in as the President of the USA on September 14, 1901.
It was also in September, September 20, 1901, that the governments of Great Britain and Germany committed to an Anglo-German Alliance. The proposal, one long proposed by Joseph Chamberlain, capitalized on the good will created by the shared tragedies of the year, to make it a reality. While the new King Edward was reticent, having previousl favored France over the bellicose Wilhelm II, the more reasonable Kaiser Wilhelm III is much more reassuring to the sovereign, who is persuaded to acquiesce to the arrangement.
On January 22, 1901, Queen Victoria died. At her bedside for much of the end of her life was her devouted grandson, Kaiser Wilhelm II of the German Empire. Many British citizens were touched by this display of filial affection from the Emperor of Germany.
And thus were doubly grieved, when less than two months later, on March 6, 1901, an assassin killed Kaiser Wilhelm II in Bremen. The young Kaiser Wilhelm III would appoint a new Chancellor to usher his new reign, Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg.
Another assassin would strike at American president William McKinley, mortally wounding him on September 6, 1901, though he would not succumb until eight days later. Theodore Roosevelt would be sworn in as the President of the USA on September 14, 1901.
It was also in September, September 20, 1901, that the governments of Great Britain and Germany committed to an Anglo-German Alliance. The proposal, one long proposed by Joseph Chamberlain, capitalized on the good will created by the shared tragedies of the year, to make it a reality. While the new King Edward was reticent, having previousl favored France over the bellicose Wilhelm II, the more reasonable Kaiser Wilhelm III is much more reassuring to the sovereign, who is persuaded to acquiesce to the arrangement.