A standard of the Prussian Army.

The Prussian Army (German: Preußische Armee) was the army of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was vital to the development of Brandenburg-Prussia as a European power. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (844x657, 213 KB) Prussian standard pre 1807 File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Prussian Army ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (844x657, 213 KB) Prussian standard pre 1807 File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Prussian Army ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Flag of Prussia (1894 - 1918) The Kingdom of Prussia existed from 1701 until 1918, and from 1871 was the leading kingdom of the German Empire, comprising in its last form almost two-thirds of the area of the Empire. ... The Brandenburg-Prussian state was formed in 1618 when the Duchy of Prussia came under the control of the Elector of Brandenburg (part of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation). ...

The Prussian Army had its roots in the meager forces of Brandenburg during the Thirty Years' War. Elector Frederick William developed it into a viable standing army, while King Frederick William I of Prussia drastically increased its size. King Frederick the Great led the disciplined Prussian troops to victory during the 18th century Silesian Wars and increased the prestige of the Kingdom of Prussia. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Friedrich Wilhelm I of Brandenburg. ... A standing army is an army composed of full time professional soldiers. ... Frederick William I (German: Friedrich Wilhelm I) (August 14, 1688 – May 31, 1740) of the House of Hohenzollern, was the King in Prussia from 1713 until his death. ... Frederick II of Prussia (German: ; January 24, 1712 – August 17, 1786) of Hohenzollern dynasty, ruled the Kingdom of Prussia from 1740 to 1786. ... The Silesian Wars were a series of wars between Prussia and Austria (and their changing allies) for control of Silesia. ...

The army was outdated by the beginning of the Napoleonic Wars, however, and Prussia was defeated by France in the War of the Fourth Coalition. Under the leadership of Gerhard von Scharnhorst, Prussian reformers began modernizing the Prussian Army, which participated in the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte during the War of the Sixth Coalition. Conservatives halted some of the reforms, however, and the army became a bulwark of the conservative Prussian government. Combatants Allies: Austria[1] Portugal Prussia[1] Russia[2] Spain[3] Sweden United Kingdom[4] French Empire Holland Kingdom of Italy Kingdom of Naples Duchy of Warsaw Bavaria[5] Saxony[6] Denmark [7] Commanders Archduke Charles Prince Schwarzenberg Karl Mack von Leiberich Gebhard von Blücher Duke of Brunswick Prince... In the Napoleonic Wars, the Fourth Coalition was an alliance organized against Napoleons French Empire in 1806–1807. ... Gerhard Johann David von Scharnhorst (November 12, 1755 - June 28, 1813) was a general in Prussian service, Chief of the Prussian General Staff, noted for both his writings and his leadership during the Napoleonic Wars. ... Bonaparte as general Napoleon Bonaparte ( 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821) was a general of the French Revolution and was the ruler of France as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the French Republic from November 11, 1799 to May 18, 1804, then as Emperor of the French (Empereur des... The Sixth Coalition (1813-1814) was a coalition of the United Kingdom, Russia, Prussia, Sweden, Austria and a number of German States against the Napoleonic France. ...

The Prussian Army was successful in 19th century wars against Denmark, Austria, and France, allowing Prussia to create the German Empire in 1871. The Prussian Army formed the core of Imperial Germany's armed forces, which were replaced after World War I with the Reichswehr. Motto: Gott mit Uns (German: God with us”) Anthem: Heil dir im Siegerkranz (unofficial) Territory of the German Empire in 1914, prior to World War I Capital Berlin Language(s) Official: German Unofficial minority languages: Polish (Posen, Lower Silesia,Upper Silesia, Masuria) French (Alsace-Lorraine) Government Constitutional monarchy Emperor  - 1871... Combatants Allied Powers: Russian Empire France British Empire Italy United States Central Powers: Austria-Hungary German Empire Ottoman Empire Bulgaria Commanders Nicholas II Aleksei Brusilov Georges Clemenceau Joseph Joffre Ferdinand Foch Herbert Henry Asquith Douglas Haig John Jellicoe Victor Emmanuel III Luigi Cadorna Armando Diaz Woodrow Wilson John Pershing Franz... The Reichswehr (help· info) (literally National Defense or Imperial Defense) formed the military organization of Germany from 1919 until 1935, when the government rebranded it as the Wehrmacht (Defence Force). ...

History

The Great Elector

Growth of Brandenburg-Prussia, 1600-1795

The Army of Prussia grew out of the armed forces created during the reign of Elector Frederick William of Brandenburg (1640-1688). The Hohenzollern Brandenburg-Prussia had primarily used ineffective mercenary forces during the Thirty Years' War, in which the principality was devastated. Swedish and Imperial forces traversed and occupied the country essentially at will. After acceding to the electoral throne, Frederick William started building a standing army to better defend his state in Spring 1644. Growth of Prussia File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Growth of Prussia File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Brandenburg-Prussian state was formed in 1618 when the Duchy of Prussia came under the control of the Elector of Brandenburg (part of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation). ... Friedrich Wilhelm I of Brandenburg. ... Coat of arms Capital Brandenburg Berlin (from 1417) Religion Roman Catholic Lutheran Calvinist Government Monarchy Margrave  - 1157–70 Albert I  - 1797–1806 Frederick William III History  - Margraviate established 3 October, 1157  - Electorate established 25 December 1356  - Brandenburg-Prussia 27 August 1618  - Kingdom of Prussia 1 January 1701  - Dissolution of the... Hohenzollern redirects here. ... The Brandenburg-Prussian state was formed in 1618 when the Duchy of Prussia came under the control of the Elector of Brandenburg (part of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation). ... A mercenary is a soldier who fights or engages in warfare primarily for private gain, usually with little regard for ideological, national, or political considerations, however, when the term mercenary is used to refer to a soldier of a national, regular army, it usually is an insult, epithet or pejorative. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The double-headed eagle A portrait of Charlemagne wearing the crown of the Holy Roman Empire (15th century painting by Albrecht Dürer) The Holy Roman Empire was a mainly Germanic conglomeration of lands in Central Europe during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. ... A standing army is an army composed of full time professional soldiers. ...

