European RoyaltyEuropean Royaltyduringduring

World War IIWorld War II

Last Chance for Restoration?Last Chance for Restoration?

The war was presented as a crusade for the defeat The war was presented as a crusade for the defeat of tyranny and aggression, and not a new wave of of tyranny and aggression, and not a new wave of conquest and empire-building. The declaration of conquest and empire-building. The declaration of the so-called United Nations in January 1942… the so-called United Nations in January 1942… was a public expression of world opinion against was a public expression of world opinion against the Axis New Orders, a reassertion of public the Axis New Orders, a reassertion of public morality in dealings at home and abroad…. What morality in dealings at home and abroad…. What mattered at the time was not so much the moral mattered at the time was not so much the moral credentials of the signatories, but the sense credentials of the signatories, but the sense conveyed in the document that those who signed it conveyed in the document that those who signed it walked on the side of the angels against “savage walked on the side of the angels against “savage and brutal forces seeking to subjugate the and brutal forces seeking to subjugate the world….” world….”

–Richard Overy–Richard Overy

Any healthy elements that can Any healthy elements that can deliver some goods should be deliver some goods should be rallied in this crisis.rallied in this crisis.

– – Winston Winston ChurchillChurchill

A Hohenzollern prince who had the A Hohenzollern prince who had the enormous courage to put himself at the enormous courage to put himself at the head of the German Resistance movement head of the German Resistance movement that had become unendurable at home and that had become unendurable at home and had failed in the field of foreign policy, and had failed in the field of foreign policy, and so risked his life, would have assuredly at so risked his life, would have assuredly at one stroke changed the historical position of one stroke changed the historical position of the monarchy. The painful memories of the monarchy. The painful memories of 1918 would have been wiped out. 1918 would have been wiped out.

– Gerhard Ritter– Gerhard Ritter

Royal Injustice?Royal Injustice?

Royalty’s Anti-Nazi Record during the Royalty’s Anti-Nazi Record during the

WarWar ““Allied” RoyaltyAllied” Royalty ““Axis” RoyaltyAxis” Royalty Neutral RoyaltyNeutral Royalty Royal ResistanceRoyal Resistance

Royalty’s Fate after the WarRoyalty’s Fate after the War Reasons for Royalty’s Post-War DeclineReasons for Royalty’s Post-War Decline

Allied RoyaltyAllied Royalty

King George VIKing George VIof Great Britainof Great Britainand Irelandand Ireland

Allied Royalty-in-ExileAllied Royalty-in-Exile King Zog I of Albania (April 8, 1939)King Zog I of Albania (April 8, 1939) Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxemburg (May Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxemburg (May

10, 1940)10, 1940)

Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands (May Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands (May

13, 1940)13, 1940) King Haakon VII of Norway (June 7, 1940)King Haakon VII of Norway (June 7, 1940) King Peter II of Yugoslavia (April 14-15, King Peter II of Yugoslavia (April 14-15,

1941)1941) King George II of the Hellenes (April 23, King George II of the Hellenes (April 23,

1941)1941)

Queen Wilhelmina of the Queen Wilhelmina of the NetherlandsNetherlands

British destroyer at British destroyer at the Hook of Hollandthe Hook of Holland

Exile, May 13, 1940-Exile, May 13, 1940-March 13, 1945March 13, 1945

Radio broadcastsRadio broadcasts

““Busy though we Busy though we were, my life in were, my life in London was not London was not dominated by action dominated by action but by endless but by endless waiting.…”waiting.…”

Other “Allied” RoyaltyOther “Allied” Royalty

Allied Royalty under Nazi ArrestAllied Royalty under Nazi Arrest King Christian X of Denmark (April 9, King Christian X of Denmark (April 9,

1940)1940) King Leopold III of the Belgians (May 28, King Leopold III of the Belgians (May 28,

1940)1940)

Would-Be Allied RoyaltyWould-Be Allied Royalty Prince Henri, the Count of ParisPrince Henri, the Count of Paris

Surrender on April 9, 1940Surrender on April 9, 1940 Daily ride through CopenhagenDaily ride through Copenhagen Urban legendsUrban legends Liberation in May 1945Liberation in May 1945

King Christian X of DenmarkKing Christian X of Denmark

The Count of ParisThe Count of Paris

Joined the French Joined the French Foreign Legion at the Foreign Legion at the outbreak of waroutbreak of war

Settled in North Africa Settled in North Africa after France’s defeatafter France’s defeat

Was complicit in the Was complicit in the assassination of assassination of Admiral Darlan in Admiral Darlan in 1943?1943?

