#prussian army

[sictransitgloriamvndi]

[bantarleton]

A young, future Friedrich II and Prince Eugene of Savoy near Philippsburg in 1734, by Wilhelm Camphausen.

[hale-nathan]

Trump Weird News - Generations Of Draft Dodgers

[illustratus]

Prussian infantry advancing to meet the Russian Army before the Battle of Zorndorf 25th August 1758 in the Seven Years War

by Carl Röchling

[whats-in-a-sentence]

Pastor Emil Fuchs, who had a private interview with his son after the war, in England, attempts today to explain his son's conduct as follows:

As a father I can understand his extreme inward distress at the moment when he realized that he was working for the manufacturer of the bomb. He said to himself, 'If I don't take this step, the imminent danger to humanity will never cease.' He thus found a way out of a situation that seemed hopeless. Neither he nor I have ever blamed the British people for his sentence. He endures his fate bravely, with determination and a clear conscience. He was justly condemned under British law. But there must of course always be people from time to time who deliberately assume such guilt as his. The Prussian General Yorck did so in 1812 when he neutralized the Prussian Army by the Convention of Tauroggen. They have to bear the consequences of their resolute affirmation that they see a position more clearly than do those in whose power, at that juncture, the decision rests to deal with it. Should it not be clear by this time that my son acted with more accurate foresight in the interests of the British people than did their government? His action imperilled the highly paid and distinguished post he held and a still more distinguished career in the future. I can only have the greatest respect for the decision he took. Which of us can be certain how we would have decided in a similar situation?*

* Pastor Fuchs, however, did not discuss with his son, on this occasion, the latter's political activities. On this subject he wrote as follows to the author: 'I certainly realized to the full how much distress his work on atomic research caused him. But in 1933 we had arranged once for all that we would always tell each other anything that ought be known about illegal activities by anyone, though never more than what was necessary. Which of us can be sure that he can keep another's secret? Consequently, on this occasion too, we did not mention such things, though I guessed that something of this sort was worrying him and wondered how he would ever be able to reconcile himself inwardly with his whole situation.'

"Brighter than a Thousand Suns: A Personal History of the Atomic Scientists" - Robert Jungk, translated by James Cleugh

[awallofswords]

The Prussian Fusiliers officer sabre with screwable hilt

[scamallach-1]

Still always thinkin about Thomas Jefferson writing to James Madison after the Shay’s Rebellion about how it should be taught in schools that collective violence is not the way to express discontent and that the people must be taught to vote *instead* 🤨

(Ignore my notations lol or don’t…?)

And funny enough, this was in an article about Paglayan’s research on the Prussian Obedience Model for public schools - which still, to this day, is how our usamerican public schools are run!

https://today.ucsd.edu/story/education-systems-were-first-designed-to-suppress-dissent#:~:text=For%20example%2C%20absolutist%20Prussia%20was,promoting%20rewards%20for%20proper%20behavior.

And here ⬇️ is a nifty video essay about said Prussian Model of public education and why it was so implemented here in the settler-states of “America”:

https://archive.org/details/the-origins-of-the-american-public-education-system-horace-mann-the-prussian-model-of-obedience

⬇️

“According to Paglayan, the Prussian model of public education was designed to indoctrinate children into obedience and respect for authority. The model was created in the 18th century as a way to address social unrest and was a reference point for education systems that followed. The Prussian model influenced the American public school system, and some say its remnants are still present in contemporary schools.”

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"GERMAN OFFICER IMPRISONED FOR ASSAULTING CRIPPLE," The Inland Sentinel (Kamloops). December 29, 1913. Page 4. --- Lieutenant Baron von Forstner was sentenced to forty-three days imprisonment by a court-martial at Strassburg, Germany, for having assaulted a lame cobbler during the recent trouble at Zabern in Alsace Lorraine.

The charge against him was wilful assault and causing great bodily harm by the illegal use of his sabre.

The sentence of imprisonment la a penitentiary involves the loss of his commission as an officer by Lieutenant Baron von Forstner.

It was while passing with a section of the Ninety-fifth Infantry regiment through Dettweiler. He wounded the cripple in the head with his sabre for making out expressions regarded as offensive. Top right: THE 99TH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY MARCHING THROUGH THE TOWN OF ZABERN.

