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Modern Wars in Perspective
The Wars of Frederick the Great
Showalter, Dennis E.
371 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1995
126 people are currently reading
445 people want to read
About the author
Dennis E. Showalter
41 books29 followersA specialist in German military history, Dennis E. Showalter was professor emeritus of history at Colorado College. He was president of the American Society for Military History from 1997 to 2001 and an advising fellow of the Barsanti Military History Center at the University of North Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 17, 2020
I must admit I knew very little about Fredrick the Great. I remember just the name from what I had learned in school many, many years ago. I came across this book hoping I would learn something, and I did.
This is not a biography of Fredrick Hohenzollern II (1712-1786), King of Prussia, but a review of this military campaigns. Fredrick the Great ruled Prussia as a highly disciplined police state. He is famous for reorganizing the Prussian Army. He was fanatical about discipline and his military became famous as the most disciplined army in Europe. He said that he wanted the men more afraid of the officers than the enemy. He also developed the goose step march that requires enormous disciple and strikes fear in the people. Today, it is primarily used by the armies of dictators. Showalter made a comment that caught my attention, he said, “Fredrick was King of Prussia but should have been in the mad house.”
The book is well written and meticulously researched. I was impressed by Showalter’s writing skills. He presented the materials in a most readable fashion. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is thirteen hours and thirty-one minutes. Joe Barrett does an excellent job narrating the book. Barrett is an actor. He has won fourteen Earphone Awards, eight times a finalist for the Audie Award and finally won it in 2013.
This is not a biography of Fredrick Hohenzollern II (1712-1786), King of Prussia, but a review of this military campaigns. Fredrick the Great ruled Prussia as a highly disciplined police state. He is famous for reorganizing the Prussian Army. He was fanatical about discipline and his military became famous as the most disciplined army in Europe. He said that he wanted the men more afraid of the officers than the enemy. He also developed the goose step march that requires enormous disciple and strikes fear in the people. Today, it is primarily used by the armies of dictators. Showalter made a comment that caught my attention, he said, “Fredrick was King of Prussia but should have been in the mad house.”
The book is well written and meticulously researched. I was impressed by Showalter’s writing skills. He presented the materials in a most readable fashion. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is thirteen hours and thirty-one minutes. Joe Barrett does an excellent job narrating the book. Barrett is an actor. He has won fourteen Earphone Awards, eight times a finalist for the Audie Award and finally won it in 2013.
April 3, 2019
This book presented somewhat of a problem for me, namely do you solely review the book or also review the man it is written about? I'm still not sure what the answer is, but I don't believe you separate the two totally. There have been excellent books about Hitler and Stalin, but I also suspect that their authors were not admirers of these despicable men.
Frederick II of Prussia was not a likable man, in my opinion, but he was not a murderous tyrant. He was good at certain elements of warfare. He won some notable battles, but he also lost some because he underestimated his opponents. He also didn't utilize his cavalry and artillery in an efficient manner at times. He certainly accomplished his goal of thrusting Prussia onto the world stage during the 7 Years War, which resulted in many deaths and hardships. He took on Austria, Russia, and smaller opponents in seemingly endless years of war. But does that make him great?
I would say the author thinks so from his summary. Since this is a military history, we don't learn much about his non-war policies, but frankly, since even after 1763, war seemed to be the underpinning of his nation. It is difficult to imagine what Frederick's life would have been like in a period of profound peace. I would say he lived for war, and what it could bring Prussia.
I, perhaps, should have said more about the book itself. It needed more good maps because the area of war was complex. Also, I didn't particularly like the format of the text since there were no real chapters, except occasionally. Things just ran together. It made for difficult reading in my case. There was one more thing that I did not like very much, although perhaps others enjoyed. The author would use incidents from other wars to make it easier to understand what Frederick did. He used the American Civil War and WWII a great deal, which I do know quite a bit about, but I can see where some readers might find it confusing.
Frederick II of Prussia was not a likable man, in my opinion, but he was not a murderous tyrant. He was good at certain elements of warfare. He won some notable battles, but he also lost some because he underestimated his opponents. He also didn't utilize his cavalry and artillery in an efficient manner at times. He certainly accomplished his goal of thrusting Prussia onto the world stage during the 7 Years War, which resulted in many deaths and hardships. He took on Austria, Russia, and smaller opponents in seemingly endless years of war. But does that make him great?
