fumsup
Friedrich III snuff box
Kaiser Friedrich III snuff box , celluloid , 8 x 4 x 2 cm
Friedrich III , Emperor of Germany , 1831-1888
" Prussian field marshal and commander in chief of the Kaiserheer. Friedrich Wilhelm Nikolaus Karl, the only son of Emperor Wilhelm I, was born in Potsdam on October 18, 1831. Although he was raised in a strict conservative household and was a soldier by profession, the future Friedrich III was decidedly liberal in his political and social opinions. For example, while Otto von Bismarck sought to unify Germany through a policy of blood and iron, Friedrich believed that Germany could be united through bloodless liberal and peaceful means.
Despite his misgivings about the use of military force, then Crown Prince Friedrich was a superb soldier. He first served in combat in the Danish-Prussian War in 1864. Two years later, in the Austro-Prussian War, his leadership of Prussia’s Second Army was crucial to the Prussian victory at the decisive Battle of Königgrätz. After the battle his father presented him with the Order Pour le Mérite for his gallantry under fire.
Four years later, in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, Friedrich was again lauded for his superb combat leadership after his Third Army defeated the French at the Battles of Wörth and Wissembourg and achieved further successes at the Battle of Sedan and the Siege of Paris. His visits to wounded Prussian soldiers after these bloody battles were noted by observers, who praised Friedrich for his kindness and humanity. The London Times wrote that “the Prince has won as much honour for his gentleness as for his prowess in the war” and other newspapers were just as effusive in their praise.
Following Prussia’s victories, the German states were finally unified into the Empire in 1871, with Wilhelm I as the emperor and Friedrich as crown prince and heir to the new Imperial throne. But Friedrich’s liberal outlook clashed with that of his father and Bismarck and as a result the crown prince was excluded from political decision-making during his father’s reign.
Progressive elements in Germany hoped that Wilhelm I’s conservative reign would end soon and that Friedrich’s accession to the throne would bring a new liberal era to Germany. But Wilhelm I lived until he was 90 years old and when he died in 1888,
Friedrich III was in ill-health. He died in Potsdam of cancer of the larynx on June 15, 1888, after having been [ King of Prussia and ] Emperor of Germany for only 99 days. His 29-year-old son succeeded him as Wilhelm II.
Some historians argue that if Friedrich III had enjoyed a longer reign, he might have transformed Germany into a more liberal democratic country, and perhaps prevented the series of events that led to World War I. “
bio by Fred L. Borch in:
Germany at war : 400 years of military history / edited by David T. Zabecki . Santa Barbara : ABC-CLIO, LLC , 2014
wiki page on Friedrich III :
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_III,_German_Emperor
article on Köninggrätz :
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Königgrätz
the German article is better :
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schlacht_bei_Königgrätz
article on Sedan :
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Sedan
again the German page is better :
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schlacht_von_Sedan
wiki page on 1888 :
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_of_the_Three_Emperors
article on celluloid :
Friedrich III snuff box
Kaiser Friedrich III snuff box , celluloid , 8 x 4 x 2 cm
Friedrich III , Emperor of Germany , 1831-1888
" Prussian field marshal and commander in chief of the Kaiserheer. Friedrich Wilhelm Nikolaus Karl, the only son of Emperor Wilhelm I, was born in Potsdam on October 18, 1831. Although he was raised in a strict conservative household and was a soldier by profession, the future Friedrich III was decidedly liberal in his political and social opinions. For example, while Otto von Bismarck sought to unify Germany through a policy of blood and iron, Friedrich believed that Germany could be united through bloodless liberal and peaceful means.
Despite his misgivings about the use of military force, then Crown Prince Friedrich was a superb soldier. He first served in combat in the Danish-Prussian War in 1864. Two years later, in the Austro-Prussian War, his leadership of Prussia’s Second Army was crucial to the Prussian victory at the decisive Battle of Königgrätz. After the battle his father presented him with the Order Pour le Mérite for his gallantry under fire.
Four years later, in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, Friedrich was again lauded for his superb combat leadership after his Third Army defeated the French at the Battles of Wörth and Wissembourg and achieved further successes at the Battle of Sedan and the Siege of Paris. His visits to wounded Prussian soldiers after these bloody battles were noted by observers, who praised Friedrich for his kindness and humanity. The London Times wrote that “the Prince has won as much honour for his gentleness as for his prowess in the war” and other newspapers were just as effusive in their praise.
Following Prussia’s victories, the German states were finally unified into the Empire in 1871, with Wilhelm I as the emperor and Friedrich as crown prince and heir to the new Imperial throne. But Friedrich’s liberal outlook clashed with that of his father and Bismarck and as a result the crown prince was excluded from political decision-making during his father’s reign.
Progressive elements in Germany hoped that Wilhelm I’s conservative reign would end soon and that Friedrich’s accession to the throne would bring a new liberal era to Germany. But Wilhelm I lived until he was 90 years old and when he died in 1888,
Friedrich III was in ill-health. He died in Potsdam of cancer of the larynx on June 15, 1888, after having been [ King of Prussia and ] Emperor of Germany for only 99 days. His 29-year-old son succeeded him as Wilhelm II.
Some historians argue that if Friedrich III had enjoyed a longer reign, he might have transformed Germany into a more liberal democratic country, and perhaps prevented the series of events that led to World War I. “
bio by Fred L. Borch in:
Germany at war : 400 years of military history / edited by David T. Zabecki . Santa Barbara : ABC-CLIO, LLC , 2014
wiki page on Friedrich III :
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_III,_German_Emperor
article on Köninggrätz :
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Königgrätz
the German article is better :
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schlacht_bei_Königgrätz
article on Sedan :
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Sedan
again the German page is better :
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schlacht_von_Sedan
wiki page on 1888 :
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_of_the_Three_Emperors
article on celluloid :