This will probably be more of interest to @zippy and @Dirk than anyone else. Quick question for you both though. It seemed that at the time of WW2 many of the members of the royal families were anti-Nazi. What was the reason for this? Was it a genuine dislike of their ideals or more that they felt a popular party would end any chance of them being restored to their former titles?
More the latter I'd think. The aristocracy did however consider the Nazis and for that matter the Communists, as little more than street fighting ruffians in the early days. Interestingly though, several later served prominently in the Wehrmacht, two for instance, Heinz Prinz zu Sayn Wittgenstein and Egmont Prinz zu Lippe Weißenfeld became very high scoring night fighter aces with 83 and 51 kills respectively, both were killed in action.
Are the current Heads of the families viewed as important in modern day Germany? Do they have any symbolic or actual powers? Do they still have some degree of wealth passed on through their heritage?
They certainly still have wealth but no power as such, Prinz Ernst August of Hannover, a total numpty, lives in this castle (though he no longer owns it),and also in Austria. His wife is Princess Caroline of Monaco.
and I'm anti-Royal (besides being anti-Nazi, of course). I'm glad that we have no Monarchy anymore since 1918 when Kaiser Wilhelm II pissed of to the Dutch. I'm Republican and Democrat through and through (for our US residents here, that is different to your Republican and Democrats, though ). A monarchy is an anachronism today, at least a monarchy like the german one was back then. What really pisses me off is that although we don't have a monarchy anymore for more than 100 years all the titles can still be "worn". zippy mentioned the Prinz Ernst August, a total numpty. He still thinks he's something special. Never understood how a beauty like Caroline of Monaco could marry this guy. Must be his title and the once proud history of the Welfs. Anyway, I am glad that we don't have König, Kaiser, Führer anymore. btw: @Sandsy: Why the sudden interest in German Royal Lines? Was it my postings about Battenberg-Mountbatten in your Quiz League? Eat a Battenberg cake
We DO have a Kaiser ! Tbf Germany was "interesting" when the Führer was around ! Ernst August is a complete arsehole tbf.
Youtube recommended that video after I had seen similar ones. I found the isea of your royalt being anti-nazi interesting. Nothing more Though I might do some more research on what was going on around the time of the kingdoms uniting. I know a guy called Frederick the Great had something to do with Prussia/Germany around this time right?
Friedrich II, called der Große (the great), König von Preußen (nickname "Der alte Fritz (old Fritz)"). He was really a great one, although only small in stature. The Kingdom of Prussia was back then very modern and tolerant although of course very militaristic but they had for example freedom of religion. Which was not common in Europe back then (e.g when the Huguenottes were haunted in France they got asylum in Brandenburg-Preußen (or for you: Prussia) There's a popular quote from the old Fritz " Ein jeder soll nach seiner Facon selig werden" (the online dictionary gives me 2 (not 1:1)translations 1. Let every man seek heaven in his own fashion 2.Each must live as he sees fit". tbh I don't care if the "royals" were anti-nazi. Because when the Nazis were reigning we already hadn't royals anymore ( yeah, I know how you mean it but i already mentioned that I'm annoyed that they're still holding their titles until today. We are a Republic now.)
