Chateau?

[cesky67]

Hi,

Would anyone recognise the location of this Chateau type building at the link below

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stormmaster13/5746353682/


thanks

[Br. James]

Of course -- it's Doorn House (Huis Doorn), the Imperial Residence in the Netherlands, as it looked during the kaiser's lifetime. There have apparently been a few minor changes made to the structure since the 1940s -- Google 'Doorn House' for a view of the building as it stands today -- but it is clearly still recognizable. Thanks for sharing this fine photo.

Br. James

[cesky67]

Thanks Br. James. I'm very impressed. I didin't think there was much hope of getting it as it didn't seem all that special.

thanks again.

[Br. James]

My pleasure. And I wonder whether the occasion that attracted a cadre of German soldiers as depicted in the photo might have been the kaiser's funeral? Here's a part of Wilhelm II's bio from the net:

"Wilhelm II died of a pulmonary embolus in Doorn, Netherlands on 3 June 1941 aged 82, just weeks before the German invasion of the Soviet Union. German soldiers had been guarding his estate. Hitler, however, was reportedly angry that the former monarch had an honour guard of German troops and nearly fired the general who ordered them there when he found out. Despite his personal animosity toward Wilhelm, Hitler hoped to bring Wilhelm's body back to Berlin for a state funeral, as Wilhelm was a symbol of Germany and Germans during World War I. Hitler felt this would demonstrate to Germans the direct succession of the Third Reich from the old Kaiserreich.[49] However, Wilhelm's wishes of never returning to Germany until the restoration of the monarchy were respected, and the Nazi occupation authorities granted a small military funeral with a few hundred people present, the mourners including August von Mackensen, along with a few other military advisors. Wilhelm's request that the swastika and other Nazi regalia not be displayed at the final rites was ignored, however, and they feature in the photos of the funeral that were taken by a Dutch photographer.[50]

"He was buried in a mausoleum in the grounds of Huis Doorn, which has since become a place of pilgrimage for German monarchists. To this day, small but enthusiastic numbers of them gather at Huis Doorn every year on the anniversary of his death to pay their homage to the last German Emperor.[51]"

An interesting character in death as in life! Hope this is helpful to you,

Br. James

[cesky67]

Hi Br. James

Yes I think it was at the Kaiser's funeral. There are several links in you tube to it and it was interesting to watch. Thanks for the help. On the way to see Pres Obama ( not personally ) he's in Ireland for the day.

All the best
Cesky