Wilhelm III of Germany was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia, reigning from 1888 until his abdication in 1918. He was born on January 27, 1859, and became emperor during a tumultuous period marked by World War I. His leadership faced criticism for military failures and political decisions that contributed to Germany's defeat. After the war, Wilhelm III fled to exile in the Netherlands, where he lived until his death on June 4, 1941. His reign is often associated with the rise of militarism in Germany and the eventual collapse of the German Empire.