Frederick William, the "Great Elector"

The elector's confidant Johann von Norprath began recruiting forces in the Duchy of Cleves and had organized an army of 3,000 Dutch and Prussian soldiers in the Rhineland by 1646. Garrisons were also slowly augmented in Brandenburg and the Duchy of Prussia.^[1] Frederick William sought sought assistance from France, the traditional rival of Habsburg Austria, and began receiving French subsidies. He based his reforms on those of Louvois, the War Minister of King Louis XIV of France.^[2] Image File history File links Kurfürst_Friedrich_Wilhelm_von_Brandenburg_4. ... Image File history File links Kurfürst_Friedrich_Wilhelm_von_Brandenburg_4. ... Friedrich Wilhelm I of Brandenburg. ... The Duchy of Cleves (Herzogtum Kleve) was a state of the Holy Roman Empire in present Germany (part of North Rhine-Westphalia) and the Netherlands (parts of Limburg, Noord-Brabant and Gelderland). ... The Prussian Tribute, oil on canvas by Jan Matejko, 1882, 388 x 875 cm, National Museum in Kraków. ... Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy; also used as the flag of the Austrian Empire until the Ausgleich of 1867. ... François Michel le Tellier, Marquis de Louvois (January 18, 1641 - July 16, 1691), was the French war minister under Louis XIV. He was born in Paris to Michel le Tellier. ... The Secretary of State for War (French: ) was one of the four or five specialized secretaries of state in France during the Ancien Régime. ... Sun King redirects here. ...

Frederick William attempted to professionalize his soldiers during a time of soldiers of fortune. In addition to individually creating regiments and appointing colonels, the elector imposed harsh punishment for discretions, such as punishing by hanging for looting. Acts of violence by officers against civilians resulted in decommission for a year.^[2] He developed a cadet institution for the nobility; although the upper class was resistant to the idea in the short time, the integration of the nobility into the officer corps allied them with the Hohenzollern monarchy in the long term.^[3] Suicide by hanging. ... Looting (which derives via the Hindi lut from Sanskrit lunt, to rob), sacking, or plundering is the indiscriminate taking of goods by force as part of a military or political victory, or during a catastrophe or riot, such as during war [1], natural disaster [2], rioting [3], or terrorist attack... An officer is a member of a military or naval service who holds a position of responsibility. ...

Brandenburg-Prussia participated in the Northern Wars, in which Frederick William was victorious in the Battle of Warsaw (1656). Hohenzollern success in the war enabled Frederick William to assume sovereignty over the Duchy of Prussia in the Treaty of Oliva (1660). The elector and his Field Marshal Derfflinger defeated Swedish forces in Brandenburg at the Battle of Fehrbellin (1675); although a minor victory, it brought fame to the Brandenburg-Prussian army and gave Frederick William the nickname "the Great Elector".^[4] His forces later expelled Swedish troops from Prussia during "the Great Sleigh Drive" (1678). King Charles X of Sweden The Northern Wars (1655-1661) is a name sometimes used for the series of conflicts between Sweden and its adversaries Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (The Deluge, 1655-1660), Russia (1656-1661), Brandenburg-Prussia (1657-1660), the Holy Roman Empire (1657-60) and Denmark (1657-1658, 1658... The Battle of Warsaw which took place on 28-30 July 1656, between armies of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth on the one side and of Sweden and Brandenburg on the other, was an important battle of the Northern Wars. ... The Prussian Tribute, oil on canvas by Jan Matejko, 1882, 388 x 875 cm, National Museum in Kraków. ... Treaty of Oliwa. ... Georg von Derfflinger Georg von Derfflinger (* 20 March 1606 in Neuhofen, Austria; † 14 February 1695 in Gusow, Brandenburg/Germany) was a fieldmarshal in the army of Brandenburg during and after the 30 Years War (1618-1648). ... Combatants Brandenburg Sweden Commanders Georg von Derfflinger Waldemar von Wrangel Strength 5,600 cavalry, 13 guns 7,000 infantry, 4,000 cavalry, 28 guns Casualties 500 men 600 men but almost entire force later lost during retreat The Battle of Fehrbellin was fought on June 28, 1675 between Sweden and... The Great Sleigh Drive (German: ) was a daring and bold maneuver by Frederick William, the Great Elector of Brandenburg-Prussia, to drive Swedish forces out of the Duchy of Prussia, a territory of his which had been invaded by the Swedes during the winter of 1678. ...

