Huis Doorn – The last residence of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany

In 1918 the First World War ended with the signing of the armistice in Compiègne, but Wilhelm II, the last emperor of Germany, also resigned and applied for asylum in the neutral Netherlands. First in Amerongen and then quietly as a ‘normal citizen’ in the Huis Doorn estate. Although at his death there was a desire not to have a Nazi funeral, Hitler made it a registered event with a guard of honor, military band and representatives of the Nazi party.

Leutlant von Braunschweig at the main gate. The gatehouse was built by the Kaiser before moving into Huis Doorn in 1920

The ex-Kaiser Wilhelm II died in Huis Doorn on 4 June 1941. Because of the resistance that was still experienced in parts of Germany around the Emperor, Hilter decided that the funeral should be a modest ceremony with a considerable military delegation.
Since the mausoleum, then planned to the north of the main house, still had to be built, the body of the emperor would be temporarily laid to rest in the small chapel near the entrance to the estate.

Chapel Huis Doorn - temporarily resting place Kaiser Wilhelm II

Monday, April 9, 1941: On the picture on the right Count von Moltke (left) and Count von der Goltz (right) present the Field Marshal’s Staff and the Emperor’s decorations while Father Doehring leads in prayer from the chapel.

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