“He was a great man, especially in critical situations. It’s the highest
praise one can give of his character” was Napoleon’s homage to the
King of Prussia, Friedrich the Great, as he stood at his coffin. Napoleon
then went into Friedrich's personal library, rifled through his belongings
and took what he wanted, as was his habit. Saying."We would not be
here if he were alive," Napoleon took Friedrich's sword. It went back to
Paris where it was later destroyed. Enter World War Two.
praise one can give of his character” was Napoleon’s homage to the
King of Prussia, Friedrich the Great, as he stood at his coffin. Napoleon
then went into Friedrich's personal library, rifled through his belongings
and took what he wanted, as was his habit. Saying."We would not be
here if he were alive," Napoleon took Friedrich's sword. It went back to
Paris where it was later destroyed. Enter World War Two.
In the chaos of war, German soldiers had moved the coffin of
Friedrich the Great for safekeeping to an underground bunker
in Potsdam-Eiche in 1943 and then, in March of 1945, to a salt
mine in Thuringia. After the war's end, the bones were carried
off by Allied soldiers for some reason to be stashed at Marburg-
in-Hesse's Elizabeth Church. There was some talk among the
Allies of destroying the mortal remains of the king as a symbol
of their new authority over Germany, but the Bones were
instead transferred to Burg Hohenzollern at Hechtigen in 1952.
Friedrich the Great for safekeeping to an underground bunker
in Potsdam-Eiche in 1943 and then, in March of 1945, to a salt
mine in Thuringia. After the war's end, the bones were carried
off by Allied soldiers for some reason to be stashed at Marburg-
in-Hesse's Elizabeth Church. There was some talk among the
Allies of destroying the mortal remains of the king as a symbol
of their new authority over Germany, but the Bones were
instead transferred to Burg Hohenzollern at Hechtigen in 1952.
| Dem Bones |
American G.I.s move the king's coffin
The great and enlightened Prussian king Friedrich the Great was allowed not much peace in death.
Friedrich left clear instructions for his funeral in his will: "I want to be buried at midnight in the park of
my château at Sans Souci without fuss and without the slightest ceremony, accompanied by my dog and by
two valets bearing torches. I have lived as a philosopher and wish to be buried as such, without circumstance,
without solemn pomp, without splendour. I want to be neither opened nor embalmed. Bury me in Sanssouci at
the same level with terraces in a tomb, which I have prepared for myself... Should I die in time of war or
whilst on a journey, I should be buried in the first convenient place and brought to Sanssouci in the winter."
He wanted to be buried next to his favorite hounds. Friedrich's successor Friedrich Wilhelm II instead
ordered him buried in the Potsdam garrison church next to his father, Friedrich Wilhelm I. Many
years later, Napoleon visited his tomb while the French occupied Germany.
Friedrich left clear instructions for his funeral in his will: "I want to be buried at midnight in the park of
my château at Sans Souci without fuss and without the slightest ceremony, accompanied by my dog and by
two valets bearing torches. I have lived as a philosopher and wish to be buried as such, without circumstance,
without solemn pomp, without splendour. I want to be neither opened nor embalmed. Bury me in Sanssouci at
the same level with terraces in a tomb, which I have prepared for myself... Should I die in time of war or
whilst on a journey, I should be buried in the first convenient place and brought to Sanssouci in the winter."
He wanted to be buried next to his favorite hounds. Friedrich's successor Friedrich Wilhelm II instead
ordered him buried in the Potsdam garrison church next to his father, Friedrich Wilhelm I. Many
years later, Napoleon visited his tomb while the French occupied Germany.
However, the wishes of Friedrich the Great were at last
fulfilled, despite shrill left wing protests that he should not be
honored at all, and that his reburial might result in a "resurgence
of German nationalism". On August 17, 1991, on the 295th
anniversary of his death, the sarcophagus with the mortal
remains of the King was laid out in the forecourt of Sanssouci
palace, escorted by an honour guard. The burial took place that
night in the tomb Friedrich had planned for the purpose since
1744: "Once I am there, I shall be carefree".
fulfilled, despite shrill left wing protests that he should not be
honored at all, and that his reburial might result in a "resurgence
of German nationalism". On August 17, 1991, on the 295th
anniversary of his death, the sarcophagus with the mortal
remains of the King was laid out in the forecourt of Sanssouci
palace, escorted by an honour guard. The burial took place that
night in the tomb Friedrich had planned for the purpose since
1744: "Once I am there, I shall be carefree".
Little would Friedrich have guessed that the name "Prussia" would be formally expunged from international language by
order Number 46 of the Allied Control Commission on February 23,1945 because, as it incorrectly stated: "Since time
immemorial it has been the pillar of militarism and reaction in Germany". The state of Prussia still legally existed for a time
after war's end but proved to be an obstacle to the Allied division of Germany into four easily controlled zones of
occupation structured to "stabilize political structures" in their concept of a new Germany. It was a large state with its
various regions included in all four zones of occupation. Calling Friedrich the Great a "forerunner to Hitler", in February of
1947, in an act of remarkable arrogance and stupidity, and in total disregard to historical fact, the Allied powers issued a
formal decree abolishing the Prussian state.
order Number 46 of the Allied Control Commission on February 23,1945 because, as it incorrectly stated: "Since time
immemorial it has been the pillar of militarism and reaction in Germany". The state of Prussia still legally existed for a time
after war's end but proved to be an obstacle to the Allied division of Germany into four easily controlled zones of
occupation structured to "stabilize political structures" in their concept of a new Germany. It was a large state with its
various regions included in all four zones of occupation. Calling Friedrich the Great a "forerunner to Hitler", in February of
1947, in an act of remarkable arrogance and stupidity, and in total disregard to historical fact, the Allied powers issued a
formal decree abolishing the Prussian state.