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Kaiser Wilhelm-II shooting/hunting video

1.9K views 11 replies 7 participants last post by  uglydog  
#1 ·
Check this video (Found on a different forum) of Kaiser Wilhelm-II hunting/ gallery shooting various game/targets. Interesting,even if a bit repulsive to our modern democratic sensibilities.I read that The Kaiser's left arm was paralysed. That's why he shot from a stick. Also, his infirmity made it difficult to handle a rifle, so he mostly shot a shoulder stocked C96. Considering the weak caliber, he aimed for the neck, hence the name "Kaiserschuss" (Emperor's shot) which is still used to describe a killing neckshot.


''Different times-different attitudes''.

Best-
Vikram
 
#2 ·
Vikram ... the link knocks out an error message "The URL contained a malformed video ID."

Spooky or what?

Kaiser Bill's arm was deformed at his birth. His mother had a long and difficult labour so gynos tried a forceps delivery and nearly tore his arm off. There are very few pictures of him showing his deformity it's always in a big sleeve with gloved hands. The only snap I've seen is of him that does show it is one as a child, somewhat bizarrely in Highland dress.

Eug
 
#5 ·
He doesn't exhibit the best muzzle control I've ever seen
I didn't think he was too bad... certainly seen a b****y sight worse; bear in mind he was driven shooting so in theory at least (?) he didn't have anything or anyone in front of him. His loading drill was pretty sharp, tidy enough for a man with one arm.

Things that hit me in the eye ... the sheer numbers of folks attending the Kaiser; and then again (regrettably) the big line of killed stags. The bloke blowing "Waidsmannsheil" on the trumpet must have suffered a lung collapse!

Another great post Vikram my man; granddad Bill Stubbs wouldn't have approved though. He came home with one of Kaiser Bill's Mauser bullets stuck in in his elbow, which gave him a badly wonky arm for the rest of his life..

Eug
 
#7 ·
r2d1robert

"The Last Kaiser : William the Impetuous" by Giles MacDonogh is a good read. Quite funny if you read between the lines.

IMO Bill was lucky not to be subjected to something like the Nuremburg Commission that came along in '45, but not as lucky as Hirohito was.

Eug
 
#11 ·
Eug

Willie, as Grandmama Victoria insisted on spelling his name, was thoroughly shocked when the scandal broke since homosexuality was illegal in Germany at the time. He did escape from the investigation unscathed unlike his cohorts who, most being his official and unofficial advisers, had to resign from their posts most likely attributed to the fact that his was an autocratic monarchy complements of the Iron Chancellor Otto v. Bismarck.

Thanks for the book suggestion, that will be next on my list.
 
#12 ·
Another tidbit is that during a trip to American, kaiser Bill took in an Annie Oakley exhibition and had her shoot a lit cigarette from his lips. Later on it is said she stated she, "...should have cranked in a little windage," during the demonstration.
I'll have to look up the mentioned books the next time I'm around a real bookstore, it could be an interesting read.