Bottom right: THE CRIPPLE SABRED BY LIEUTENANT FORSTNER

[Reporting on the Zabern Affair in Alsace-Lorraine.]

[ripstefano]

“Poor Blucher went mad for some time. He had shown off before some of our ladies, and got a fall from his horse and a blow on his head. This gave him all sorts of strange fancies. When I went to take leave of him, he positively told me he was pregnant! And what do you think he said he was pregnant of? – An elephant! And who do you think he said had produced it? – A French soldier!…”

- Recounted by Wellington to Stanhope, unknowingly exemplifying the dangers of directly translating your language to English without any context.

There’s a bit of a comedic story involving a Prussian diplomat during the War of the Third Coalition, Prussia being one of the main boss enemies during the early revolution was dragging its feet to declare war this time. Finally about to do it, the diplomat arrives just in time to hear the result of the battle of Austerlitz, and instead congratulates the French.

Queen Louise being one of Napoleon’s biggest haters on the continent is another funny little quirk about the Prussians.

As for their uniforms? The reference book really only covered the later army, but you can get a feel of the military practicality present. Overcoats, blankets, blues and grays, the Russo-German legion was dripped out a bit. The cavalry wasn’t too bad either.

From Blucher’s Army, 1813-15.

[hale-nathan]

Trump Weird News - Trump Bites The Apple

Grandfather, Frederick Trump (born Frederich Trump), owned "the Dairy Restaurant [which] was in the middle of Seattle's Pioneer Square… Biographer Gwenda Blair called it 'a hotbed of sex, booze, and money, [it] was the indisputable center of the action in Seattle.' The restaurant served food and liquor and was advertised to include 'Rooms for Ladies', a common euphemism for prostitution." He had immigrated to the U.S. to escape mandatory conscription in the Prussian Army and was banished from Prussia for so doing.

[girlactionfigure]

THURSDAY HERO: Albert Battel

Albert Battel was a Nazi officer who turned against the party after witnessing the liquidation of a Jewish ghetto in Poland, and atoned for past sins by saving 100 Jewish families.

Born in 1891 in Prussian Silesia, Albert served in the German Army in World War I. After the war, he attended law school and worked as an attorney in Breslau. In the early 1930’s, as Hitler rose to power in Germany, Albert heard the Nazi leader speak and was inspired by his message of German pride and unity after the humiliating defeat in the Great War. Albert joined the Nazi Party in 1933 and served as a Lieutenant in the Wehrmacht army reserves.

In 1942, Albert was called up from the reserves at age 51. He was sent to Prsemysl, Poland to help liquidate the Jewish ghetto there. Albert was horrified at the human misery he witnessed during the cruel liquidation. Families were being separated, beaten, arrested, and sent to their deaths. The streets were lined with corpses of Jews who died from starvation, disease, beatings or gunshot wounds.

Albert was sickened and enraged by what he saw. Participating in the ghetto liquidation was simply not an option for Albert. Together, he and local military commander Major Max Liedke – another German officer with a moral compass – took action. They ordered the bridge over the River San, the only way to reach the ghetto, to be completely blocked so the SS could not get through. When the Nazi troops tried to cross the bridge, Albert threatened to open fire and kill them all. The local Jewish inhabitants were amazed. Albert then commandeered Nazi trucks to evacuate and save 100 Jewish families. Those families were the only Jews from the entire town of Prsemysl who survived. The rest of Prsemysl’s 24,000 Jews were murdered, most of them at Belzec concentration camp.

The Nazi party immediately conducted a secret investigation of Albert and found a history of kindness to Jews. Before the war, he had been disciplined for lending a small amount of money to a Jewish colleague. Another time, he was publicly reprimanded for shaking the hand of a Jew. The internal investigation went all the way to Heinrich Himmler, head of the Gestapo, who ordered Albert expelled from the Nazi Party and arrested. Himmler postponed Albert’s punishment, however, until after the war to avoid embarrassment for the party.

When the war ended with Nazi defeat, Albert was captured by the Russians. After his release, he returned to Germany but found that his Nazi past made him ineligible to practice law. Because Himmler’s order to expel him had been postponed, Albert was still on the records as a Nazi Party member.

Albert Battel died in 1952 of heart disease. In 1981, Dr. Zeev Goshen, an Israeli lawyer and researcher, investigated and publicized Albert’s story. Due to Dr. Goshen’s efforts, in 1981 Albert Battel was honored as Righteous Among the Nations by Israeli Holocaust Memorial Yad Vashem.

