Survive Family Travel: Germany, Prussia, and A Quick History From 1600 to Mid-1700's.
I am embarking on a family ancestry tour to Germany in a few weeks with my sisters, mom, and various extended family I've never met.
Can't. Wait!
I do feel pretty ignorant about German history however. The fact that my family is from Germany but was actually Prussian when they immigrated to the USA has me wanting to know more about this abolished kingdom.
So I've been doing some research on the history of Germany/Prussia and thought why not share it with you? These are bullet-points that I've gathered from 1600-1730's with an emphasis on important facts that helped shape the country's political and social structure until the fall of the Prussian Empire in 1947 when it was officially abolished by the Allies from WW2. There is a lot of info here, but I really cherry-picked the important tid-bits to help you grasp where and how Germany became the super power it was in the early 1900's.
Brandenburg (Pre-Prussia) exists in the middle of a sandy, desolate plain with limited cutivatible soil, no waterways, no natural defensive borders. **Vulnerable**
Brandenburg is generally in the northern/eastern part of current-day Germany - around Berlin.
Its government is composed of an Elector (or leader who wields little power at this time), and several wealthy Estates (mini-states with own systems and militias).
The Elector, in concert with other Electors in the Holy Roman Empire, cast votes to elect the Emperors.
Because of its geological position between the borders of Polish, Danish, Swedish, Palatine, and Imperial Roman territories, Brandenburg often finds itself at the center of raging battles, looting, etc.
During the 30 Years War (1618-48) the Brandenburghers (Pre-Prussians, Pre-Germans) are extorted repeatedly by competing armies, their crops destroyed, valuables stolen, people tortured and murdered.
Population reduced by 60-85% depending on the area. **Imprinted terror into the minds of the people, NEEDED stability and protection**
Friedrich Wilhelm (The Great Elector) studied in the Dutch Republic in his youth (saw their awesome armies) and succeeded his Father as Elector in Brandenburg in 1640.
Friedrich Wilhelm (TGE) committed most of his time to matters of state unlike his predecessors. **Career politician**
At the end of the 30 Years War, he retook the independence of Brandenburg with his newly-established fledgling army that he trained with his knowledge from the Dutch. **Beginning of stability and protection by a far-reaching government body**
In many areas of Brandenburg, there were so few citizens remaining that they could not remember the names of places or any verbal history. **Pre-Friedrich Wilhelm (TGE) was largely forgotten from communal memory**
Thus, the rebuilding of Brandenburg by Friedrich Wilhelm (TGE) was seen as the most important event in their history - he is seen as the Founding Father of sorts.
Friedrich Wilhelm (TGE) wrote often of the importance of a centralized and strong military and government - the only way to avoid fighting and wars among his people. **Nationalism is born in Germany**
Through trade deals, Friedrich Wilhelm (TGE) acquires more territory in Pomerania and Duchal Prussia (Northern Poland).
Friedrich becomes a European Prince (son would use this title to declare himself King upon succession) of Duchal Prussia.
Estates of Brandenburg declare fealty to Friedrich Wilhelm (TGE), establishing idea of sovereign and subjects. **Public act of political subordination to the King - the Estates are slowly giving up power**
Friedrich Wilhelm (TGE) purposely places Calvanists (in a very Lutheran country!) in governmental positions to oppose Lutherans, and educated commoners into positions as foreign officials. **Stripping away the political power of the Estates who used to fill those roles**
As a result, the Court, Diplomatic, and Military posts are now bound more to the monarch than the provinces/estates.
By 1680's, Power of Estates significantly reduced.
1700 - Brandenburg-Prussia = largest German Principality. Kingdom of Prussia has more esteem, so Brandenburg-Prussia thus begins to be known as simply "Prussia".
Successor to Friedrich Wilhelm The Great Elector, was his son, Friedrich I. 1688.
Early 1700's = PLAGUE.
Friedrich I declares himself King, takes over more and more control of grain production, standardizes it, holds "Government Grain" in silos in the event of plague, war, drought, etc. **People more dependent upon government services**
1714, King Friedrich I declares that ALL MEN of age are obligated to serve in the army. General training, then 2-3 months every year.
K.F.I refuses to acknowledge the Estates/nobility's previous importance and whittles away their power. **Closer to the idea of a dictatorship, but still not super coordinated/agile**
By 1740, 4th biggest army in Europe, 10th and 13th in area and population respectively. **Militarization of Prussian State = military pride instilled in its population - no longer vulnerable before 30 Years War**
K.F.I instills genetic ideal for Army - only men over 5'6". Sought out ideal men - extremely tall, as examples of an "ideal military". **Idea of "ideal" body types/characteristics makes its appearance again with Hitler in WW2 - albeit in a twisted and extreme way.**
Important to note that the new centralized government was still only a few hundred men, and it often took weeks for new edicts to be communicated and years or longer to be executed.
And that brings us to about the 1730's. As you can see, the centralized role of government becomes increasingly more valuable for the King. By having a centralized government, he can standardize things like the grain industry and military training for maximum efficiency and profitability - which both benefit the common people of the kingdom. However, the population has less and less say on how the government is actually run as more power is taken from the Estates. It seems to me that so many people were killed as collateral damage in the 30 Years War (Brandenburg didn't REALLY even have a dog in the fight -> no military!) that the common people would only have a vague knowledge of "what it was like before" and simply be content with the the security The Great Elector (and subsequently, the King) provided.