Who fired Bismarck and why?

Answer 1

Early in his reign, Wilhelm II desperately wanted to be popular; he wanted to be a 'People's Kaiser'. In 1878 the Reichstag had adopted, at Bismarck's request, a law banning socialists from political campaigning, the publication of socialist books, etc. The law was renewed every four years till 1886 and up for renewal in 1890. Kaiser Wilhelm II didn't approve, Bismarck resigned and - to his astonishment - his resignation was accepted.

Answer 2

Since 1878 there had been a law in Germany banning all socialist campaigning and organized activity by socialists; and it had been renewed at periodic intervals. It came up for renewal again in 1890. This law was in practice much more than a ban: socialists were persecuted ... Young Kaiser William II had, at that time, fantasies about appealing directly to 'ordinary people', to industrial workers. He wanted to become a 'People's Kaiser' and opposed the renewal of the anti-socialist law. In an attempt to force the Kaiser's hand, Bismarck resigned - and was astonished when the Kaiser accepted.

Answer 3

Although Bismarck was a war hero and helped to unify Germany before Kaiser Wilhelm assumed leadership of Germany, by the time World War I had gone on for a year or so, it became obvious that Bismarck was just too old, and hadn' the strength to withstand the terrible stress of a command role.

I'd like to point out that Bismarck died in 1898. World War I started on 1914.