Roots of Strategy: The 5 Greatest Military Classics of All Time by Sun Tzu Vegetius De Saxe Frederick Napoleon

Author:Sun Tzu, Vegetius, De Saxe, Frederick, Napoleon [Tzu, Sun]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stackpole Books
Published: 1985-07-14T16:00:00+00:00

The Instruction of Frederick

The Great for His Generals

1747

TRANSLATED

by

BRIG. GEN. THOMAS R. PHILLIPS

INTRODUCTION

Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, was the founder of modern Germany. When he became King of Prussia it was a small state, in two parts, and of minor importance among the great powers of Europe. During his reign the population increased from 2,240,000 to 6,000,000, and the territory was increased by nearly thirty thousand square miles. Singlehanded he fought all the great powers of Europe in the Seven Years War and successfully defended the national territory. Although he gained no new lands during this war his success against the overwhelming coalition of his enemies made him the greatest man of his time and the soldier whom all other soldiers in Europe were to imitate. Frederick’s upbuilding of Prussia determined whether the many small German states eventually were to group themselves around Prussia or around Austria. The expansion of Prussia was continued by Bismarck and now has been completed by Chancellor Hitler, making one great nation of all the people of the German race.

Frederick the Great was born January 24, 1712. His father, Frederick William, brought him up with extreme rigor in the hope that he would become a hardy soldier and “acquire thrift and frugality.” To his father’s intense disgust he showed no interest in military affairs and devoted all his time to literature and music. He was so harshly treated by his father that he resolved to escape to England and take refuge there. He was helped by two friends, Lieutenant Katte and Lieutenant Keith. The plan was discovered, and the Crown Prince was arrested, deprived of his rank, tried by court-martial and imprisoned in the fortress of Kustrin. Lt. Keith escaped, but Lt. Katte was captured, tried, and sentenced to life imprisonment. The King changed the sentence to death, and Frederick was forced to watch his friend beheaded.

While still restricted he was put to work in the auditing office of the war department checking invoices, payrolls, etc. He was allowed to appear in uniform a year later. He became King May 31, 1740, on the death of his father. He seized Silesia from Austria and gained a victory at Mollwitz, April 10, 1741. At this battle he fled from the field under the impression that it had been lost as a result of a furious charge of Austrian cavalry—a mistake which gave rise to a false reputation for lack of personal courage.

He gained a second victory at Caslau on May 17, 1742, the war ending in the peace of Breslau and the cession of Silesia by Austria. He captured Prague in 1744, but was forced to retreat. In 1745 he won a series of victories and concluded the peace of Dresden, which for a second time assured him possession of Silesia.

Between this time and the commencement of the Seven Years War in 1756, he devoted himself to building up his kingdom. He restored the Academy of Sciences, encouraged agriculture, extended the canal system, drained and dyked the marshes of Oderbruch, encouraged manufacture, and increased his army to 160,000 men.

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