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A Contrast of Ideologies
An Emperor's Lingering Shadow
But Wilhelm I had a long life. Born in 1797, he lived until 1888, nearly 91 years old. Frederick had to wait a long time for his chance to rule. He was eager and excited for the opportunity. Tragically, just three days before his father died, Frederick was diagnosed with throat cancer. His health quickly deteriorated.
By the time his father was buried, Frederick was too weak to join the procession and could only watch from the palace window, weeping. This illness was a devastating blow to Frederick’s dreams, as he had spent years preparing to implement significant reforms he believed would benefit Germany.
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An Heir's Sorrow
A Short Reign and Its What-Ifs
"I had so hoped to have been of use to my country. Why is Heaven so cruel to me? What have I done to be thus stricken and condemned?" Frederick III wrote in his diary. He died in June 1888, just 99 days into his reign, at the age of 56. Many speculate that if Wilhelm II hadn’t taken the throne, Frederick’s policies might have steered Germany away from Prussian militarism, possibly preventing World War I and, subsequently, World War II.
Frederick's short reign has earned him the nickname "The Ninety-Nine Day Emperor," and historians continue to debate the impact his liberal policies could have had. His premature death leaves us wondering what Germany and the world might have looked like under his leadership.
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