“New Thoughts on Old Fritz: Frederick the Great of Prussia,” November 5

Sunday, November 5, 2 p.m.

German American Heritage Center, 712 West Second Street, Davenport IA

Examining the accomplishments of one of European history's most noted leaders, as well as the controversies surrounding them, the German American Heritage Center's in-person presentation New Thoughts on Old Fritz: Frederick the Great of Prussia will take place on November 5, with Augustana College professor Dr. David Ellis discussing the ruler known for his military successes in the Silesian wars, his reorganization of the Prussian Army, and his patronage of the arts and the Enlightenment.

Frederick II (1712-1786) was King in Prussia from 1740 until 1772, and King of Prussia from 1772 until his death. Frederick was the last Hohenzollern monarch titled King in Prussia, declaring himself so after annexing Royal Prussia from the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1772. Prussia greatly increased its territories and became a major military power in Europe under his rule, the leader consequently becoming known as Frederick the Great and nicknamed "Old Fritz."

In his youth, Frederick was more interested in music and philosophy than in the art of war, which led to clashes with his authoritarian father. However, upon ascending to the Prussian throne, he attacked and annexed the rich Austrian province of Silesia in 1742, winning military acclaim for himself and Prussia. He became an influential military theorist whose analyses emerged from his extensive personal battlefield experience and covered issues of strategy, tactics, mobility, and logistics.

Frederick was a supporter of enlightened absolutism, stating that the ruler should be the first servant of the state. He modernized the Prussian bureaucracy and civil service, and pursued religious policies throughout his realm that ranged from tolerance to segregation. He reformed the judicial system and made it possible for men of lower status to become judges and senior bureaucrats. Frederick also encouraged immigrants of various nationalities and faiths to come to Prussia, although he enacted oppressive measures against Catholics in Silesia and Polish Prussia. He supported the arts and philosophers he favored, and allowed freedom of the press and literature. Frederick was almost certainly homosexual, and his sexuality has been the subject of much study. Because he died childless, he was succeeded by his nephew, Frederick William II.

Nearly all 19th-century German historians made Frederick into a romantic model of a glorified warrior, praising his leadership, administrative efficiency, devotion to duty, and success in building Prussia into a great power in Europe. Yet Frederick also remained an admired historical figure through Germany's defeat in World War I, and the Nazis glorified him as a great German leader prefiguring Adolf Hitler, who personally idolized him. His reputation became less favorable in Germany after World War II, partly due to his status as a Nazi symbol. Historians in the 21st century, however, tend to view Frederick as an outstanding military leader and capable monarch, whose commitment to enlightenment culture and administrative reform built the foundation that allowed the Kingdom of Prussia to contest the Austrian Habsburgs for leadership among the German states.

Presenting New Thoughts on Old Fritz: Frederick the Great of Prussia on November 5, David Ellis, Ph.D. is a professor of history at Rock Island's Augustana College, where he has taught since 2001. As part of his undergraduate experience, Ellis studied at the Free University of Berlin for a year and witnessed the opening of the Berlin Wall in 1989, which played an important role in his decision to pursue graduate study in German history. Ellis’ research interests lie at the intersection of politics, religion, law, and culture. He is particularly intrigued by the 19th-century Awakening, a trans-Atlantic revivalist movement that occurred in both Protestant and Catholic areas. Most of Ellis’ publications address various aspects of the Awakening (die Erweckungsbewegung) in the German-speaking lands. Several focus on exploring the notable tension between Awakeners’ theological egalitarianism and the stalwart defense (by many Awakened leaders) of social and political hierarchy.

New Thoughts on Old Fritz: Frederick the Great of Prussia will be presented in Davenport's German American Heritage Center on November 5, admission to the 2 p.m. program is free for Heritage Center members and $5 for non-members, and more information is available by calling (563)322-8844 and visiting GAHC.org.