I would say the author thinks so from his summary. Since this is a military history, we don't learn much about his non-war policies, but frankly, since even after 1763, war seemed to be the underpinning of his nation. It is difficult to imagine what Frederick's life would have been like in a period of profound peace. I would say he lived for war, and what it could bring Prussia.
I, perhaps, should have said more about the book itself. It needed more good maps because the area of war was complex. Also, I didn't particularly like the format of the text since there were no real chapters, except occasionally. Things just ran together. It made for difficult reading in my case. There was one more thing that I did not like very much, although perhaps others enjoyed. The author would use incidents from other wars to make it easier to understand what Frederick did. He used the American Civil War and WWII a great deal, which I do know quite a bit about, but I can see where some readers might find it confusing.
September 21, 2020
A useful and well-crafted narrative of Old Fritz's strategic choices, campaigns and battles, all placed firmly in the milieu of age-of-reason Europe. Frederick II wasn't a likable guy, and he had his bad days as well as his good ones but, yes, he probably does deserve to be numbered along with the other Great Captains. Professor Showalter does his usual bang-up job with this one.
January 30, 2020
Frederick II of Prussia is considered one of the great generals of history (which is why we usually just call him 'Frederick the Great'), so a book looking at his military achievements is an excellent subject.
Of course, it's not hard to find problems with myth vs reality with him. Running off the field of battle in two battles that Prussia won, doesn't sound very "Great". And overall, Showalter is fairly critical (in both senses of 'fair' here), of Frederick's performance overall. There's a nice section at the end that talks of Prussia after the Seven Years War, and how both the army and myth were fashioned as a means of deterrence. (I wish he'd done more than just allude to the myth-making in that period; but no details are given.)
Of course the events of the Silesian War/War of Austrian Succession and the Seven Years War are the main rocks the book is structured around. However, along the way, Showalter takes time to take a look at how well other European armies were operating, and how Frederick's various ideas worked out in that context. Much of the focus is fairly operational, with the marches and countermarches of armies being the dominant themes of the narrative. However, the battle descriptions themselves are well done, and each battle focused on is well presented, with Frederick's (often overambitious) plans in context.
The biggest shortcoming of the book is a lack of operational-level maps, that can make the flow of events hard to follow. The battles get fairly simple standard maps that do the job, though they usually show up at the end of the battle instead of near the beginning. On the other hand, there is an excellent run down of other worthwhile books at the end, that moves from biography, to more general works, to Osprey's more specialized volumes.
The early going is made very rough with some remarks on the theory of military history that are self-obscuring with inobvious allusions. Once past that, the book settles in for a fairly bumpy ride, that is valuable for being all-too-rare look at the methods of war over the course of a few decades, and how it worked in that context.
Of course, it's not hard to find problems with myth vs reality with him. Running off the field of battle in two battles that Prussia won, doesn't sound very "Great". And overall, Showalter is fairly critical (in both senses of 'fair' here), of Frederick's performance overall. There's a nice section at the end that talks of Prussia after the Seven Years War, and how both the army and myth were fashioned as a means of deterrence. (I wish he'd done more than just allude to the myth-making in that period; but no details are given.)
Of course the events of the Silesian War/War of Austrian Succession and the Seven Years War are the main rocks the book is structured around. However, along the way, Showalter takes time to take a look at how well other European armies were operating, and how Frederick's various ideas worked out in that context. Much of the focus is fairly operational, with the marches and countermarches of armies being the dominant themes of the narrative. However, the battle descriptions themselves are well done, and each battle focused on is well presented, with Frederick's (often overambitious) plans in context.
The biggest shortcoming of the book is a lack of operational-level maps, that can make the flow of events hard to follow. The battles get fairly simple standard maps that do the job, though they usually show up at the end of the battle instead of near the beginning. On the other hand, there is an excellent run down of other worthwhile books at the end, that moves from biography, to more general works, to Osprey's more specialized volumes.
