Frederick II, king of Prussia. 1759. Potsdam.
The preceding war with Poland made it possible to extend my kingdom, but my finances are badly. According to the consultings of my Financial Minister 'si vis bellum, para pecuniam ' (if I can say ), I undertake a policy of improvement of the administrative infrastructures of Prussia in order to improve my incomes (i.e. to increase the taxes) and to fight the inflation (which reaches a record level to 101%).
Thereafter, I will increase the size of my armies to allow me to as well make the war against Sweden to conquer Pommerania and against Austria to extend my territories to the south and to limit his influence and his power.
1759
August : with my weak cash, I can only promote my establishments in Berlin. My economy is weak and it is necessary for me to be patient...
November : England makes peace with Sweden by giving 206o in allowances and the colony of Delaware. Automatically, Sweden is in peace with me, I cannot more from now on hope to recover Pommerania quickly (to declare the war in Sweden now would make me lose 7 points of stability, unimaginable! It would be the revolt assured in all the country )
December : Sweden sends a invasion force (20 000 men) in Pommerania in order to besiege Stralsund. The armies of Hanover is wedged by its conquest in Lithuania and cannot assist the besieged (they have no way to go to W. Pommerania).
1760
January : with the incoming taxes of the new year, I can invest in Magdeburg in new infrastructures, with the little money that it remains I recruit 3000 new soldiers.
February : the conclusion has just fallen: I failed to conquer Western Pommerania. 5 years that passes quickly... But I succeeded in preserving Silesia, finally the success of the one compensates for the failure of the other.
I accept new mission: RM with Denmark and to keep Kleves (a small province wedged between various german kingdoms in the west). The marriage with Denmark is quickly concluded.
March : 32 000 keen Swedish makes the siege at Stralsund while a fleet of 6 ships makes the blockade of the port. And still not help in sight for the besieged. I cannot do anything in their favour because I have peace agreement with Sweden. Besieged are lonely.
April : I start to collect the fruits of my investments: inflation fells to 99% (Youpiiiiii !!! ) and the price of the soldiers becomes less expensive (29 instead of 30).
September : England asks that we honor our Alliance and declares war upon Spain, and by consequence upon The Knights and Persia. Ok ok... I accept by pure principle but the theatre of war is too far from my provinces so that I’ll not be affected and I will not even hear the sound of the gun.
December : Here now more than one year that Stralsund is always besieged and still resists against the invader whose their armies are now 43 000 men and 13 ships.
The situation inside the city must be dramatic...
1761
January : Hessen changes religion and becomes reformed while Thuringen becomes Protestant.
But relations with the first degrades while with the second they improve clearly, it is the occasion to strengthen our relations, and I invite them in our alliance with England and Hanover. Our relations are such as we can regard ourselves as the closest friends ...
June : England accepts peace with France and gives up Connecticut & Placentia : this war will have been primarily a colonial war because very little confrontations took place on the continent. I don’t know how the fate of the weapons turned because I had only little information from America...
July : Before Stralsund falls, and to avoid confusions and violences, Hanover requires peace and pays 250o in allowances to Sweden, Pommerania turns over under Swedish sovereignty.
It is the end of more than 18 months of bloody siege...
1763
February : Improvement of the infrastructures in Silesia... My finances improve slowly but insufficiently. I cannot increase my armies nor to recruit soldiers. My projects of large Germany is likely to turn short. It is insane what I am bored in times of peace.
1764
January : Wurtemberg changes its state religion to Protestant, I benefit immediately from our new sympathies to propose a RM to him which it accepts. The german web is woven little by little...
1765
June : Considering the very good relations which I have with Thuringen, I propose to him to become my vassal what it accepts at once with a good surprising grace.
November : General Heinrich dies. It was my best General and it was useful to me well during the campaign of Poland. I will miss it for my future campaigns.
A Requiem will be celebrated in its honor in the cathedral of Berlin.
1766
August : WAR ! The war is declared between Austrian alliance (Austria, Portugal, Parma) and Turkish alliance (Turkey, Crimea, Algers) but also against the French Alliance (France, Genoa, Poland, Papal states, Savoy). This double war should as well mobilize the Austrian troops on their Italian borders as on their southern borders (in Hungary) that in the east with Poland.
