Prince Wilhelm of Prussia
Prince Wilhelm of Prussia (1906-1940), eldest son of Crown Prince Wilhelm and grandson of Kaiser Wilhelm II. During Hitler's rise to power, many still hoped that the monarchy might be restored with Wilhelm at its head. However, in 1939 he was called up and sent to the 1st Infantry regiment at Koningsberg. He took part in the invasion of Poland and achieved rapid promotion. On 23 May 1940, he was leading his company against French opposition at Valenciennes when he was mortally wounded. His funeral at the Antike Temple in Potsdam was allowed only a brief notice in the newspapers but the Nazis were stunned to see a crowd of at least fifty thousand turn out on the streets. This display of the lasting power of royalty finally set Hitler against the German princes following Wilhelm's funeral
