While Wilhelm was much less powerful than Hitler, he still appointed and dismissed Germany’s chancellors, held the loyalty of most Germans, and commanded Germany’s armed forces. Although not evil, he was emotionally labile and unrealistic, had poor judgment, and was spectacularly tactless on numerous occasions that created unnecessary problems for Germany. Among his many policies that resulted in Germany’s entering World War One under unfavorable circumstances leading to defeat was his non-renewal of Bismarck’s treaty between Germany and Russia, thereby exposing Germany to that already
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