Was admired and Was admired and honored by De Gaullehonored by De Gaulle

““Axis” RoyaltyAxis” Royalty Duke Carl Eduard of Saxe-Coburg and GothaDuke Carl Eduard of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Hereditary Prince Josias of Waldeck und Hereditary Prince Josias of Waldeck und

PyrmontPyrmont Prince Philipp of HessePrince Philipp of Hesse Tsar Boris III of BulgariaTsar Boris III of Bulgaria Edward, the Duke of WindsorEdward, the Duke of Windsor Prince Friedrich Christian of Schaumburg-LippePrince Friedrich Christian of Schaumburg-Lippe Luise, Dowager Duchess of Anhalt-DessauLuise, Dowager Duchess of Anhalt-Dessau Victoria Melita, Grand Duchess Cyril of RussiaVictoria Melita, Grand Duchess Cyril of Russia

Duke Carl EduardDuke Carl Eduardof Saxe-Coburg and Gothaof Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Birth as British Prince Birth as British Prince (grandson of Queen (grandson of Queen Victoria)Victoria)

Nazi wedding of his Nazi wedding of his daughter (Princess daughter (Princess Sibylle) in 1932Sibylle) in 1932

The NSKK and SAThe NSKK and SA

Presidency of the Presidency of the German Red CrossGerman Red Cross

Röhm Purge of 1934Röhm Purge of 1934

High SS office in Thuringia High SS office in Thuringia (with oversight of (with oversight of Buchenwald)Buchenwald)

Allied conviction for Allied conviction for crimes against humanitycrimes against humanity

Relationship to Duke Carl Relationship to Duke Carl EduardEduard

Hereditary Prince JosiasHereditary Prince Josiasof Waldeck und Pyrmontof Waldeck und Pyrmont

One may draw from the study of history the lesson that One may draw from the study of history the lesson that the age of princes is over. . . . For two hundred years the age of princes is over. . . . For two hundred years we have been watching the decomposition of this we have been watching the decomposition of this system.  The princely houses have retained nothing system.  The princely houses have retained nothing but their pretensions.  With these they traffic, and by but their pretensions.  With these they traffic, and by these they live. . . . If one day we had time to waste, it these they live. . . . If one day we had time to waste, it would be a curious study, that of these princely would be a curious study, that of these princely families, to see how they maintained themselves in families, to see how they maintained themselves in power, despite their internal struggles.  Their wars power, despite their internal struggles.  Their wars always had the most exalted motives.  In reality, it was always had the most exalted motives.  In reality, it was always a question of odd patches of land, whose always a question of odd patches of land, whose possession was bitterly disputed.  How much Europe possession was bitterly disputed.  How much Europe has had to suffer, for eight hundred years, from these has had to suffer, for eight hundred years, from these practices – and, especially and above all, Germany!practices – and, especially and above all, Germany!

– Adolf Hitler– Adolf Hitler

Son-in-Law of King Son-in-Law of King Vittorio Emanuele IIIVittorio Emanuele III

Nazi Nazi Oberpräsident Oberpräsident of of Hesse-Nassau, 1933-Hesse-Nassau, 1933-19431943

Intermediary between Intermediary between Hitler and MussoliniHitler and Mussolini

Nazi prisoner after Nazi prisoner after Italian surrender, 1943-Italian surrender, 1943-1945 (his wife died in 1945 (his wife died in Buchenwald in 1944)Buchenwald in 1944)

Allied prisoner after warAllied prisoner after war

Prince Philipp of HessePrince Philipp of Hesse

Tsar Boris III of BulgariaTsar Boris III of Bulgaria Married to a daughter Married to a daughter

of King Vittorio of King Vittorio

Emanuele III of ItalyEmanuele III of Italy Declared war against Declared war against

the Western Allies but the Western Allies but

not against the Soviet not against the Soviet

UnionUnion Refused to surrender Refused to surrender

Bulgaria’s Jews to the Bulgaria’s Jews to the

NazisNazis Possibly poisoned by Possibly poisoned by

Hitler in 1943Hitler in 1943

Pro-German King Pro-German King Gustav V of SwedenGustav V of Sweden

Pro-British Crown Pro-British Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf of Prince Gustaf Adolf of SwedenSweden

Pro-German Prince Pro-German Prince Gustaf Adolf of Gustaf Adolf of Sweden (son-in-law of Sweden (son-in-law of Duke Carl Eduard)Duke Carl Eduard)

