What was Wilhelm II's 'Weltpolitik'?
Weltpolitik! It was the grand design, the vision of Germany's rightful place among the great powers. It was the understanding that our destiny, the destiny of the German Volk, could not be confined to continental concerns. We needed a 'place in the sun,' as my ministers so aptly put it. This meant building a navy that could challenge any rival, securing colonies that would bolster our economy and prestige, and asserting our influence across the globe. It was a policy born of strength, of national pride, and the undeniable fact that the world belongs to the strong. To shy away from this destiny would have been the greatest betrayal of my heritage and my people.
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