2 Mark Kingdom of Prussia (1701-1918) Silver

The proclamation An Mein Volk (“To my People”) was issued by Frederick William III of Prussia on 17 March 1813 in Breslau (Wrocław). Addressed to his subjects, Preußen und Deutsche (“Prussians and Germans” — the former term embracing several nationalities), it appealed for their support in the struggle against Napoleon. Hostilities had been declared the day before. The document is the first instance of a Prussian monarch directly addressing the public in order to justify his policies. It was drafted by the Prussian councillor Theodor Gottlieb von Hippel the Younger, and published in the Schlesische privilegirte Zeitung on 20 March 1813. The proclamation, which affirmed the unity of crown, state and nation, led to the massive expansion of the Prussian army, and to the creation of militias, paramilitary organizations, and Freikorps (such as that led by Major Adolf von Lützow).

Wilhelm II (German: Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert von Preußen; English: Prince Frederick William Victor Albert of Prussia) (27 January 1859 – 4 June 1941) was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia (German: Deutscher Kaiser und König von Preußen), ruling both the German Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia from June 15, 1888 to November 9, 1918.

The German Emperor Wilhelm I died in Berlin on 9 March 1888, and Prince Wilhelm’s father was proclaimed Emperor as Frederick III. He was already suffering from an incurable throat cancer and spent all 99 days of his reign fighting the disease before dying. On 15 June of that same year, his 29-year-old son succeeded him as German Emperor and King of Prussia.

Although in his youth he had been a great admirer of Otto von Bismarck, Wilhelm’s characteristic impatience soon brought him into conflict with the “Iron Chancellor”, the dominant figure in the foundation of his empire. The new Emperor opposed Bismarck’s careful foreign policy, preferring vigorous and rapid expansion to protect Germany’s “place in the sun.” Furthermore, the young Emperor had come to the throne with the determination that he was going to rule as well as reign, unlike his grandfather, who had largely been content to leave day-to-day administration to Bismarck.

Early conflicts between Wilhelm II and his chancellor soon poisoned the relationship between the two men. Bismarck believed that William was a lightweight who could be dominated, and he showed scant respect for Wilhelm’s policies in the late 1880s. The final split between monarch and statesman occurred soon after an attempt by Bismarck to implement a far-reaching anti-Socialist law in early 1890.