The early going is made very rough with some remarks on the theory of military history that are self-obscuring with inobvious allusions. Once past that, the book settles in for a fairly bumpy ride, that is valuable for being all-too-rare look at the methods of war over the course of a few decades, and how it worked in that context.
October 10, 2012
Frederick II (or Frederick the Great) ruled Prussia from 1740 to 1786. War and diplomacy consumed most of his time and interest during his reign. Frederick II commanded Prussian forces in the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748) and Seven Years War (1756-1763). His efforts resulted in the acquisition and maintenance of Silesia in those conflicts. He also gained additional territory at the expense of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the First Partition of Poland (1772). Frederick II’s army kept the Habsburg Austrian monarchy, seeking to acquire the Duchy of Bavaria, in line during the brief War of the Bavarian Succession (1778-1779) in Bohemia and Silesia. Frederick II is credited with making Prussia one of the Great Powers in Europe. In this classic study, Dr Dennis Showalter, Professor of History at Colorado College, concentrates on Frederick II of Prussia’s involvement in the War of the Austrian Succession and Seven Years War. This work was originally published as The Wars of Frederick the Great in Longman’s Modern Wars in Perspective series in 1996. The author is also known for such works as Railroads and Rifles: Soldiers, Technology, and the Unification of Germany (1975), Tannenberg: Clash of Empires, 1914 (1991), and The Wars of German Unification (2004).
Frederick II launched the First Silesian War (1740-1742) (part of the War of the Austrian Succession) against the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria by invading Silesia in 1740. The Prussian monarch refused to accept the Pragmatic Sanction (an edict by Emperor Charles VI that allowed his daughter Maria Theresa to inherit the hereditary lands that belonged to the Austrian Habsburgs), and sought Silesia, a prosperous Austrian province, for himself. Prussia was supported by Bavaria, France, and Sweden. Austria had the support of Russia, Britain, the Dutch Netherlands, and Hanoverians. The Prussian army took control of Silesia, defeated the Austrians at the battle of Mollwitz (1741) in Silesia and Chotusitz (1742) in Bohemia, and gained most of Silesia in the Peace of Breslau (1742). Prussia rejoined the War of the Austrian Succession when Austria attempted to regain Silesia, beginning the Second Silesian War (1744-1745). In this struggle Prussia defeated Austria and Saxony at the battle of Hohenfriedberg (1745) in Silesia, and the Austrians at Soor in Bohemia and Kesselsdorf in Saxony. Maria Theresa recognized Prussia’s possession of Silesia in the Peace of Dresden (1745).
Maria Theresa sought to regain Silesia. Frederick II began the Third Silesian War (1756-1763) (part of the Seven Years War) by launching a preemptive strike against Austria’s ally, Saxony. He caught the Saxon and Austrian forces unprepared. Prussian forces besieged Saxon troops at Pirna (1756), defeated the Austrians at the battle of Lobositz (1756) in Bohemia, and then occupied Saxony. In this conflict Prussia was an ally of Britain and Hanover against the developing alliance of Austria, Russia, France, Saxony, and Sweden.
In 1757, Frederick II invaded Bohemia. He beat the Austrians at the battle of Prague, but was then defeated at Kolin. The Prussian king was forced to retreat to Prussia to defend against a Russian invasion in East Prussia. He then overcame a French army at Rossbach in Saxony and an Austrian force at Leuthen in Silesia. Prussian forces stopped a Swedish invasion in the north (Pomeranian War of 1757-1762), drove them back, and then occupied most of Swedish Pomerania. Meanwhile, the French routed the Anglo-Hanoverian army at Hastenbeck, occupied Hanover, and forced Britain and Hanover out of the conflict in the Convention of Klosterzeven (1757). But, Hanover soon rejoined the conflict and drove the French back across the Rhine River. Even so, Austrian forces temporarily occupied the city of Berlin before Frederick II forced them out.
Frederick II invaded Moravia in 1758. His goal was to besiege and capture the city of Olmütz. However, Austria destroyed a Prussian supply convoy bound for Olmütz at the battle of Domstadtl, and forced the Prussians to withdraw from Moravia. In August, the Prussians and Russians fought to a standstill at the battle of Zorndorf in Brandenburg. Prussia was fortunate that Sweden did not follow up a victory at Fehrbellin to attack Berlin. Then, in October, the Austrians defeated Frederick II at Hochkirch in Saxony but could not liberate the electorate.
