As much as I enjoy history, traditions and the fact that today's Royalty connects us to all this, I can't find it in me to be really interested in the Prussians - and the thought to have a Prussian prince on the throne of a Germany I live in gives me the shudders... The Prussian surely were one of the most ruthless and aggressive families of Germany's history who preferred sheer force to get what they wanted - Silesia anyone? Hannover? Hesse? Baden? There are still songs sung about Prussian oppression in other parts of Germany (like the "Badisches Wiegenlied" (lullaby of Baden), which is one of the most famous songs of the German folk tradition).
As much as I enjoyed looking at the pics of that seemingly nice couple - still I don't think that the Prussian history should give them any claim of leadership in a country which has struggled so hard and successful to overcome aggression and dictatorship with the living of democracy.
My Dear Kataryn,
the unfounded allegations You made are very rude. I should prefer that one criticizing themes the way You did should be better informed and have more than bare school knowledge. I know what was taught in history lessons in this country. I attended them too. But when You have a look into wider on-topic and also modern publications You will find results that differ a lot. Unfortunately this is not taught in class rooms - not because it is not true but because it does not fit into todays world picture. This results in opinions like Yours that make me shudder. Not because Your opinion is different from mine but because You and a lot more Germans could know better, if they just wanted. But same with other topics we tend to accept the easier way.
Back to Your examples:
First of all - and that is unregarded all the time - times were different in earlier times than today. Wars today need to be legitimized (preferebly by UN even with lies) that was different in the 18th Century. Despite that Prussia had had a legitimate claim to several Silesian counties and Principalities, it was not a strong one, but it was a claim. The Silesian People welcomed and greeted the Prussian troops warmly.
Hannover lost its sovereignty as a result of choosing the wrong ally in the 1866 war between Prussia and Austria over the leadership in Germany. The fact itself was a pathetic but also very normal act in those days. By the way the defeated Austria remained completely unaffected. But this war, like the other two of 1864 and 1871, that led to German unity was no result of Prussian aggression. These were the acts of the one and often hailed man: Bismarck, who in reality burried Prussia in letting it melt with Germany. The former King Wilhelm I (and then Kaiser Wilhelm I.) did not want that at all. The day he was proclaimed German Kaiser, he said: "today we carry Prussia to its grave".
Coming to Your next allegations this German Unity we just talked about was the result of the claims of the Liberals and Bourgeoisie relating back to 1848. These people did not made the liberal and democratic claims to make the life of the poor and hard working landliving people better. They just wanted to act instead of the Aristocracy and the Princes. In 1848 Prussian troops were called in from most German Principalities - especially Baden - to secure the power of the local Princes, because it had the biggest Army. It was not against the will of the local gouvernments. That these kind of old day propaganda songs had a special intention is clear. To say they drew the picture of reality I suppose is the same as speaking of stabbed Belgian babies in 1914 or destroyed incubators nowadays, which have been proofed lies of war propaganda (Noam Chomsky: Media Control).
It is interesting and I do not know whether it is mischief or just ignorance that the lots of positiv topics of Prussian history are never mentioned.
- Prussia was one of the first countries to celebrate religious freedom (Edikt von Potsdam in 1685)
- Prussia was the first state under the rule of law - Preußisches Landrecht 1794 (King Friedrich II. (the "evil aggressor" of Silesia) and Friedrich Wilhelm II. - in the time of absolute Monarchy in Europe and the World
- Friedrich II. acting to his motto "I am the first servant of the state"
- Stein Hardenbergsche reforms under Freidrich Wilhelm III. during and after the Napoleonic wars which paved the road for a constitutional state and modernized government
- all Kings provided better education for the people
Most wars Prussia had to fight were of defensive character. With a little more time I could also give You the numbers.
Concerning Your statement of the "most ruthless and aggressive family", especially for modern times, I want to add the name of Prince Louis Ferdinand, the grandfather of Prince Georg Friedrich, as the foremost example of the family to the contrary. Prince Louis Ferdinand was a cosmopolit, absolute anti-militaristic, anti-nazi and would have been one of the best Monarchs we could have had. In fact the Resistance against Hitler with such famous people as Carl Friedrich Goerdeler, Paul Loebe and other wanted Louis Ferdinand as Kaiser and King of Prussia after a Coup d'etat.
And least, please, not in this forum, do not tell me that when speaking of a modern German Monarch there was only the choice between "dictatorship and living democracy". It is sad enough that todays reporters do not know that there is no contradiction in monarchy and democracy.
Not being restricted to giving my arguments in English I could even be more eloquent to say why even because of the Prussian history Prince Georg Friedrich - besides that of the perspective of legitimism - has all the right of the claim the throne, which he actually does not even want.
Regards
Alex R.
