The German Emperor as Shown in His Public Utterances

Frederick the Great and His Army

Döberitz, May 29, 1903

After conducting the manœuvres of the guard the Emperor dedicated the obelisk to Frederick the Great. The character and achievements of Frederick have been summarized in chapter I.

One hundred and fifty years ago, on these same fields, his Majesty, Frederick II, who even in his lifetime was called “the Great,” gathered together a considerable part of his army in order to train and steel it for the mighty struggles which he foresaw in spirit through his prophetic vision. So important was this preparation for him that he did not hesitate to trust his columns to the direction of his experienced field-marshals. Here the great soldier King, working restlessly, not overlooking details in his interest for the greater concerns of history, trained his regiments for the difficult tasks of the Seven Years’ War, which was soon to set in, and created that inner bond between himself and his soldiers which inspired them to the greatest deeds of daring, while he infused his spirit into his generals and so laid the foundation for the unmatched results which found their crowning achievement in the victorious overthrow of a world in arms united against him. Let these achievements be unforgotten; unforgotten the names of the heroes of that great time.

Frederick’s enemies derisively called his little army the “Potsdamer Wachtparade” [the “Potsdam Guard’s Parade”]! Well, he showed them what he could do at the head of it! And in later times likewise the “Potsdam Guard’s Parade” fittingly showed the way to every one who tried to cultivate too close an acquaintance with it. This obelisk of northern granite is erected in memory of that time. A memorial to “Fredericus Rex, the King and Hero,” to be emulated by us all in working with unabated strength to the end that we may be ready to strike in any emergency. When in a moment the curtain shall fall, when the flags and standards dip in greeting, swords are lowered, and presented bayonets glisten—all this is done in honor not only of this block of stone but of him, the great King, his generals and field-marshals; of his great successor, William the Great, and his paladins, who now, assembled around the Great Ally above, look down upon us; and in honor of Prussia’s glorious martial history and tradition. Attention, present arms!