Russia and Austria dealt Frederick several setbacks in 1759. Russia defeated the Prussians at Paltzig (Kay) in Brandenburg. Austrian forces then vanquished the Prussians at Maxen in Saxony. In August 1759, Austria dealt Frederick II his most devastating defeat at the battle of Kunersdorf in Brandenburg. In the meantime, Russian troops defeated Prussian forces at Gross-Jägersdorf in East Prussia.
Things became worse for Frederick II in 1760. In June, Austria defeated Prussian troops at Landeshut in Silesia. Russia and Sweden invaded Prussian Pomerania in 1760 and 1761. Even so, in August 1760, Frederick II beat the Austrians at Liegnitz in Silesia. But, the Russians and Austrians briefly occupied Berlin in October. The Prussian monarch responded by defeating the Austrians at Torgau in Saxony.
The pressure on Prussia was great. In 1761, Austria captured Schweidnitz in Silesia and Russia took the seaport city of Kolberg in Prussian Pomerania. Prussia looked like a defeated power. However, after the death of Empress Elizabeth of Russia in 1762, her heir, Peter III, a Prussophile, dropped the Russian alliance with Austria, recalled his forces from Brandenburg, agreed to a separate peace with Prussia (Peace of St Petersburg), and mediated a Prusso-Swedish truce. This allowed Frederick II to concentrate his remaining forces against Austria, driving them out of Silesia, and defeating them at Freiberg in Saxony in October 1762. The conflict between Austria, Prussia, and Saxony ended with the Peace of Hubertusburg in February 1763. Prussia retained Silesia. As Showalter writes: “The Peace of Hubertusburg established Prussia as a great power beyond question — but not beyond challenge. Frederick’s contemporaries were generally united in agreeing that any state able to hold its own for seven years against three major enemies itself belonged in the first rank” (p.321).
Showalter discusses the controversial views of Frederick the Great as a great soldier-king. The author points out that the Prussian monarch twice left the battlefield (Mollwitz 1741 and Lobositz 1756) under “dubious circumstances.” He notes Frederick II’s mental state after the defeat at Kolin (1757) and during the battle of Kunersdorf (1759), hinting at his suffering from “post-traumatic stress” (p.viii). Despite his controversial personality and miscalculations, Frederick II of Prussia became a legend as a soldier and statesman, with a reputation that endures to today.
It is great to see this outstanding study back in print. This version includes a new introduction and bibliographical essay. Showalter’s study remains one of the most important recent military studies on Frederick the Great, along with Christopher Duffy’s Frederick the Great: A Military Life (1985) and The Army of Frederick the Great (2nd ed., 1996). Reed S. Browning, The War of the Austrian Succession (1993) and M.S. Anderson, The War of the Austrian Succession, 1740-1748 (1995) focus on the first conflict. Franz A.J. Szabo’s The Seven Years War in Europe, 1756-1763 (2007) is a great study of the second conflict. Many of the most recent studies on the Seven Years War tackle the conflict on a global scale. These include Matt Schumann and Karl W. Schweizer, The Seven Years War: A Transatlantic History (2008), Daniel A. Baugh, The Global Seven Years War, 1754-1763: France and Britain in a Great Power Contest (2011), and Fred Anderson, Crucible of War: The Seven Years War and the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754-1763 (2000). For operational studies dealing with Frederick II’s wars, see Christopher Duffy’s Prussia’s Glory: Rossbach and Leuthen 1757 (2003), along with Simon Millar’s Kolin 1757 (2001), Rossbach and Leuthen 1757 (2002), and Zorndorf 1758 (2003). Frederick II’s opponents are addressed in Christopher Duffy’s two-volume The Austrian Army in the Seven Years War (2000/2008) and Russia’s Military Way to the West: Origins and Nature of Russian Military Power, 1700-1800 (1981).
