Besides the old emperor's death, another far-reaching event took place at the end of 1916. Falkenhayn, who had just won a great victory on the Eastern Front, was impeached by the German military and dismissed on December 1. Hindenburg, a Junker aristocrat, replaced him as Chief of the German General Staff.
The next day, Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg submitted his resignation to Wilhelm II. Resigning from public office alongside him were the German finance minister, logistics minister, interior minister, and other senior government officials.
Clearly, the military had won a sweeping victory in this round of political struggle. The German government lost its grip over the nation, and Hindenburg began down the path of military dictatorship.
As for Wilhelm II, he had completely become a rubber-stamp emperor. Though he had not voiced a position in this political struggle, the military still sidelined him.
Upon receiving the news, Ferdinand had to admit that indecisive people truly were not suited to be emperors. Had Wilhelm II joined forces with the government, he could originally have suppressed the Junker aristocrats.
Instead, because he hesitated for a moment and could not make up his mind, the military forces representing the Junker aristocracy brought down the government. Even at that point, as king, he still had the power to intervene!
Yet Wilhelm II still chose silence, watching the government collapse. Then, the emboldened military naturally sidelined him as well!
Of course, that was not the whole story. Wilhelm II had made efforts too. For instance, he promoted Hindenburg, who came from the Junker aristocracy, to Chief of the General Staff, attempting to use this to reconcile the conflicts between the various factions.
The result went without saying. Just as in history, the moment Hindenburg took office, he joined hands with the Junker aristocrats and