Abdication of Wilhelm II and the Dutch government, however, refused the Allies' requests to extradite him. King George V wrote that his cousin was "the greatest criminal in history", but opposed Prime Minister David Lloyd George's proposal to "hang the Kaiser". U.S. President Woodrow Wilson also opposed extradition, arguing that punishing Wilhelm would destabilize international order and lose the peace. Wilhelm first settled in Amerongen, where on 28 November he issued a belated statement of abdication of both the Prussian and imperial thrones. He also released his soldiers and officials in both Prussia and the empire from their oaths of loyalty to him. Wilhelm
SMS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse 19 February 1901, followed by acceptance trials that started on 18 March. These were completed by May, and she was formally commissioned on 5 May. That year, Erich Raeder—who went on to command the "Kriegsmarine" in World War II—was promoted to serve as a watch officer aboard her. After commissioning in 1901, "Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse" joined her sister ships in the I Squadron of the "Heimatflotte" (Home Fleet). After her sister ran aground and had to be docked for repairs, "Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse" replaced her as the I Squadron flagship, which was commanded by Prince Heinrich, the brother