Frederick II launched the First Silesian War (1740-1742) (part of the War of the Austrian Succession) against the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria by invading Silesia in 1740. The Prussian monarch refused to accept the Pragmatic Sanction (an edict by Emperor Charles VI that allowed his daughter Maria Theresa to inherit the hereditary lands that belonged to the Austrian Habsburgs), and sought Silesia, a prosperous Austrian province, for himself. Prussia was supported by Bavaria, France, and Sweden. Austria had the support of Russia, Britain, the Dutch Netherlands, and Hanoverians. The Prussian army took control of Silesia, defeated the Austrians at the battle of Mollwitz (1741) in Silesia and Chotusitz (1742) in Bohemia, and gained most of Silesia in the Peace of Breslau (1742). Prussia rejoined the War of the Austrian Succession when Austria attempted to regain Silesia, beginning the Second Silesian War (1744-1745). In this struggle Prussia defeated Austria and Saxony at the battle of Hohenfriedberg (1745) in Silesia, and the Austrians at Soor in Bohemia and Kesselsdorf in Saxony. Maria Theresa recognized Prussia’s possession of Silesia in the Peace of Dresden (1745).
Maria Theresa sought to regain Silesia. Frederick II began the Third Silesian War (1756-1763) (part of the Seven Years War) by launching a preemptive strike against Austria’s ally, Saxony. He caught the Saxon and Austrian forces unprepared. Prussian forces besieged Saxon troops at Pirna (1756), defeated the Austrians at the battle of Lobositz (1756) in Bohemia, and then occupied Saxony. In this conflict Prussia was an ally of Britain and Hanover against the developing alliance of Austria, Russia, France, Saxony, and Sweden.
In 1757, Frederick II invaded Bohemia. He beat the Austrians at the battle of Prague, but was then defeated at Kolin. The Prussian king was forced to retreat to Prussia to defend against a Russian invasion in East Prussia. He then overcame a French army at Rossbach in Saxony and an Austrian force at Leuthen in Silesia. Prussian forces stopped a Swedish invasion in the north (Pomeranian War of 1757-1762), drove them back, and then occupied most of Swedish Pomerania. Meanwhile, the French routed the Anglo-Hanoverian army at Hastenbeck, occupied Hanover, and forced Britain and Hanover out of the conflict in the Convention of Klosterzeven (1757). But, Hanover soon rejoined the conflict and drove the French back across the Rhine River. Even so, Austrian forces temporarily occupied the city of Berlin before Frederick II forced them out.
Frederick II invaded Moravia in 1758. His goal was to besiege and capture the city of Olmütz. However, Austria destroyed a Prussian supply convoy bound for Olmütz at the battle of Domstadtl, and forced the Prussians to withdraw from Moravia. In August, the Prussians and Russians fought to a standstill at the battle of Zorndorf in Brandenburg. Prussia was fortunate that Sweden did not follow up a victory at Fehrbellin to attack Berlin. Then, in October, the Austrians defeated Frederick II at Hochkirch in Saxony but could not liberate the electorate.
Russia and Austria dealt Frederick several setbacks in 1759. Russia defeated the Prussians at Paltzig (Kay) in Brandenburg. Austrian forces then vanquished the Prussians at Maxen in Saxony. In August 1759, Austria dealt Frederick II his most devastating defeat at the battle of Kunersdorf in Brandenburg. In the meantime, Russian troops defeated Prussian forces at Gross-Jägersdorf in East Prussia.
Things became worse for Frederick II in 1760. In June, Austria defeated Prussian troops at Landeshut in Silesia. Russia and Sweden invaded Prussian Pomerania in 1760 and 1761. Even so, in August 1760, Frederick II beat the Austrians at Liegnitz in Silesia. But, the Russians and Austrians briefly occupied Berlin in October. The Prussian monarch responded by defeating the Austrians at Torgau in Saxony.