Frederick William built the Hohenzollern army up to a peacetime size of 7,000 and a wartime size of 15,000-30,000.^[3] The growing power of the Hohenzollerns in Berlin led his successor Elector Frederick III (1688–1713) to proclaim the Kingdom of Prussia with himself as King Frederick I of Prussia in 1701. Although Frederick I emphasized Baroque opulence and the arts in imitation of Versailles instead of the military, this was reversed upon the accession of his son, Frederick William I, the "Soldier-King" (1713-1740). This article is about the capital of Germany. ... Flag of Prussia (1894 - 1918) The Kingdom of Prussia existed from 1701 until 1918, and from 1871 was the leading kingdom of the German Empire, comprising in its last form almost two-thirds of the area of the Empire. ... Friedrich I of Prussia, Kurfürst of Brandenburg, King in Russia (Fredrick I, July 11, 1857 -- February 25, 1913), Hohenzollern, was the first King in Prussia, reigning from January 18, 2001, until his death. ... Adoration, by Peter Paul Rubens. ... Hall of Mirrors redirects here. ... Frederick William I (German: Friedrich Wilhelm I) (August 14, 1688 – May 31, 1740) of the House of Hohenzollern, was the King in Prussia from 1713 until his death. ...

The Soldier-King

Frederick William I, the "Soldier-King"

Frederick William I reduced the size of the gaudy Royal Guard to a single batallion, a troop of taller-than-average soldiers known as the Potsdam Giants which he privately funded.^[5] The cavalry was reorganized into 55 squadrons of 150 horses; the infantry was turned into 50 battalions (25 regiments); and the artillery consisted of two battalions. These changes allowed him to increase the army from 39,000 to 45,000 troops;^[5] by the end of Frederick William I's reign, the army had doubled in size.^[6] The General War Commissary, responsible for the army and revenue, was removed from interference by the estates and placed strictly under the control of officials appointed by the king.^[7] Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (751x992, 138 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Prussian Army ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (751x992, 138 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Prussian Army ... Frederick William I (German: Friedrich Wilhelm I) (August 14, 1688 – May 31, 1740) of the House of Hohenzollern, was the King in Prussia from 1713 until his death. ... A Royal Guard describes any group of military bodyguard or retainer responsible for the protection of a royal person, such as a King or Queen. ... The Potsdam Giants was a Prussian infantry regiment composed of taller-than-average soldiers. ... Soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback in combat are commonly known as cavalry (from French cavalerie). ... A Squadron is a small unit or formation of cavalry, aircraft (including balloons), or naval vessels. ... Symbol of the Austrian 14th Armoured Battalion in NATO military graphic symbols A battalion is a military unit usually consisting of between two and six companies and typically commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel. ... A regiment is a military unit, consisting of battalions - usually three or four - commanded by a colonel. ...

The king restricted enrollment in the officer corps to Germans and compelled the Prussian aristocracy to serve in the army.^[6] Until 1730 the common soldiers consisted largely of peasantry recruited from Brandenburg-Prussia, leading many to flee to neighboring countries. In order to halt this trend, Frederick William I divided Prussia into regimental cantons. Every youth was required to serve as a soldier in these recruitment districts for three months each year; this met agrarian needs and added extra troops to bolster the regular ranks.^[8] The Ancient Greek term aristocracy meant a system of government with rule by the best. This is the first definition given in most dictionaries. ... Categories: 1911 Britannica | Historical stubs | Feudalism ...

The middle class of the towns was required to quarter soldiers and enroll in the bureaucracy. Because the excise tax was only applied in towns, the king was reluctant to engage in war; deployment of the army in foreign lands would have deprived him of taxes from the town-based military.^[9] The middle class (or middle classes) comprises a social group once defined by exception as an intermediate social class between the nobility and the peasantry. ... An excise is an indirect tax or duty levied on items within a country. ...

Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, served as the royal drill sergeant for the Prussian Army. He introduced the iron ramrod, increasing Prussian firepower. By the end of Frederick William I's reign, Prussia had the fourth largest army (60,000 soldiers) in Europe, but was twelfth in population size (2.5 million). This was maintained with a budget of 5 million thalers (out of a total state budget of 7 million thalers).^[10] Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (July 3, 1676 – April 7, 1747), called the Old Dessauer (der alte Dessauer), general field marshal in the Prussian army, was the only surviving son of John George II, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, and was born at Dessau. ... Look up ramrod in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Examples of German and Austrian Thalers compared to a US quarter piece The Thaler (or Taler) was a silver coin used throughout Europe for almost four hundred years. ...

Frederick the Great

Battle of Hohenfriedberg- Attack of Prussian Infantry, June 4th, 1745, by Carl Röchling

Frederick William I's successor, Frederick the Great (1740-1786), began the Silesian Wars shortly after taking the throne. The Prussian Army achieved victory over Austria in the Battle of Mollwitz (1741) under the leadership of Field Marshal Schwerin. The Prussian cavalry had performed poorly at Mollwitz; the cuirassiers, originally trained on heavy horses, were retrained on more maneuverable ligher horses. The hussars and dragoons of General Zieten were also expanded. These changes led to another Prussian victory at Battle of Chotusitz (1742), and Austria conceded Silesia to Frederick with the Peace of Breslau.^[11] Image File history File links Hohenfriedeberg. ... Image File history File links Hohenfriedeberg. ... Combatants Austria Saxony Prussia Commanders Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine Frederick the Great Strength unknown unknown Casualties 4,000 dead or wounded 7,000 captured 2,000 dead, 2000 wounded Map of the Battle The Battle of Hohenfriedberg (or Hohenfriedeberg) was a decisive battle fought during the War of the... Frederick II of Prussia (German: ; January 24, 1712 – August 17, 1786) of Hohenzollern dynasty, ruled the Kingdom of Prussia from 1740 to 1786. ... The Silesian Wars were a series of wars between Prussia and Austria (and their changing allies) for control of Silesia. ... The Battle of Mollwitz was a Prussian victory over Austria on April 10, 1741. ... Kurt Christoph Graf von Schwerin (26 October 1684 - 6 May 1757) was a Prussian generalfeldmarschall, one of the leading commanders under Frederick the Great. ... Soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback in combat are commonly known as cavalry (from French cavalerie). ... Cuirassiers were mounted cavalry soldiers equipped with armor and firearms, first appearing in late 15th-century Europe. ... Polish Hussar Hussar (original Hungarian spelling: huszár, plural huszárok) refers to a number of types of cavalry used throughout Europe since the 15th century. ... A light dragoon from the American Revolution French dragoon, 1745. ... Hans Joachim von Zieten Hans Joachim von Zieten (May 14, 1699 – January 26, 1786). ... Combatants Austria Prussia Commanders Prince Charles of Lorraine Frederick the Great Strength unknown unknown Casualties 7,000 dead, 18 guns and 12,000 prisoners 7,000 dead, 1,000 prisoners The Battle of Chotusitz (or Chotusice) was fought on May 17, 1742 between the Austrians under Prince Charles of Lorraine...

