Prince August Wilhelm of Prussia

Prince August Wilhelm of Prussia was a member of the House of Hohenzollern and the fourth son of Wilhelm II, German Emperor and Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein. He was born in Potsdam and was a grandson of Frederick III, German Emperor and Victoria, Princess Royal. As a member of the German royal family, he was closely related to other European monarchs, including George V of the United Kingdom and Nicholas II of Russia. He was also a cousin of Haakon VII of Norway and Christian X of Denmark.

● Early Life

Prince August Wilhelm of Prussia spent his early life in Potsdam and Berlin, where he received a traditional Prussian education. He was particularly close to his brother, Joachim of Prussia, and the two often accompanied their father, Wilhelm II, German Emperor, on official visits to other European countries, including Austria-Hungary and Italy. As a young man, he developed an interest in politics and was particularly drawn to the ideas of Otto von Bismarck and Kaiser Wilhelm I. He also had a strong connection to the German Navy and often visited the naval base in Kiel.

● Military Career

Prince August Wilhelm of Prussia began his military career in the German Army and served in World War I as a lieutenant in the 1st Guard Regiment. He saw action on the Western Front and was present at the Battle of the Somme and the Battle of Verdun. He was also a member of the German General Staff and worked closely with Erich Ludendorff and Paul von Hindenburg. After the war, he became a vocal supporter of the Treaty of Versailles and advocated for Germany's rearmament and remilitarization. He was also a member of the Stahlhelm and the Reichswehr.

● Marriage and Family

In 1908, Prince August Wilhelm of Prussia married Princess Alexandra Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, a daughter of Friedrich Ferdinand, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein and Princess Karoline Mathilde of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg. The couple had one son, Prince Alexander Ferdinand of Prussia, who was born in 1912. The family lived in Potsdam and Berlin, where they were often seen at social events and official functions, including the Berlin Opera and the Prussian State Theatre. Prince August Wilhelm was also a close friend of Crown Prince Wilhelm of Germany and Prince Eitel Friedrich of Prussia.

● Nazi Party Involvement

In the 1920s and 1930s, Prince August Wilhelm of Prussia became increasingly involved with the Nazi Party and was a strong supporter of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers' Party. He joined the SA in 1930 and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a Standartenführer in 1932. He was also a member of the Reichstag and represented the Nazi Party in the German parliament. Prince August Wilhelm was a close friend of Hermann Göring and Joseph Goebbels and often attended Nazi Party rallies and events, including the Nuremberg Rally.

● Later Life and Death

After World War II, Prince August Wilhelm of Prussia was arrested by the Allies and put on trial for his involvement with the Nazi Party. He was found guilty and sentenced to three years in prison, but was released in 1948 due to poor health. He died on March 25, 1949, in Stuttgart, at the age of 62. Prince August Wilhelm was buried in the Alten Friedhof in Stuttgart, alongside other members of the House of Hohenzollern, including King William I of Württemberg and Queen Charlotte of Württemberg. His legacy is still remembered today, and he remains a fascinating figure in the history of Germany and the Nazi Party, with connections to notable figures such as Heinrich Himmler, Joachim von Ribbentrop, and Albert Speer. Category:House of Hohenzollern