The pressure on Prussia was great. In 1761, Austria captured Schweidnitz in Silesia and Russia took the seaport city of Kolberg in Prussian Pomerania. Prussia looked like a defeated power. However, after the death of Empress Elizabeth of Russia in 1762, her heir, Peter III, a Prussophile, dropped the Russian alliance with Austria, recalled his forces from Brandenburg, agreed to a separate peace with Prussia (Peace of St Petersburg), and mediated a Prusso-Swedish truce. This allowed Frederick II to concentrate his remaining forces against Austria, driving them out of Silesia, and defeating them at Freiberg in Saxony in October 1762. The conflict between Austria, Prussia, and Saxony ended with the Peace of Hubertusburg in February 1763. Prussia retained Silesia. As Showalter writes: “The Peace of Hubertusburg established Prussia as a great power beyond question — but not beyond challenge. Frederick’s contemporaries were generally united in agreeing that any state able to hold its own for seven years against three major enemies itself belonged in the first rank” (p.321).
Showalter discusses the controversial views of Frederick the Great as a great soldier-king. The author points out that the Prussian monarch twice left the battlefield (Mollwitz 1741 and Lobositz 1756) under “dubious circumstances.” He notes Frederick II’s mental state after the defeat at Kolin (1757) and during the battle of Kunersdorf (1759), hinting at his suffering from “post-traumatic stress” (p.viii). Despite his controversial personality and miscalculations, Frederick II of Prussia became a legend as a soldier and statesman, with a reputation that endures to today.
It is great to see this outstanding study back in print. This version includes a new introduction and bibliographical essay. Showalter’s study remains one of the most important recent military studies on Frederick the Great, along with Christopher Duffy’s Frederick the Great: A Military Life (1985) and The Army of Frederick the Great (2nd ed., 1996). Reed S. Browning, The War of the Austrian Succession (1993) and M.S. Anderson, The War of the Austrian Succession, 1740-1748 (1995) focus on the first conflict. Franz A.J. Szabo’s The Seven Years War in Europe, 1756-1763 (2007) is a great study of the second conflict. Many of the most recent studies on the Seven Years War tackle the conflict on a global scale. These include Matt Schumann and Karl W. Schweizer, The Seven Years War: A Transatlantic History (2008), Daniel A. Baugh, The Global Seven Years War, 1754-1763: France and Britain in a Great Power Contest (2011), and Fred Anderson, Crucible of War: The Seven Years War and the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754-1763 (2000). For operational studies dealing with Frederick II’s wars, see Christopher Duffy’s Prussia’s Glory: Rossbach and Leuthen 1757 (2003), along with Simon Millar’s Kolin 1757 (2001), Rossbach and Leuthen 1757 (2002), and Zorndorf 1758 (2003). Frederick II’s opponents are addressed in Christopher Duffy’s two-volume The Austrian Army in the Seven Years War (2000/2008) and Russia’s Military Way to the West: Origins and Nature of Russian Military Power, 1700-1800 (1981).
April 18, 2024
I only read this because I knew Showalter in college, and yeah, the distinctive blend of mind-number stats with weird folksy colloquialisms- SO him. His classes were so popular they were almost impossible to get into, because he apparently didn't care whether the students showed up or did anything at all, so long as he had some audience to ramble to.
July 20, 2019
A bit disappointing to be honest. It might just be me but I always think the presence of regular & accessible maps is crucial to underpin strategy & tactics. I found myself struggling with various Central European place names & how they fitted in the scheme of things. The chapter structure was odd too. The battles were well explained with that caveat. A qualified success if read in conjunction with other books on the same period.
June 26, 2023
Dennis Showalter’s Frederick the Great is an interesting read that digs deep into the events and personalities of the Seven Years’ War. Showalter writes with a strong and sophisticated voice. I often found myself simply enjoying his prose as he recounted orders of battle and other mundane lists. The reader ought to beware, though: Showalter is an academic writing primarily for an academic audience. He references political events like the Peace of Utrecht or the Edict of Fontainebleau without stopping to explain for the casual reader. I would recommend picking up a physical copy of the book rather than listening to it on audio.
Reading Showalter’s work, it is difficult not to compare the great Prussian captain with the later French lord of war, Napoleon Bonaparte. Whereas Napoleon possessed a certain sangfroid nature and an esprit de corps, Frederick the Great is defined by his tendencies toward misanthropy and micromanagement. He was controlling, secretive, and callous to those around him and seemed to live by Machiavelli’s maxim that a ruler ought to be feared rather than loved. This is particularly odd seeing as Frederick always considered himself an anti-machiavel and, in fact, wrote a treatise against the Italian’s political theory as a young man. Even still, Showalter paints a fascinating picture of Frederick as a man who knew what he wanted and stopped at nothing to achieve it.