Austria tried to reclaim Silesia in the Second Silesian War, but was crushed in the Battle of Hohenfriedberg (1745). The Prussian cavalry excelled during the battle, especially the hussars of General Zieten. Combatants Austria Saxony Prussia Commanders Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine Frederick the Great Strength unknown unknown Casualties 4,000 dead or wounded 7,000 captured 2,000 dead, 2000 wounded Map of the Battle The Battle of Hohenfriedberg (or Hohenfriedeberg) was a decisive battle fought during the War of the... Soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback in combat are commonly known as cavalry (from French cavalerie). ... Polish Hussar Hussar (original Hungarian spelling: huszár, plural huszárok) refers to a number of types of cavalry used throughout Europe since the 15th century. ... Hans Joachim von Zieten Hans Joachim von Zieten (May 14, 1699 – January 26, 1786). ...

Frederick the Great, print by Richard Knötel.

Austria then allied with France in the Diplomatic Revolution (1756); Austria, France, and Russia all opposed Prussia. Frederick preemptively attacked his enemies with an army of 150,000, beginning the Seven Years' War. Although outnumbered, the Prussian Army achieved notable victories at Rossbach and Leuthen in 1757. However, Prussian forces were crushed at Kunersdorf (1759). Prussia's defeat seemed imminent, but Frederick was saved by the the miracle of the House of Brandenburg- the exit from the war of Russia after the sudden death of Empress Elizabeth. Prussian control of Silesia was confirmed in the Treaty of Hubertusburg (1763). Image File history File links A Knötel print depicting Frederick II the Great during the Seven Years War. ... Image File history File links A Knötel print depicting Frederick II the Great during the Seven Years War. ... Frederick II of Prussia (German: ; January 24, 1712 – August 17, 1786) of Hohenzollern dynasty, ruled the Kingdom of Prussia from 1740 to 1786. ... The Diplomatic Revolution refers to the alliances formed in 1756 as a result of the outbreak of the Seven Years War. ... Combatants Kingdom of Prussia Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland Electorate of Hanover Kingdom of Portugal Brunswick Hesse-Kassel Holy Roman/Austrian Empire Kingdom of France Russian Empire Kingdom of Sweden Kingdom of Spain Electorate of Saxony Kingdom of Naples and Sicily Kingdom of Sardinia The Seven Years War (1754... The Battle of Rossbach (November 5, 1757) took place during the Seven Years War (1756 - 1763) near the village of Rossbach, then in Prussian Saxony. ... Combatants Prussia Austria Commanders Frederick the Great Charles of Lorraine Strength 39,000 167 guns 58,500 210 guns Casualties 1,141 dead 5118 wounded 85 captured 3000 dead 7,000 wounded 12,000 captured 51 flags 116 cannons The Battle of Leuthen was a battle fought on December 5... The battle of Kunersdorf was fought on August 23, 1759 during the Seven Years War near Kunersdorf, east of Frankfurt an der Oder. ... The miracle of the House of Brandenburg refers to the death of Russias Empress Elizabeth at the beginning of 1762. ... H.I.M. Yelizaveta Petrovna, Empress and Autocrat of all the Russias (1709-62) Yelizaveta (Yelisavet) Petrovna (Елизаве́та (Елисаве́т) Петро́вна) (December 29, 1709 - January 5, 1762), also known as Elizabeth, was an Empress of Russia (1741 - 1762) who took the country into the War of Austrian succession (1740 - 1748) and the Seven Years... The Treaty of Hubertusburg, signed on 15 February 1763, together with the Treaty of Paris signed on 10 February 1763, marked the end of the French and Indian War and of the Seven Years War. ...

The offensive-minded Frederick advocated the oblique order of battle, which required considerable discipline and mobility. Although this tactic failed at Kunersdorf, it was used to great success at Leuthen.^[12] After a few initial salvos, the infantry was to advance quickly for a bayonet charge. The Prussian cavalry was to attack as a large formation with swords before the opposing cavalry could attack.^[13] The Oblique Order is a military attack tactic where an attacking army refocuses its forces to attack enemy flank. ... A salvo is the simultaneous discharge of artillery or firearms including the firing of guns either to hit a target or to perform a salute. ... The US Marine Corps OKC-3S Bayonet A bayonet (from French baïonnette) is a knife- or dagger-shaped weapon designed to fit on or over the muzzle of a rifle barrel or similar weapon. ...

The first garrison began construction in Berlin in 1764. The Prussian army consisted of 187,000 soldiers in 1776, 90,000 of whom were Prussian subjects in central and eastern Prussia. The remainder were foreign (both German and non-German) volunteers or conscripts.^[14] Frederick established the Garde du Corps as the royal guard. For people named Garrison, see Garrison (disambiguation) Garrison House, built by William Damm in 1675 at Dover, New Hampshire Garrison (from the French garnison, itself from the verb garnir, to equip) is the collective term for the body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but... The Garde du Corps was the personal bodyguard of the king of Prussia and after 1871, the German emperor (in German: Kaiser). ...

