A Former Senator with a Plan
In 1919, former U.S. Senator Luke Lea hatched a daring plan to kidnap the exiled Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. The Kaiser, who had abdicated following Germany’s defeat in World War I, was living in exile at Huis Doorn, a castle in the Netherlands. Lea, a Tennessee senator turned adventurer, saw an opportunity to capture the former monarch and bring him to the U.S. for trial as a war criminal.
The Journey to the Netherlands
Lea, accompanied by his son and a small group of associates, traveled to Europe under the guise of an official diplomatic mission. They made their way to the Netherlands, where they scouted Huis Doorn and began plotting the abduction. Despite their lack of experience, Lea’s group was determined to bring the Kaiser back to the U.S.
A Failed Attempt
The plot, however, quickly unraveled. Dutch authorities became suspicious of the group’s intentions and intervened before Lea could carry out his plan. Realizing they were being watched, Lea and his group were forced to abandon the mission and return to the U.S.
The Kaiser Remained Untouched
Despite the failed attempt, the former Kaiser remained in exile in the Netherlands until his death in 1941, unaware of how close he had come to being kidnapped by an American senator.
When a Former U.S. Senator Tried to Kidnap Germany’s Former Emperor 👑
A Former Senator with a Plan
In 1919, former U.S. Senator Luke Lea hatched a daring plan to kidnap the exiled Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. The Kaiser, who had abdicated following Germany’s defeat in World… pic.twitter.com/NFsIXtSJqC— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) October 17, 2024