Wilhelm II, the last German Emperor (Kaiser), passed away on June 4, 1941, at the age of 82. Born on January 27, 1859 in Berlin, Germany, he was a grandson of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and served as the head of state of the German Empire for nearly three decades (1888-1918). A proud member of the Hohenzollern dynasty, he was known for his authoritarian and conservative views. During his reign, Wilhelm sought to expand the German Empire militarily and oversaw the industrialization of Prussia, famously proclaiming his dream to see the country, “turn iron into gold.” This period of expansion also included the reorganization of the French colonies in Africa as part of his colonial policy. When World War I broke out in 1914, Wilhelm was determined to remain in power for the duration of the war and became increasingly associated with the crushing defeats suffered by Germany. His abdication in November 1908 ended the royal German monarchy and ushered in the German Empire’s replacement with the Weimar Republic. After his abdication, Wilhelm lived in exile in the Netherlands before later moving to Doorn in 1921, where he lived in relative comfort until his death. Wilhelm was survived by his second wife, Hermine, and his four children, Eitel Friedrich, Adalbert, August Wilhelm, and Oskar. He was laid to rest in a private ceremony.