In addition, the book contains copious descriptions of the Prussian military of the day and its Austrian, Russian, and French adversaries. While I would not recommend this work to someone unfamiliar with the period, it is a fine read for those who want to examine one of the finest captains of Europe during the horse and musket era.
Reading Showalter’s work, it is difficult not to compare the great Prussian captain with the later French lord of war, Napoleon Bonaparte. Whereas Napoleon possessed a certain sangfroid nature and an esprit de corps, Frederick the Great is defined by his tendencies toward misanthropy and micromanagement. He was controlling, secretive, and callous to those around him and seemed to live by Machiavelli’s maxim that a ruler ought to be feared rather than loved. This is particularly odd seeing as Frederick always considered himself an anti-machiavel and, in fact, wrote a treatise against the Italian’s political theory as a young man. Even still, Showalter paints a fascinating picture of Frederick as a man who knew what he wanted and stopped at nothing to achieve it.
In addition, the book contains copious descriptions of the Prussian military of the day and its Austrian, Russian, and French adversaries. While I would not recommend this work to someone unfamiliar with the period, it is a fine read for those who want to examine one of the finest captains of Europe during the horse and musket era.
September 28, 2020
While delivering a military history in general, this book provides readers with a military history of Frederick during the Seven Year’s War, and only discusses his military skills as a general specifically in the last few pages of the book. Therefore, if one is knowledgeable of the war this technical account might be illuminating.
But hang on. Showalter has never preferred a sentence that wasn’t passive. He is in love with them. Long, lavish, devolving passive sentences that he follows with another and another until by some fever he decides to write an active sentence. Paragraphs following the other full of passive sentences. We are gorged on incompressible words forming these strings. But either by editor’s hands or sheer force he forms a paragraph of active sentences and for once we understand. The we overjoyed to follow paragraphs joined together with active sentences. Short easy ones. But then he reverts to his old habits and we are back to our cave.
Adam Gopnik, in his September 28, 2020, The New Yorker review of David S. Reynolds’ biography of Abraham Lincoln, ABE, astutely observes that “scholars . . . [make] biography secondary to the cultural history of the country.” (p.62) Showalter’s effort conforms to this contention.
As a book, it lacks all merit in writing skills. That makes any comprehension or enjoyment fruitless. And that’s disappointing.
But hang on. Showalter has never preferred a sentence that wasn’t passive. He is in love with them. Long, lavish, devolving passive sentences that he follows with another and another until by some fever he decides to write an active sentence. Paragraphs following the other full of passive sentences. We are gorged on incompressible words forming these strings. But either by editor’s hands or sheer force he forms a paragraph of active sentences and for once we understand. The we overjoyed to follow paragraphs joined together with active sentences. Short easy ones. But then he reverts to his old habits and we are back to our cave.
Adam Gopnik, in his September 28, 2020, The New Yorker review of David S. Reynolds’ biography of Abraham Lincoln, ABE, astutely observes that “scholars . . . [make] biography secondary to the cultural history of the country.” (p.62) Showalter’s effort conforms to this contention.
As a book, it lacks all merit in writing skills. That makes any comprehension or enjoyment fruitless. And that’s disappointing.
October 30, 2024
Great, or dogged, and lucky
A very good read. The author identifies the complex interweaving of social, political, military, financial, and geographic factors that helped shaped events, interspersed throughout with the personality factors that drove Frederick. He emerges not as a great mind, tactician, or genius, but a technocrat with a dogged determination to succeed. His victories, when he had them, resulted from the discipline of the regiments snatching a draw from defeat due to Frederick's insistence on fighting a plan that worked on paper, but not in the ground. This book supports understanding of the contrasting styles of leadership that followers of military history will appreciate
A very good read. The author identifies the complex interweaving of social, political, military, financial, and geographic factors that helped shaped events, interspersed throughout with the personality factors that drove Frederick. He emerges not as a great mind, tactician, or genius, but a technocrat with a dogged determination to succeed. His victories, when he had them, resulted from the discipline of the regiments snatching a draw from defeat due to Frederick's insistence on fighting a plan that worked on paper, but not in the ground. This book supports understanding of the contrasting styles of leadership that followers of military history will appreciate
October 16, 2020
This is as a history should read.
no tiring tirades such as Szabo.