By the end of Frederick's reign, the army had become an integral part of Prussian society and numbered 193,000 soldiers, causing Minister Friedrich von Schrötter to remark that, "Prussia was not a country with an army, but an army with a country".^[15][16]

Napoleonic Wars

Death's Head Hussar, print by Richard Knötel.

Frederick the Great's successor, his nephew Frederick William II, relaxed conditions in Prussia and had little interest in war. He delegated responsibility to Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick, and the army began to degrade in quality. Led by aged veterans of the Silesian Wars, the Prussian Army was ill-equipped to deal with Revolutionary France during the Napoleonic Wars. Image File history File links Image from Knötels Uniformenkunde of a Hussar from Prussian Husaren-Regiment von Ruesch (to become Husaren-Regiment Nr. ... Image File history File links Image from Knötels Uniformenkunde of a Hussar from Prussian Husaren-Regiment von Ruesch (to become Husaren-Regiment Nr. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Polish Hussar Hussar (original Hungarian spelling: huszár, plural huszárok) refers to a number of types of cavalry used throughout Europe since the 15th century. ... Frederick William II (German: ; September 25, 1744 – November 16, 1797) was the fourth king of Prussia, reigning from 1786 until his death. ... Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick (October 9, 1735 - November 10, German general, was born at Wolfenbüttel. ... i heart kate young The French Revolution was a period of major political and social change in the political history of France and Europe as a whole, during which the French governmental structure, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to... Combatants Allies: Austria[1] Portugal Prussia[1] Russia[2] Spain[3] Sweden United Kingdom[4] French Empire Holland Kingdom of Italy Kingdom of Naples Duchy of Warsaw Bavaria[5] Saxony[6] Denmark [7] Commanders Archduke Charles Prince Schwarzenberg Karl Mack von Leiberich Gebhard von Blücher Duke of Brunswick Prince...

Prussia withdrew from the First Coalition against Napoleon Bonaparte in the Peace of Basel (1795), ceding the Prussian Rhineland to France. Upon Frederick William II's death in 1797, the state was bankrupt and the army outdated. He was succeeded by his son, Frederick William III, who involved Prussia in the disastrous Fourth Coalition. The Prussian Army was decisively defeated in the Battle of Jena-Auerstedt (1806), and Prussia submitted to major territorial losses, a standing army of only 42,000 men, and an alliance with France in the Treaty of Tilsit (1807). The name First Coalition (1793–1797) designates the first major concerted effort of multiple European powers to contain Revolutionary France. ... Napoleon I Bonaparte, Emperor of the French, King of Italy, Mediator of the Swiss Confederation and Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821) was a general of the French Revolution, the ruler of France as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the French Republic from... The Peace of Basel of 1795 consists of three peace treaties of France (represented by François de Barthélemy). ... The Rhineland (Rheinland in German) is the general name for the land on both sides of the river Rhine in the west of Germany. ... Frederick William III (German: , August 3, 1770 – June 7, 1840) was king of Prussia from 1797 to 1840. ... In the Napoleonic Wars, the Fourth Coalition was an alliance organized against Napoleons French Empire in 1806–1807. ... Combatants First French Empire Prussia Commanders Napoleon I Louis Nicolas Davout Duke of Brunswick Prince Hohenlohe Strength 90,000 (Jena); 27,000 (Auerstedt) 38,000 (Jena); 63,000 (Auerstedt) Casualties 5,000 dead and wounded (Jena); 7,000 killed, wounded, or missing (Auerstedt) 25,000 dead, wounded, or captured (Jena... The Treaties of Tilsit were two agreements signed by Napoleon I of France in the town of Tilsit in July, 1807. ...

Gerhard von Scharnhorst.