Neutral Royalty:Neutral Royalty:SwedenSweden

Royal ResistanceRoyal Resistance

Mussolini’s NemesisMussolini’s Nemesis King Vittorio Emanuele III of ItalyKing Vittorio Emanuele III of Italy

Boy-King SaviorsBoy-King Saviors King Peter II of YugoslaviaKing Peter II of Yugoslavia King Michael I of RomaniaKing Michael I of Romania

German Monarchist ResistanceGerman Monarchist Resistance

King Vittorio Emanuele III of ItalyKing Vittorio Emanuele III of Italy

October 31, 1922:October 31, 1922:

Mussolini’s First Mussolini’s First

CabinetCabinet July 24-25, 1943:July 24-25, 1943:

Mussolini’s OverthrowMussolini’s Overthrow May 9, 1946:May 9, 1946:

King’s AbdicationKing’s Abdication

September 6, 1940:September 6, 1940:King Carol II is deposed King Carol II is deposed by Fascist Iron Guard by Fascist Iron Guard and pro-German army.and pro-German army.

King Michael is helpless King Michael is helpless puppet of pro-German puppet of pro-German Marshal Ion Antonescu.Marshal Ion Antonescu.

August 23, 1944:August 23, 1944:King Michael leads King Michael leads palace coup and palace coup and declares armistice.declares armistice.

King Michael I of RomaniaKing Michael I of Romania

German Monarchist ResistanceGerman Monarchist Resistance Bavarian SeparatistsBavarian Separatists

Austrian SeparatistsAustrian Separatists

The German ResistanceThe German Resistance Colonel-General (retd.) Ludwig BeckColonel-General (retd.) Ludwig Beck Field Marshal Erwin von Witzleben, Admiral Wilhelm Field Marshal Erwin von Witzleben, Admiral Wilhelm

Canaris, and other senior military leadersCanaris, and other senior military leaders Ambassador Ulrich von Hassell, Ernst von Weiszäcker, Ambassador Ulrich von Hassell, Ernst von Weiszäcker,

Dr. Johannes Popitz, and other senior bureaucratsDr. Johannes Popitz, and other senior bureaucrats Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Dr. Klaus Bonhoeffer, Dr. Josef Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Dr. Klaus Bonhoeffer, Dr. Josef

Wirmer, and other progressive Christian leadersWirmer, and other progressive Christian leaders Ernst von Harnack, Wilhelm Leuschner, and other Ernst von Harnack, Wilhelm Leuschner, and other

socialist leaderssocialist leaders

Near-restoration in Near-restoration in March 1933March 1933

Bavaria Watch (1937-Bavaria Watch (1937-1939)1939)

Gestapo surveillance Gestapo surveillance and disappearance on and disappearance on June 17, 1944June 17, 1944

Arrest of Crown Arrest of Crown Princess Antonia on Princess Antonia on July 27, 1944July 27, 1944

Crown Prince Rupprecht of BavariaCrown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria

Near-restoration in 1938Near-restoration in 1938

Exile in AmericaExile in America

Friendship with President Friendship with President RooseveltRoosevelt

Work in war propagandaWork in war propaganda

Archduke Otto of AustriaArchduke Otto of Austria

The House of HohenzollernThe House of Hohenzollern Kaiser Wilhelm II and Kaiserin HermineKaiser Wilhelm II and Kaiserin Hermine

Crown Prince William of PrussiaCrown Prince William of Prussia Prince William of Prussia (killed in action in Prince William of Prussia (killed in action in

1940)1940) Prince Louis Ferdinand of PrussiaPrince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia

Prince Eitel Friedrich of PrussiaPrince Eitel Friedrich of Prussia Prince Adalbert of Prussia, Count LingenPrince Adalbert of Prussia, Count Lingen Prince August Wilhelm (“Auwi”) of PrussiaPrince August Wilhelm (“Auwi”) of Prussia

Prince Alexander Ferdinand of PrussiaPrince Alexander Ferdinand of Prussia Prince Oskar of PrussiaPrince Oskar of Prussia

Prince Oskar of Prussia (killed in action in 1939)Prince Oskar of Prussia (killed in action in 1939) Viktoria Luise, Duchess of BrunswickViktoria Luise, Duchess of Brunswick

Prince Ernst August of HanoverPrince Ernst August of Hanover

Courted by Göring Courted by Göring before the Warbefore the War

Married to Pro-Nazi Married to Pro-Nazi Empress HermineEmpress Hermine

Refused British offer of Refused British offer of asylum in 1940asylum in 1940

Congratulated Hitler Congratulated Hitler on the defeat of on the defeat of FranceFrance

