PREUSSEN
An English translation of a chapter in the classic history of Wolfdietrich von Maechtigbrueck, translation by G. W. Roetkelchen.
The Decisions of Kaiser Friedrich Willhelm I of Preussen - Part I -
The Annexation of Sweden.
When the 18th century was become fifty years old, manifestly had the general ambition of most men no such grievous hunger for conquest, as had existed in the hearts of their Middle Age ancestors.
The higher class man of the nation had absolute respect and passion for what was his own by birth-right, and was in his chivalry more eager to fight in defense of the homeland, than to wrongly harvest another's crop.
This was of course not due to a sudden enlightenment, or miraculous benevolence, but due instead to a plentiful economy and strength existing in all major nations in 1750.
At least in the higher classes.
But war was still total- even with this new, gentlemanly mode of thought and behaviour.
How?
It was so, on the sole part of men; rulers like Willhelm I of Prussia.
He was 35 in 1750.
His son, Friedrich Willhelm II was 12.
Prussia, being economically weaker than the British Empire under George II, was yet stronger in military - a woeful sign of how terrible the costs weighed upon the small imperialist state.
It was important to the Kaiser that Prussia should feel confident that the expenditure placed upon her military was not wasted. The commons were unruly in the West.
But where could Prussia examine her ability on the field?
1751 - When the East Mobilised
Efforts were still being made peacefully to retrieve the economy, when Europa seemed to explode.
In less than a year wars had begun between France and Niederland, Sweden and Danemark, Austro-Hungary and Hessen-Kassel, and the Ottomans against Russia.
Even on the Pomeranian border, thousands of Russian troops were seen marching towards Moldavia.
Where could Prussia extend her arms?
Russia, though at war, was infinitely populated, and every man seemed armed and drilled.
Poland, though she bristled less with men, was solidly held by men supported with many brigades of cavalry far superior to the Prussian Kuerassier.
The German States, though vulnerable, were dear and dependent on Prussia - and indeed without speculation, it never entered the Kaiser's mind - the I idea of warring with brethren.
British-Saxony had renewed an alliance with Prussia, and thus was Sweden alone left to observation.
The small Kingdom of Fredrik I was entirely ripe, she had lost the war with King Hans I of Danemark, and the economy and military was reeling.
Her navy was destroyed.
She was allied to Britain, but the Kaiser had already decided on war in the North, and alliance in the South.
Regiments and Brigades were to assemble from all areas for the Kaiser, and a 'Grosspreussische Heer', was to be assembled for the attack on Sweden.
In the capital four batteries of sieging cannon were equipped and trained.
From the West came almost a full battalion of the Brunswick men.
So many new elements were raised for war, that 1754 had dawned before the invasion was prepared.
King Fredrik I - completely alerted of Prussian intentions - could only lament the fate of his 1020 strong army, and that of the two thousand Finns cut off from the Kingdom.
Friedrich Willhelm II was slender and sapling-like beneath the starched shoulders of his uniform, yet the Kronprinz was entirely efficient and marvellous to behold in charge of the many batteries of artillery being shipped with the army.
Among these batteries was a deceitful man, Arnold Ruesdorf, who had ensured for himself the almost complete autonomous sovereignty of Sweden in the event of success, by reason of his incredible acumen.
Lord Erlach led the army itself - a combat group consisting of two Prussian infantry battalions, one Brunswicker, and three brigades of Kuerassier - supported by four siege batteries, two eight-pounder batteries, and three light four-pounder battieres of five guns each.
(Note, each infantry battalion contained three smaller companies... nine units..)
The Battle at Engelska
Seven hundred Swedish men, and six hundred Prussian-Germans would die on this field in March 1755.
Varvade Infantry and Indelta Hussars made up the entire battle-line of the Swedish.
Most were very battered units, and the only guns were two small four-pounders which were entirely dwarfed by the Prussian arsenal.
Fredrik I ordered a line to be made on a steadily rising hill before the Prussian advance, which led down to a husked grove of pines, where Erlach immediately set-up the twenty siege-cannon with some difficulty, and from a great range proceeded to shell the Swedish line.
The Prussian battalions lined themselves from afar with the Swedish, and began to advance.
The Brunswickers, specially confident, skirted on the the left flank in squares, and following behind were the Kuerassier brigades, in which Erlach himself rode.
The cannon were creating much distress in the enemy line - but of a sudden a mistake occurred in trajectory and many shells landed amidst the marching Prussian men as they advanced due to the sloping terrain.
Fire was halted.
The Swedish four-pounders began to poke small holes in the Prussian line, and their two battalions marched forth at half-strength, regular, and shaken.
The many Hussars began to pour out, threatening the Brunswickers, who nonetheless advanced.
When range was found, both armies halted.
The Prussian cannon began to shell the cavalry, which was encircling the Brunswickers, and smoke smothered the Prussians and Varvade as they began to fire constantly.
But the casualties suffered already by the Swedish meant they could have no salvation in a fight at range.
They charged the right wing with such tenacity that Erlach was forced to send a brigade to the assistance of the Prussian 12th Battalion, the 11th being firmly engaged at pressing for the destruction of the artillery pieces, the reserves being sent to the assistance of the Brunswickers, now in a terrible fight with four Hussar brigades.
But this situation of equality on the field lasted little time - Fredrik had no heavy cavalry.
The Kuerassiers charged the left flank, where the Hussars were driven into four companies of bayonets and slaughtered, they charged the right, where the tired, shaken Varvade battalion simply yielded, (150 surrendered).
Soon the entirely field was rushing towards the King Fredrik, where he cowed with his staff behind a withered company of rifles, and the four-pounders deserted him before the general rout.
The Company was sliced apart, and King Fredrik I escaped with 87 men to Stockholm Fort.
The Cavalry, saviours of the infantry, had killed hundreds and suffered only four dead.
The Brunswicker Battalion had proved themselves capable of holding an entire wing entirely alone!
Stockholm Punctured
Kronprinz Willhelm II demanded the command of the storming party which was to enter the fort and claim Sweden for Prussia.
Erlach yielded, and Ruesdorf brought his guns to the camp at Stockholm and began to pierce the old castle.
It was only fifteen minutes of bombardment until a suitable gap had been made; and the stormtroopers; the remaining 125 Brunswicker men, and a small company of Prussians, advanced immediately to the fight.
During this time, howitzer shells of the Swedish Fort intended to hit the infantry had deflected downhill and into the artillery encampment.
Twice landed shells in the very midst of the Kronprinz and Ruesdorf.
The Swedish King was killed in the fighting, and the Brunswicker battalion reduced from 125 to 34.
(It had originally made 380 men.)
Ruesdorf held Sweden, plans were carried out to construct an adequate port for the return of the artillery to Prussia. The army would stay under Erlach and guard the new conquests against Danemark.
Conquest Tasted.
The Kaiser was overjoyed with the success of the venture, and hardly disappointed to hear the British choose Sweden as ally over Prussia. Sweden was extinct.
Now the Prussian First and Second Armies placed themselves in Brandenburg and on the Saxon border.
A Fourth army was to be raised, to take Finland and provide reserves for the First and Second, who seemed likely to be involved in war with the men of George II.
Poland and Russia had both intermarried with the royal family, and the Kaiser now could trust that no southern front would appear.
Kaiser Friedrich Willhelm I was trusting of the Russians, ruler of the Swedish, fiend of the British, and protector of the German States.
His belligerent nature was not entirely to the benefit of Prussia, however, and his son the Kronprinz would in Sweden develop opinions which would lead him on completely different conquests in his rule to come.
1758 (With Sweden conquered in 1756)
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