The defeat of the army shocked Prussian society, which remembered the Frederician victories. While Stein and Hardenberg began modernizing the Prussian state, Gerhard von Scharnhorst began to reform the military. He founded the Prussian Military Academy as an officers training school in Berlin in 1801. August von Gneisenau and Carl von Clausewitz assisted with the reorganization as well. Scharnhorst supporting opening the army to the middle class and making advancement into the higher ranks based on education.^[17] He advocated adopting the levée en masse (military conscription) used by France; the Landwehr, or militia, was created to bolster the limited army available to Prussia. The generals of the army were completely overhauled; of the 143 Prussian generals in 1806, only Blücher and Tauentzien remained by the Sixth Coalition. Scharnhorst also created the Krümpersystem, by which companies released 3-5 monthly who were replaced, allowing up to 60 extra men to be trained annually per company.^[18] Corporal punishment was by and large abolished, while soldiers were trained in the field and in tirailleur tactics. Scharnhorst promoted the integration of the infantry, cavalry, and artillery through combined arms, as opposed to their previous independent states. Image File history File links Gerhard_von_Scharnhorst. ... Image File history File links Gerhard_von_Scharnhorst. ... Gerhard Johann David von Scharnhorst (November 12, 1755 - June 28, 1813) was a general in Prussian service, Chief of the Prussian General Staff, noted for both his writings and his leadership during the Napoleonic Wars. ... Frederick II of Prussia (German: ; January 24, 1712 – August 17, 1786) of Hohenzollern dynasty, ruled the Kingdom of Prussia from 1740 to 1786. ... Heinrich Friedrich Karl, Baron vom und zum Stein Heinrich Friedrich Karl Reichsfreiherr vom und zum Stein (Baron vom und zum Stein), October 26, 1757 - June 29, 1831), was a German statesman, of an old Franconian family. ... Karl August von Hardenberg Karl August Fürst von Hardenberg (en: Prince Charles Augustus von Hardenberg) (May 31, 1750 - November 26, 1822), was a Prussian statesman. ... Gerhard Johann David von Scharnhorst (November 12, 1755 - June 28, 1813) was a general in Prussian service, Chief of the Prussian General Staff, noted for both his writings and his leadership during the Napoleonic Wars. ... Fassade Unter den Linden 74, erbaut 1845/25 von Karl Friedrich Schinkel als vereinte Artillerie- und Ingenieurschule Fassade des Lehrgebäudes an der Dorotheenstraße 58/59, entworfen von Franz Schwechten (1883) Lageplan der Kriegsakademie mit dem Lehrgebäude an der Dorotheenstraße und dem aufgrund der vornehmen Lage 1878... This article is about the capital of Germany. ... August Wilhelm Antonius Graf Neidhardt von Gneisenau (27 October 1760 – 23 August 1831) was a Prussian field marshal. ... A young Clausewitz Carl Philipp Gottfried von Clausewitz (June 1, 1780 – November 16, 1831) was a Prussian general and influential military theorist. ... Levée en masse (literally Mass uprising) is a French term for mass conscription. ... The Landwehr was a type of militia found in 19th- and early 20th-century Europe. ... Lexington Minuteman representing militia minuteman John Parker Militia is the activity of one or more citizens organized to provide defense or paramilitary service, or those engaged in such activity. ... Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher (December 16, 1742 in Rostock (Mecklenburg) - September 12, 1819 in Krieblowitz (Silesia) (now Krobielowice in Poland)), Graf (Count), later elevated to Fürst von Wahlstatt, was a Prussian general who led his army against Napoleon I at the Battle of... The Sixth Coalition (1813-1814) was a coalition of the United Kingdom, Russia, Prussia, Sweden, Austria and a number of German States against the Napoleonic France. ... Corporal punishment is the deliberate infliction of pain intended to correct behavior or to punish. ... Tirailleur means sharpshooter in French. ... Combined arms is an approach to warfare which seeks to integrate different arms of a military to achieve mutually complementary effects. ...

Iron Cross of 1813.

Some reforms were opposed by Frederician traditionalists, such as Yorck, who felt that the changes would erode the privileges of the aristocratic officer corps and promote the ideas of the French Revolution.^[19] The army reform movement was cut short by Scharnhorst's death in 1813, and a shift to a more democratic and middle class military lost momentum in the face of the reactionary government. Original Iron Cross This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Original Iron Cross This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... A stylized version of the Iron Cross, the emblem of the Bundeswehr, Germanys Armed Forces. ... Johann David Ludwig Graf Yorck von Wartenburg (September 26, 1759 - October 4, 1830) was a Prussian Field Marshal of alleged English ancestry. ... i heart kate young The French Revolution was a period of major political and social change in the political history of France and Europe as a whole, during which the French governmental structure, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to...

During Napoleon's retreat from Russia (1812), Prussia joined the War of the Sixth Coalition. The reformer Yorck signed the Convention of Tauroggen, breaking the Franco-Prussian alliance. Prussian troops, including Silesian Landwehr, under Blücher proved vital at the Battles of Leipzig (1813) and Waterloo (1815). Combatants First French Empire Russian Empire Commanders Napoleon Eugène de Beauharnais Jérôme Bonaparte Jaques MacDonald Karl Philipp Alexander I of Russia Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly Pyotr Bagration Strength 771,500 troops 900,000 troops Casualties 300,000 French 70,000 Poles 50,000 Italians 80,000... The Sixth Coalition (1813-1814) was a coalition of the United Kingdom, Russia, Prussia, Sweden, Austria and a number of German States against the Napoleonic France. ... Johann David Ludwig Graf Yorck von Wartenburg (September 26, 1759 - October 4, 1830) was a Prussian Field Marshal of alleged English ancestry. ... The Convention of Tauroggen was a truce signed 30 December 1812 at Tauroggen between Generalleutnant Johann David Ludwig Graf Yorck von Wartenburg on behalf of his Prussian troops, and by General Hans Karl von Diebitsch of the Russian Army. ... Please be advised that the factual accuracy of Wikipedia articles dealing with topics related to the Oder-Neisse Line is often disputed. ... Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher (December 16, 1742 in Rostock (Mecklenburg) - September 12, 1819 in Krieblowitz (Silesia) (now Krobielowice in Poland)), Graf (Count), later elevated to Fürst von Wahlstatt, was a Prussian general who led his army against Napoleon I at the Battle of... Combatants France, Poland, Saxony and other states of Confederation of the Rhine Russia, Austrian Empire, Prussia, Sweden Commanders Napoleon I of France, prince Jozef Antoni Poniatowski, King Frederick Augustus of Saxony Karl Philipp, prince of Schwarzenberg Gebhard von Blücher Crown Prince Charles of Sweden Strength 191,000 330,000... Combatants France Prussia Allied army: -United Kingdom -United Netherlands -Hannover -Nassau -Brunswick Commanders Napoléon Bonaparte Michel Ney Duke of Wellington Gebhard von Blücher Strength 73,000 67,000 Allies 60,000 Prussian (48,000 engaged by about 18:00) Casualties 25,000 dead or wounded 22,000 dead...

