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I was wondering, from 1871 to 1888, the German Kaisers were essentially monarchic presidents of a federation and substantially symbol of national unity and notaries of the political activities, but with Wilhelm II the Imperial institute became something of...different. I wouldn't arrive to say that Wilhelm was in all accounts an authoritarian monarch, but he surely appear to act like that.

Here I want to inquire, why after 1888 happened exactly this shift of power? Considering the German constitution remained unchanged until the abdication. It was because Wilhelm was more valid than the successors of Bismarck and the German political class of the time, or simply more ambitious and authoritarian than his father and grandfather? 17 years were sufficient to the Germans to see Wilhelm more than a mere Emperor of the Germans and he took legitimation from this? There were loopholes in the German system which allowed him to prevail, and if yes, why Bismarck didn't notice this potential risk of weak chancellorates in front of a strong Imperial authority? For last, the other rulers of Germany never felt to being undermined by the shadow of Wilhelm? Or they were resigned over the Hohenzollern supremacy? Also, he was helped by the rise of Socialists and similar so the conservative block willingly supported him? And so more.

Is just I wish to understand better where and how Wilhelm managed, well, to rig the Reich under his whims until the fall?
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