For saving 100 families from certain death at high cost to himself, we honor Albert Battel as this week’s Thursday Hero.

[lucy-water]

Preußen's journal, September 1792:

L'Autrichienne, that was how they called her in Paris.

If I had arrived at La Force Prison a few minutes late, she would have shared the same fate with The Angel of Penthièvre, or maybe worse.

As I expected, the Archduchess was stubborn and initially insisted on staying, did not want to abandon The Royal family behind. She even begged me to help them.

I refused to do so. My hands were tied with the tumultuous situation in France. Saving her alone was already dangerous, I could not afford to play the role of a gallant Knight while risking my men's life.

The Archduchess tried to resist and thus, left me no other choice. I had to use force upon her in order to bring her outside. Thanks to the uniform I had stolen, the frantic mobs thought I were a guard carrying a prisoner's body to dump, my disguise allowed us to pass to safety.

The military physician had examined the Archduchess's health. Overall, except for being a bit underweight and having a bruise on her forehead caused by me, she was in good condition to carry on with the travel.

We will reach to Vienna soon. I have decided to be the Archduchess's companion during these time. Physically, she might appear normal but I cannot say the same to her mind. It's the best for all of us if I keep an eye on her.

-------------------------------------------------

Historical background and explaination:

L'Autrichienne: This was the nickname the French gave to Marie Antoinette during her downfall. Roughly translation means "the Austrian bit.."

At the end of August 1792, the news of the Prussian Army would be advancing to Paris after their victory in Verdun, had caused disaster chaos in the city. Fearing the prisoners of the newly established Republic would join with the enemy, there were people decided the prisoners should be got rid of. On 2 September, more than 1,000 prisoners in Paris (and later outside the city) were k*ll and the numbers would only increase including normal citizens until stopped on 6 September. Princess de Lamballe, a favorite of Marie Antoinette, also known as The Angel of Penthièvre for her kindness toward the poor was among the victims of this horrendous incident. She was still remembered as one of the tragic figures in the French Revolution.

A year before, on 27 August 1791 Prussia and the Holly Roman Empire signed Declaration of Pillnitz, to intervene if the King of France and his family's safety was in threat.

To honor the Declaration and strength the new alliance, Prussia decided to save Lady Austria during the time of the French Revolution and this was also the point they officially fell for each other. For him, she was his damsel in distress, the Martyr who would sacrifice for the people that she loved and cared for no matter the situation. For her, he was the hero of her life, the Knight in shining armor came to life, that she had long forgotten.

However, a love that bloomed in the midst of tears and wars would hardly have any happy ending.

---------------------------------------------------

Disclaimer

Please note that, this is my commission and not my art. Credit to the artist: ann_duong (twister: @ann_akii) for creating this for me.

[artejoke]

Love long and prosper

Emil Doerstling, Prussian love happiness, 1890, Deutsches Historisches Museum

Prussian army bandmaster Gustav Albrecht Sabac el Cher and his wife Gertrude Perling

[destalva25]

AWOOOOOOOO😳😳😳😳💥💥💥🔥🔥🔥

Prussian grenadier Engels for @destalva25

[whencyclopedia]

The September Massacres refers to a series of mass killings that took place in the prisons of Paris between 2 and 7 September 1792, during the French Revolution (1789-99). Sometimes known as the first Terror, the massacres saw between 1,100 and 1,400 prisoners murdered by gangs of sans-culottes, driven by a fear that the prisoners would rebel and destroy Paris. French military failures in the opening months of the War of the First Coalition (1792-97) had left the path to Paris open to a Prussian army, which promised the city's complete destruction. Panicking, mobs of Parisians rushed to the city's prisons, where royalists and refractory priests were being held on questionable counter-revolutionary charges. Taking justice upon themselves, the mobs set up mock tribunals in which they passed sentences on the 'traitors' and executed many on the spot. The September Massacres are significant for ushering in a new phase of the Revolution, one in which terror and violence were considered legitimate political tools. This, of course, would lead directly to the bloodletting of the Reign of Terror, which began about a year later.

[bantarleton]

Who Wants a Non-Hessian German Troops of the American Revolution Uniform Identification Flow Chart?

Now you too can roleplay as a harried British staff officer trying to identify which troops are encamped where, or a devious rebel spy collecting intelligence.

