1871...Crown Prince Friedrich with his father Kaiser Wilhelm I at Versailles Palace As the Crown Prince of Prussia, Friedrich was popular with the British royal family and in return he was fond of them and their more liberal policies. It makes me wonder what would have happened in 1914 if Friedrich had lived to be… Continue reading The story of Kaiser Friedrich III is a tale that ended sadly in 1888, “The year of three Emperors”
After the end of the Seven Year War in 1763, Prussia was a great power whose importance could no longer be challenged. Frederick the Great’s personal reputation was enormously enhanced. A number of nations sent officers to Prussia to learn the secrets of Prussia’s military power. Prussia became one of the most imitated powers in Europe.… Continue reading Frederick the Great Quotes
“On War” is the West's premier work on the philosophy of war. It was written by Carl von Clausewitz in his spare time as a Prussian officer. Although it was not even published until after his death, his ideas took hold and have been widely influential in military theory and have had a strong influence… Continue reading The West’s premier work on the philosophy of war was written in Germany by Clausewitz in his spare time as a Prussian officer.
Imagine a long stream of people walking day after day from Saltzburg to Berlin, creating a sensation as they trekked through innumerable northern German towns and cities wearing their unfamiliar Austrian style clothing. In 1982 a German postage stamp celebrated this event on the 250th anniversary of the arrival of Salzburg Emigrants in Prussia in… Continue reading They trekked through innumerable northern German towns and cities wearing their unfamiliar Austrian style clothing
Frederick the Great was a commander who repeatedly, even joyfully, risked everything on a single day's battle - his army, his kingdom, often his very life. At a battle near Berlin in 1759, he probably came closest to losing his life. The image shown here depicts that moment…it is an excerpt from a tapestry by… Continue reading At Kunersdorf near Berlin, Frederick the Great came close to losing his life
This map of Germany during the Second Reich, 1871 to 1918, shows Prussia at the height of its power. Prussian states are shown in green, all other German states are shown in yellow. It is interesting to see the map in this simple two color presentation because you don't lose the forest for the trees...Prussia… Continue reading The 1871 map of Germany shows Prussia at the height of its power
The single headed German eagle adopted in AD 800 was used for 640 years...this example is the Teutonic Knights Grandmaster symbol inaugurated in 1198...it consists of the German black crusader cross plus the German eagle that was gifted by the Kaiser. At the tips of the cross are 4 Fleur de Lis symbols gifted by… Continue reading German Eagles…single head 640 years, double-headed 366 years, then single head ever since 1871.
The question of who should lead a future united Germany, Prussia or Austria, was answered in 1866. In this first image, Prussian King Wilhelm is congratulating his son, Crown Prince Friedrich III, on the battlefield after their victory over the Austrian Empire. Prussia’s leadership was now assured but would mean the hoped for “Greater Germany”… Continue reading Should Austria or Prussia be the leader of Germany?
The Marienburg High Castle with Virgin Mary's Church A moment in time at the start of the 20th century...one of many that the Marienburg Castle witnessed during its 747 years of existence in northern Europe, from 1274 to 2021. On this occasion in 1902, Kaiser Wilhelm II made the trip to West Prussia to participate… Continue reading In 1902, Kaiser Wilhelm II made a trip to the Marienburg in West Prussia
... the reason for this dates back to 1685 and the Great Elector and his successors. The Great Elector followed a policy of religious freedom and after French King Louis XIV's revocation of the Edict of Nantes, Frederick William encouraged skilled French and Walloon Huguenots to emigrate to Brandenburg-Prussia. His Edict of Potsdam welcomed the… Continue reading If you have ever wondered why some of Germany’s war heroes in WWI and WWII have French names…
For People Proud of their German Heritage 