A very well written: easy to follow - the reader will not get lost with names or timeline.
Maps: Some may consider the best. Simple to the point. Not convoluted reproductions the reader will have to spend a good deal of time looking for the spot of the narrative. Simple easy to see the point.
The Author spends little if no time comparing previous works. The narrative sticks to what is relative to the subject.
As well, thanks to many notes in the book the reader my find other material they are interested in.
no tiring tirades such as Szabo.
A very well written: easy to follow - the reader will not get lost with names or timeline.
Maps: Some may consider the best. Simple to the point. Not convoluted reproductions the reader will have to spend a good deal of time looking for the spot of the narrative. Simple easy to see the point.
The Author spends little if no time comparing previous works. The narrative sticks to what is relative to the subject.
As well, thanks to many notes in the book the reader my find other material they are interested in.
October 20, 2021
Just my kind of history book -- more serious than the usual pop history stuff out there, but well written and doesn't get overwhelmed by detail. Definitely focuses on the military side of things, but with a good perspective on Frederick's overall rule from a diplomatic and political perspective.
As is almost always the case, I would have preferred more maps (only about half of the battles that are given a detailed treatment in the text get one), but the narrative usually manages to do a good enough job painting a picture of what's going on when they're missing.
As is almost always the case, I would have preferred more maps (only about half of the battles that are given a detailed treatment in the text get one), but the narrative usually manages to do a good enough job painting a picture of what's going on when they're missing.
November 28, 2024
Honestly my fault for getting this. I would have enjoyed this title better had the military been a backdrop for the biography. Instead you get Showalter writing for American military history fans. It makes interesting but surface level comparisons to famous conflicts. I really had to force myself through the last 2-3 hours.
March 12, 2021
A detailed dissection of Prussian King Frederick the Great
Not for the casual reader. Very detailed, although often speculative. Unfortunately, the tendency to be pompous on the one hand and dismissive of opposing views detracts from the presentation.
Not for the casual reader. Very detailed, although often speculative. Unfortunately, the tendency to be pompous on the one hand and dismissive of opposing views detracts from the presentation.
February 16, 2023
As a complete novice to the Silesan and Seven Years War this book was excellently written. The narrative was brilliant and had just enough technical details about drill, formations sprinkled throughout
May 4, 2020
A good military history placed in diplomatic, economic and social contexts. A bit (amusingly) snarky in tone.
January 14, 2021
amazin
June 29, 2022
Solid overview with the authority of multiple years of research into the topic
September 7, 2022
I enjoyed this book & it was a wonder to read
April 30, 2023
I think I would’ve enjoyed this book more if I knew more Prussian history in general
June 14, 2025
Hard to follow but interesting background on Prussia.
January 16, 2013
This was a surprising little thread off the biography of Winifield Scott. I knew nothing about General Wilkinson or his intrigues, but this book was quite thorough in its examination of the man, his motivations, his successes and failures. It's an interesting dip into the life of someone always unhappy with his place, to whom much was given, and who wanted more. In the context of the early years of the United States, this can be a bit chilling at times, realizing some of the things he did in the name of Spanish bullion. It is not an easy read, but mainly because of its sheer intelligent weight, even being a more popular-style biography.
January 21, 2013
This is, as usual, another fine book by Dennis Showalter.
Frederick the Great's story is told well in this book, warts and all. Showalter does tell more than just the military aspect of this story, he also delves into the social, economic and cultural aspects of well but the focus is the military side. If you want to know why Frederick is still considered one of history's greatest generals, read this book.
Too bad there weren't more works written on the military history of the 18th century...
Frederick the Great's story is told well in this book, warts and all. Showalter does tell more than just the military aspect of this story, he also delves into the social, economic and cultural aspects of well but the focus is the military side. If you want to know why Frederick is still considered one of history's greatest generals, read this book.
Too bad there weren't more works written on the military history of the 18th century...
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