The Prussian Army 1675 - 1743

By Philip Cranz

25 Pages of text and 22 color plates.

The army inherited by Frederick The Great when he succeeded to the Prussian throne in 1740 was by no means in need of reform. His father, Frederick William I had been known as the “Soldier King” and his army reflected his obsession with all things military. His own lifestyle was so spartan that even his own family were repelled by it. However he took an efficient army from his predecessor, Frederick I and established the organization, training, uniforms and weaponry that would sustain it until the end of the eighteenth century. This volume takes the Prussian Army from its inception and baptism of fire at Fehrbellin in 1675 under the Great Elector to the beginning of the reign of Frederick II. Most who study uniforms are familiar with the work of Richard Knötel and his documentation of the armies of Germany and much of Europe set the standard for military uniform illustration. His illustrations from the Uniformenkünde along with an informative text bring the early Prussian army to life in this volume.