The Iron Cross was introduced as a military decoration by King Frederick William III in 1813. A stylized version of the Iron Cross, the emblem of the Bundeswehr, Germanys Armed Forces. ... A military decoration is a decoration given to military personnel or units for heroism in battle or distinguished service. ...

Conservative Prussia

Expansion of Prussia (1807-1871)

The Prussian General Stuff, which developed out of meetings of the Great Elector with his senior officers^[2] and the informal meeting of the Napoleonic Era reformers, was formally created in 1814. Hermann von Boyen prevented the elimination of general conscription, but was forced to accept creation of the Landsturm, a force inferior to the Landwehr. Troops of the 136,000-strong standing army served for three years and were in the reserves for two, while militiamen of the 163,000-strong Landwehr served a few weeks annually for seven years.^[20] Expansion of Prussia File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Expansion of Prussia File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The German General Staff or Großer Generalstab was the most important German weapon for nearly two centuries. ... Leopold Hermann Ludwig von Boyen (20 June or July 23, 1771 – February 15, 1848) served as an army officer who helped to reform the Prussian army in the early 19th century. ... The Landsturm is the German equivalent of the levee en masse, or general levy of all men capable of bearing arms and not included in the other regularly organized forces, standing army or its second line formations, of Continental nations. ...

Conservative forces within Prussia remained opposed to conscription and the more democratic Landwehr. Frederick William III reduced the militia's size and placed it under the control of the regular army in 1819, leading to Boyen's resignation.

Bismarck, Roon, and Moltke in the 1860s.

By the middle of the 19th century, Prussia was seen by many German Liberals as the country best-suited to unify the many German states, but Prussian troops were used to suppress the 1848 revolution within Germany. With the Second Italian War of Independence in mind, King William I of Prussia began to reform the Prussian Army, which conservatives such as General von Roon considered to have degraded since 1820 because of liberalism. The liberal and middle-class Landwehr was weakened in 1860 in favor of the regular army, which was composed mostly of peasantry loyal to the Hohenzollern monarchy and conservative Junkers. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (720x794, 121 KB) Description: Otto von Bismarck, Roon and Moltke Source: Bismarck. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (720x794, 121 KB) Description: Otto von Bismarck, Roon and Moltke Source: Bismarck. ... Bismarck redirects here. ... Albrecht Graf von Roon Prussian Minister of War Albrecht Theodor Graf Emil von Roon (30 April 1803 – 23 February 1879) was a Prussian soldier and politician. ... Generalfeldmarschall Helmuth, Graf von Moltke (known as Helmuth Karl Bernhard von Moltke before 1870) (October 26, 1800 – April 24, 1891), was a German Field Marshal, thirty years chief of the staff of the Prussian army, widely regarded as one of the great strategists of the latter half of the 1800s... Liberalism is an ideology, philosophical view, and political tradition which holds that liberty is the primary political value. ... The German Confederation (German: Deutscher Bund) was the association of Central European states created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to organize the surviving states of the Holy Roman Empire, which had been abolished in 1806. ... // Germany at the time of the Revolutions of 1848 was a collection of 38 states including Austria loosely bound together in the German Confederation after the Congress of Vienna in 1815. ... Combatants Image:Second-empire. ... William I (William Frederick Louis, German: ) (March 22, 1797 – March 9, 1888) of the House of Hohenzollern was a King of Prussia (January 2, 1861 – 9 March 1888) and the first German Emperor (18 January 1871 – 9 March 1888). ... Albrecht Graf von Roon Prussian Minister of War Albrecht Theodor Graf Emil von Roon (30 April 1803 – 23 February 1879) was a Prussian soldier and politician. ... Junkers (English pronunciation: ; German pronunciation: ) were the landed aristocracy of Prussia and Eastern Germany - often also called Eastelbia (Ostelbien in German - the land east of river Elbe). ...

Battle of Königgrätz, by Georg Bleibtreu.

The Prussian Army crushed Danish forces at the Battle of Dybbøl during the Second War of Schleswig (1864), allowing Prussia and Austria to claim Schleswig and Holstein, respectively. Disputes orchestrated by the Prussian Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck led to the Austro-Prussian War (1866). The needle guns of the Prussian infantry were highly successful against the Austrians, who were defeated at the Battle of Königgrätz. Under the leadership of Helmuth von Moltke the Elder, Chief of the General Staff, the Prussian Army then proved victorious over France in the Franco-Prussian War (1870). Image File history File links Battle_of_Koniggratz_by_Georg_Bleibtreu. ... Image File history File links Battle_of_Koniggratz_by_Georg_Bleibtreu. ... Combatants Prussia Austria Commanders Wilhelm I Helmuth von Moltke Ludwig von Benedek Strength 140,000troops in 3 Prussian Armies 90,000 Austrians and 25,000 Saxons Casualties 10,000 45,000 including 20,000 prisoners {{{notes}}} In the Battle of Königgrätz or Battle of Sadowa of July 3... The Battle of Dybbøl occured on the morning of April 18, 1864 in which the Prussian army defeated the Danish army after hours of heavy bombardment. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The region of Schleswig (former English name: Sleswick, Danish: Sønderjylland or Slesvig, Low German: Sleswig, North Frisian: Slaswik or Sleesweg) covers the area about 60 km north and 70 km south of the border between Germany and Denmark. ... Holstein (Hol-shtayn) (Low German: Holsteen, Danish: Holsten, Latin and historical English: Holsatia) is the southern part of Schleswig-Holstein in Germany, between the rivers Elbe and Eider. ... The Prime Minister (Ministerpräsident) of Prussia existed in one form or another from 1792 until the dissolution of Prussia in 1947. ... Bismarck redirects here. ... Combatants Austria, Saxony, Bavaria, Baden, Württemberg, Hanover and some minor German States (formerly as the German Confederation) Prussia, Italy and some minor German States Strength 600,000 Austrians and German allies 500,000 Prussians and German allies 300,000 Italians Casualties 40,000+ dead or wounded 37,000 dead... The Dreyse needle-gun (German das Zündnadelgewehr or figuratively firing-pin rifle) was a military breechloading rifle, famous as the arm of the Prussians in 1866 and of the Germans in 1870 and 1871. ... Combatants Prussia Austria Commanders Wilhelm I Helmuth von Moltke Ludwig von Benedek Strength 140,000troops in 3 Prussian Armies 90,000 Austrians and 25,000 Saxons Casualties 10,000 45,000 including 20,000 prisoners {{{notes}}} In the Battle of Königgrätz or Battle of Sadowa of July 3... Generalfeldmarschall Helmuth, Graf von Moltke (known as Helmuth Karl Bernhard von Moltke before 1870) (October 26, 1800 – April 24, 1891), was a German Field Marshal, thirty years chief of the staff of the Prussian army, widely regarded as one of the great strategists of the latter half of the 1800s... Combatants Second French Empire North German Confederation allied with south German states (later German Empire) Commanders Napoleon III # Otto Von Bismarck Strength 500,000[] 550,000[] Casualties 150,000 dead or wounded 284,000 captured 350,000 civilian [] 100,000 dead or wounded 200,000 civilian [] The Franco-Prussian War...