As folks may or may not know, only roughly 50% of the German state troops who served the British Crown during the American Revolution were “Hessians” from Hesse-Cassel. There were six other states that provided “subsidy troops.” Here’s how to tell them apart at a glance.

Are their uniforms predominantly dark blue? If yes, go to the paragraph numbered 4. If no, go to the para numbered 2.

2. Are their uniforms predominantly white? If no, go to the para numbered 3. If yes, those are troops from Anhalt-Zerbst. The only German state involved in the war to take its uniform and organisational cues from Austria rather than Prussia, the single Anhalt-Zerbst line regiment deployed to America wore white regimental coats faced with red. Their grenadiers wore bearskins rather than metal-faced caps (the only other German state to do this was Waldeck). One battalion also, according to one shocked British officer, had one of the most outrageous-looking uniforms of the war, including hussar hats, red and yellow waist sashes and red cloaks - these may have been “pandour” irregulars from the edges of the Austrian empire.

3. The coats are neither white nor blue, so they must be red. In this case, the troops are Hanoverian. While still mostly following Prussian style, because they shared a ruler with Britain, Hanoverian troops wore red. Five Hanoverian regiments assisted Britain with vital Mediterranean defence during the American Revolution, before going on to fight in India. They were the only redcoat Germans fighting for the Crown outside the British Army.

4. Your Germans are wearing blue coats. Are the buttons on the coat lapels arranged 1-2-1, and do the cuffs have a “Swedish” style slit to them? If no, go to the para numbered 5. If yes, they’re from Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. Brunswick provided the most soldiers after Hesse-Cassel, and arguably the most rounded force, with four line regiments, one dragoon regiment, one grenadier battalion and one light infantry battalion. But whether jäger, musketeers or grenadiers, they almost all had coat buttons in groups of 1-2-1 and the slit-style cuffs. Fun fact; the Brunswick crest of a racing white horse on a red field was the same as neighbouring Hanover’s.

5. Your Germans are wearing blue, but don’t have buttons in 1-2-1 and Swedish cuffs. Do they have yellow facings, and cuffs with buttons placed both horizontally and vertically? If no, go to the para numbered 6. If yes, they are from Waldeck. This German state usually provided troops for the Dutch, but raised a new unit, the 3rd English-Waldeck Regiment, for service in America. They mostly fought against the Spanish in the Deep South, where they were decimated by disease. If the unusual position of the buttons on the cuff isn’t enough, look for the belt plate bearing “FF” for “Fuerst Friedrich,” the state’s ruler.

6. Do your blue Germans have red facings, cocked hats and unusual lace on their coats, shaped like a figure-of-eight? If no, go to the para numbered 7. If yes, they’re from Hesse-Hanau. This state was closely related (in the sense of its ruler, literally) to Hesse-Cassel, yet remained independent. While it provided a small amount of artillery, jägers and freikorps light infantry, its main contribution was a single line regiment, Erbprinz. Their distinctive features were scalloped lace on their cocked hats and the figure-of-eight “Brandenburg” style lace. There was also a Hesse-Cassel Regiment Erbprinz (even sharing the same colonel-in-chief), but they were fusiliers with caps rather than the Hesse-Hanau musketeers with their cocked hats. Check the mistake made by this artwork - these are Hesse-Hanau soldiers from the Infanterie Regiment Erbprinz, but they’re wearing Cassel fusilier caps. Bonus fact; Hanau and Cassel’s crest both features a rampant lion with red and white stripes, but there are subtle differences - they face opposite directions, the style of stripes are slightly different, and the Hanau lion lacks the Cassel one’s crown, but does wield a sword.

7. Do your blue-coated Germans have a black eagle on their flags and grenadier cap plates? If no, they’re probably from Hesse-Cassel. If yes, they’re from Ansbach-Bayreuth. This German state consisted of two provinces, Ansbach and Bayreuth (funny that). Besides jägers and some battalion guns, their main contribution was two infantry regiments, one from each of the two provinces. Their ruler’s crest was a black eagle, similar to the Prussian one.

Of course these posts don’t account for the uniforms of the jäger corps, or musicians, or any artillery, but it can serve as a rough guide. For the proper detail, you’ll have to buy my forthcoming book on the topic!

Also would be pretty cool if someone made an actual flow chart out of this, just saying!