Added a codicil to his Added a codicil to his will refusing to be will refusing to be buried in Germany or buried in Germany or to have swastikas to have swastikas displayed at funeraldisplayed at funeral

Kaiser Wilhelm IIKaiser Wilhelm II

Publicly supported Publicly supported Hitler’s bid for Reich Hitler’s bid for Reich President in 1932President in 1932

Participated in the Participated in the opening of the first opening of the first Nazi Reichstag in Nazi Reichstag in Potsdam’s Garrison Potsdam’s Garrison Church in 1933Church in 1933

Publicly congratulated Publicly congratulated Hitler on his military Hitler on his military victoriesvictories

Linked to German Linked to German ResistanceResistance

All but arrested after All but arrested after July 20, 1944July 20, 1944

Crown Prince William of PrussiaCrown Prince William of Prussia

Prince Louis Ferdinand of PrussiaPrince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia Could a rebel prince have Could a rebel prince have

successfully opposed Hitler?  successfully opposed Hitler?  Of all the might-have-beens in Of all the might-have-beens in Europe, Louis Ferdinand’s is Europe, Louis Ferdinand’s is the most tragic case – not for the most tragic case – not for him personally, for he neverhim personally, for he never burned with the desire to burned with the desire to reclaim the throne – but for reclaim the throne – but for the world, which would have the world, which would have taken an imponderably taken an imponderably different shape had he been different shape had he been called upon to rule.called upon to rule.

– – Charles FenyvesiCharles Fenyvesi

Fate of Allied RoyaltyFate of Allied Royalty Victims of Soviet ExpansionVictims of Soviet Expansion

King Peter II of YugoslaviaKing Peter II of Yugoslavia King Michael II of RomaniaKing Michael II of Romania Tsar Simeon II of BulgariaTsar Simeon II of Bulgaria

Victims of Western Embarrassment andVictims of Western Embarrassment andInternal Communist AgitationInternal Communist Agitation King George II of the HellenesKing George II of the Hellenes King Vittorio Emanuele III of ItalyKing Vittorio Emanuele III of Italy King Zog I of AlbaniaKing Zog I of Albania

Victim of a Western Slur CampaignVictim of a Western Slur Campaign King Leopold III of the BelgiansKing Leopold III of the Belgians

King Leopold III of the BelgiansKing Leopold III of the Belgians May 24, 1940: King refuses to flee Belgium.May 24, 1940: King refuses to flee Belgium.

May 28, 1940: King surrenders, and Allies May 28, 1940: King surrenders, and Allies begin to attack him in radio broadcasts.begin to attack him in radio broadcasts.

Winter 1940: King visits Hitler at Winter 1940: King visits Hitler at Berchtesgaden.Berchtesgaden.

Autumn 1941: King marries Lilian Baels.Autumn 1941: King marries Lilian Baels.

May 1945: King is released from Nazi May 1945: King is released from Nazi captivity in Austria.captivity in Austria.

July 22, 1950: King returns to Belgium.July 22, 1950: King returns to Belgium.

August 1, 1950: AbdicationAugust 1, 1950: Abdication

Fate of German MonarchismFate of German Monarchism Victims of Nazi VengeanceVictims of Nazi Vengeance

The Conspirators of July 20, 1944The Conspirators of July 20, 1944

Victims of Western Suspicion/NeglectVictims of Western Suspicion/Neglect Dr. Fritz Schäffer in Bavaria (September 1945)Dr. Fritz Schäffer in Bavaria (September 1945) The Guelph Party (NLP) in Hanover (August 1946)The Guelph Party (NLP) in Hanover (August 1946) Archduke Otto of Austria and Karl RennerArchduke Otto of Austria and Karl Renner Prince Louis Ferdinand of PrussiaPrince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia

The BavarianThe Bavarian of Christmas 1945 of Christmas 1945 1951 Poll1951 Poll 1968 1968 QuickQuick//Bild ZeitungBild Zeitung Poll Poll

Post-War Monarchism in Spain:Post-War Monarchism in Spain: Why? Why?

A way to legitimize the post-war Franco A way to legitimize the post-war Franco regime in the eyes of the Allies?regime in the eyes of the Allies?

A logical extension of the authoritarian A logical extension of the authoritarian conservatism of Fascism?conservatism of Fascism?

A Trojan horse in democracy’s fight A Trojan horse in democracy’s fight against Fascism?against Fascism?