Description
PRUSSIA – THANK YOU CARD – KAISERIN HERMINE- CONCERNING KAISER WILHELM II’S DEATH – SIGNED
Kaiser Wilhelm was born in 1859, then died on 4 June 1941. He and the other German royals abdicated in November 1918. Shortly afterwards (still in 1918), Wilhelm II left Germany for the final time. He lived the balance of his life exiled at Haus Doorn, in the Netherlands. His beloved wife, Auguste Viktoria, passed away in 1921. She was returned for burial in Berlin. The year after her death, Wilhelm married the recently-widowed Hermine, former Princess of Reuss (1887-1947). Some of the former Kaiser’s children were unhappy with the marriage because she was the nearly the same age as she was. By all accounts, however, they were a happy couple. She survived Wilhelm by only six years.
The Kaiser was buried on Haus Doorn’s grounds in a special mausoleum. [Many of the Kaiser’s pet Daschunds also are buried on the lawn, between his mausoleum and the house]. Many high-ranking officials from the former Reich came to pay their respects. One of the best-known was Generalfeldmarschall August von Mackensen. He laid his overcoat over his Kaiser’s casket. [Mackensen had been Wilhelm II’s favorite. The Kaiser had done much to advance von Mackensen’s career over more senior men].
After Wilhelm II’s death Hermine sent note cards in response to the condolences she had received from certain people. These cards measured 3 3/8″ x 5 1/8.” They were bordered in black, very simply composed, and personally signed by Hermine. This particular card is dated June 1941, and was sent from Doorn. Hermine returned to Germany after Wilhelm died to live out the balance of her life.
