German: allerhöchste WillensmeinungEnglish translation: [most] authoritative expression of the will 
KudoZ The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators ... More  |
|
| GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW) | | German term or phrase: | allerhöchste Willensmeinung | | English translation: | [most] authoritative expression of the will | | Entered by: | mhumphries |
| Options:
- Contribute to this entry |
German to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - History | | German term or phrase: allerhöchste Willensmeinung | I am having an immense amount of trouble with the following passage. It is taken from a 1931 German history of the Great War. The quote is sourced in the text to the War Diary of the 4th German Army. The original reads"
General v. Falkenhayn eröffnete gelegentlich einer Besprechung Anfang März dem Armeeführer, Generaloberst Herzog Albrecht von Württemberg, "eine Allerhöchste Willensmeinung dahingehend, daß Holland sich selbst voraussichtlich kräftig gegen einen englischen Einfall wehren würde, und daß Deutschland peinlichst jedem Neutralitätsbruche aus dem Wege gehen müsse.
My working translation would be:
At the beginning of March, on the occasion of a meeting with the Fourth Army commander, Generaloberst Duke Albrecht von Württemberg, General v. Falkenhayn divulged his "highest will to the effect that Holland would probably energetically defend itself against a British invasion and that Germany must scrupulously avoid any breach of neutrality..."
This is quite archaic language and I am uncertain of what is meant by the first few words of the quote. The Quote is not actually Falkenhayn speaking, but is from the record kept by the War Diarist of the 4th Army (according to the footnote at the end of the quote). Is the War diarist saying that it was Falkenhayn's "highest will" or is the war diarist saying that Falkenhayn said it was "his highest will." Perhaps my attempt at translating that phrase is off entirely. Any help would be greatly appreciated. |
| mhumphriesKudoZ activityQuestions: 8 (all closed) Answers: 0
Canada
|
| Clarification request(s) and responseBrigitteHilgner: 5:51am Apr 17, 2007: As I understand it, the "Allerhöchste Willensmeinung" is not that of General von Falkenhayn but that of Emperor William the commander in chief. The general just passes this opinion on.
Bernhard Sulzer: 6:52am Apr 17, 2007: support Brigitte's assessment, see additional information below.
xxxFrancis Lee: 8:45am Apr 17, 2007: Ditto. Hence "eine" (not "seine") and the capitalised "Allerhöchste" ...
|
|
| | Selected response from:
 Johanna Timm, PhD
Canada
| Note from asker to answererThanks so much!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer |
|
30 mins confidence:   peer agreement (net): +1 |
4 hrs confidence: peer agreement (net): +1 |
| Allerhöchste Willensmeinung additional info (not for points)
Explanation:
Notwithstanding his powerful military and political position and the influence he had on Kaiser Wilhelm II's decisions, I believe, as Brigitte, that "Allerhöchste Meinungswille" refers to the highest authority, the "commander in chief", Kaiser Wilhelm himself, regardless of which people actually decided on this policy. The links below deal with the personalities in question and the role of the Netherlands in WWI.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falkenhayn
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albrecht_von_W%C3%BCrttemberg
http://hsozkult.geschichte.hu-berlin.de/rezensionen/2006-4-0...
Die von ihm herangezogenen Quellen bestätigen einmal mehr, dass Wilhelm II. auf die Operationen zu Lande – zur See sah dies ein wenig anders aus – tatsächlich keinen Einfluss hatte. Angesichts der Einsicht in die Begrenztheit seiner Kenntnisse bei der Führung eines modernen Millionenheeres versuchte er allerdings auch gar nicht, den Generalstab seiner Kontrolle zu unterwerfen. Dennoch war Wilhelm II. nicht ohne Einfluss. Da „die tatsächliche Quelle kaiserlicher Macht“ (S. 25-35) die Personalpolitik war, konnte er viele Entscheidungen direkt oder indirekt in seinem Sinne beeinflussen. Dies zeigen – ungeachtet massiven Drängens einflussreicher Berater, des Kronprinzen und vor allem auch seiner Frau – sein langes Festhalten an Erich v. Falkenhayn oder an dem von vielen kritisierten Kanzler Theobald v. Bethmann Hollweg. Selbst ein vermeintlich mit diktatorischen Vollmachten ausgestatteter General wie Erich Ludendorff gestand die Grenzen seiner Macht – „an den Kaiser [käme] er nicht heran“, ließ dieser einen darüber enttäuschten Walther Rathenau wissen (S. 33) – mehrfach offen ein.
http://hsozkult.geschichte.hu-berlin.de/rezensionen/id=24
Die Bilanz des Autors nach Analyse der deutschen, britischen und amerikanischen Interaktionen mit den Niederlanden faellt wenig guenstig fuer das kleine Land aus. Seine Neutralitaet verdankte es weit weniger eigenem Geschick als dem Interesse der anderen. Alle Kriegfuehrenden sahen darin den, zumindest relativ, groessten Nutzen fuer sich selbst.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2007-04-17 06:56:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
clarification: By - Notwithstanding "his" powerful military and political position - I mean, of course, "General v. Falkenhayn's."
| Bernhard Sulzer
United States
Works in field
Native speaker of:  German
PRO pts in category: 12
|
|
| | Login to enter a peer comment (or grade) |
6 hrs confidence: |
| belief/intent/determined view on/from the highest authority/level
Explanation:
Yes, this is just patched together from a couple of ideas.
As Brigitte and Bernhard have pointed out, this would seem to refer to the Kaiser himself. As it's a direct quote, however, it would be wrong to say as such.
"auf allerhöchster anweisung" would be "on the highest authority"
Then we have:
der bestimmte Inhalt eines Wollens (»Willensmeinung«).
http://www.textlog.de/5436.html
I'm not sure if "will" works here. Perhaps "intent" or even "determined view"
Not so much a concrete suggestion as (half-baked) food for thought ...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 hrs (2007-04-17 09:01:28 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
- the resolution from the highest authority/level
- the resolved view of ... (hmmmm ...)
| xxxFrancis Lee
Germany
Works in field
Native speaker of:  English
PRO pts in category: 103
|
| | Login to enter a peer comment (or grade) |
Return to KudoZ list
| |
The translation workplace 