The battlefield successes of Prussia allowed the unification of Germany in 1871 and the crowning of King William I of Prussia as William I, German Emperor. The Prussian Army formed the main component of the Reichsheer, the army of the German Empire. The Imperial Army was replaced after World War I with the Reichswehr of the Weimar Republic. The German Empire of 1871. ... William I (William Frederick Louis, German: ) (March 22, 1797 – March 9, 1888) of the House of Hohenzollern was a King of Prussia (January 2, 1861 – 9 March 1888) and the first German Emperor (18 January 1871 – 9 March 1888). ... Motto: Gott mit Uns (German: God with us”) Anthem: Heil dir im Siegerkranz (unofficial) Territory of the German Empire in 1914, prior to World War I Capital Berlin Language(s) Official: German Unofficial minority languages: Polish (Posen, Lower Silesia,Upper Silesia, Masuria) French (Alsace-Lorraine) Government Constitutional monarchy Emperor  - 1871... Combatants Allied Powers: Russian Empire France British Empire Italy United States Central Powers: Austria-Hungary German Empire Ottoman Empire Bulgaria Commanders Nicholas II Aleksei Brusilov Georges Clemenceau Joseph Joffre Ferdinand Foch Herbert Henry Asquith Douglas Haig John Jellicoe Victor Emmanuel III Luigi Cadorna Armando Diaz Woodrow Wilson John Pershing Franz... The Reichswehr (help· info) (literally National Defense or Imperial Defense) formed the military organization of Germany from 1919 until 1935, when the government rebranded it as the Wehrmacht (Defence Force). ... Anthem: Das Lied der Deutschen The Länder of Germany during the Weimar Republic, with the Free State of Prussia (Freistaat Preußen) as the largest Capital Berlin Language(s) German Government Republic President  - 1919-1925 Friedrich Ebert  - 1925-1933 Paul von Hindenburg Chancellor  - 1919 Philipp Scheidemann  - 1933 Adolf Hitler...

See also

• German Army
• Großer Zapfenstreich
• Johann Gottfried Piefke
• Pickelhaube
• Prussian Navy
• Reichswehr
• Vom Kriege

Army The German Army (German: Heer  ) is the land component of the Bundeswehr (Federal Defence Forces) of the Federal Republic of Germany. ... The “Großer Zapfenstreich” (litterally translated “Grand Tattoo”; US: “Grand Taps“) is the most important ceremonial act in the German federal forces (Bundeswehr). ... Johann Gottfried Piefke (pronounced peefke) (September 9, 1815 - January 25, 1884) was a German conductor, Kapellmeister and composer of military music. ... Otto von Bismarck wearing a metal pickelhaube Prussian police pickelhaube The pickelhaube (German Pickel = point or pickaxe; Haube = literally bonnet, a general word for headgear) or Prussian Helmet is a spiked helmet worn in the 19th century by German military forces, firefighters and police. ... Throughout the centuries, Prussia’s military consistently concentrated on its land power, and never sought a similar power at sea. ... The Reichswehr (help· info) (literally National Defense or Imperial Defense) formed the military organization of Germany from 1919 until 1935, when the government rebranded it as the Wehrmacht (Defence Force). ... This article is about the famous treatise on military strategy by the German military philosopher Carl von Clausewitz; for the controversial manga series, see Neo Gomanism Manifesto Special - On War. ...

Footnotes

References

This article incorporates text translated from the corresponding German Wikipedia article as of January 25, 2006. January 25 is the 25th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

• David Blackbourn (2003). History of Germany, 1780-1918: The Long Nineteenth Century. Blackwell Publishing, 544. ISBN 063123196X. 
• Mary Fulbrook (1983). Piety and Politics: Religion and the Rise of Absolutism in England, Wurttemberg and Prussia. Cambridge University

Press, 223. ISBN 0521276330. 

• H.W. Koch (1978). A History of Prussia. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 326. ISBN 0-88029-158-3. 

External links

• Prussian Army During the Napoleonic Wars
• Die Regimenter und Bataillone der deutschen Armee (German)