The Austrian army should be very busy.
October 16 : after some essential preparations, recruitment and regrouping my troops in two armies : 17000 men with Frederic II, 26 000 with General Seydlitz who goes at the Austrian border in Silesia, I declare war against Austria.
I assume completely the lack of Casus Belli (-2 stability but no bad consequences) and I ask my allies to honor their alliance and to join me. All my allies (England, Hanover and Thuringen) accept.
I move on Erz while General Seydlitz has command to walk on Moravia.
November 7 : I besiege Karlsbad (Erz). My troops are insufficient (17 000 against 15 000 of garrison) to allow me to launch an attack to the city. Thus I start a long siege.
November 20 : General Seydlitz arrives in front of the walls of Brunn (Moravia). In the same way, the city is so well strengthened that it will be necessary to be patient and slowly reduce its inhabitants to the famine to be able to take the city. This campaign of Austria is announced like a long war of siege.
December 29 : Just before midnight supper, certainly to mark their devotion and to please to me, 22 000 men of the troops of Thuringen, my vassal, join the siege of Stralsund and in a fantastic armed wave, go up to the assault of the walls of Karlsbad and helped by my soldiers win a brilliant victory.
This evening, I will sleep in the fortress of Karlsbad.
1767
January 2 : after having celebrated the new year in Karlsbad, I move towards Prague and his castle...
January 27 : Brunn (Moravia) falls to the hands of my hanovrian allies although we have to initiate the seat, General Seydlitz indeed misses charisma to assert the victory and to claim the city for our own colors. Too bad... Moravia and its richnesses would have been an appreciable complement for my kingdom.
To avoid the new ones fighting for nothing and in order to have a greater force, I order to General Seydlitz to meet me at the siege of Prague.
February 5 : Austria proposes to me a peace agreement with the province of Erz. It is quite insufficient. Their armies are busy in Italy, Helvetia, Hungary and Poland and undergo great losses. I have the free hands and the road is free to Vienna so I hope to sleep in the palace of Schönbrunn very soon...
August 19 : after six months of siege, impatience gaining me, I order the attack of Prague. Thanks to the reinforcements of the army of the General Seydlitz, the attack against the 15 000 men of garrison is victorious but I lose 6000 men nevertheless... My army is not composed any more but of 28 000 men (only infantry). I wait urgently for reinforcements.
Lastly, 'for each day suffices its sorrow', this evening, I sleep in the castle of Prague ...
September 5 : 4000 men of reinforcement whom I had recruited (at very high cost) were beaten by 3 000 Austrians whereas they came to join me in Prague. Taken in a ambush close to Karlsbad, they could fight defending their skin dearly but finally having to make retreat in complete disorder. However the roughness of the battle was such as it did not remain any more but 566 surviving on the prussian side and 767 on the austrian side.
The worst, it is that I cannot count any more on reinforcements before many months and the war is not finished.
September 7 : I should now take again the initiative with the remainder of my men. I walk on Presburg to help my hanovrian allies in their siege.
November 10 : just arrived at Presburg with my 16 000 men, I take the command of the operations and orders the seat at once. The attack is given and after a few hours of bloody combat, the city is mine. One more
November 11 : Austria makes me a second peace proposal : Erz + Presburg. It is still insufficient, I want a total victory. For that, it becomes essential to make the war in front of the gates of Vienna. Austria is in such a badly position, attacked of every sides, that should be done without too much problem. In spite of the numerical weakness (15 000 men) of my army, I go to Vienna to end the war...
------------------
Si vis pacem, para bellum
[This message has been edited by JP (edited 06-09-2000).]
The preceding war with Poland made it possible to extend my kingdom, but my finances are badly. According to the consultings of my Financial Minister 'si vis bellum, para pecuniam ' (if I can say ), I undertake a policy of improvement of the administrative infrastructures of Prussia in order to improve my incomes (i.e. to increase the taxes) and to fight the inflation (which reaches a record level to 101%).
Thereafter, I will increase the size of my armies to allow me to as well make the war against Sweden to conquer Pommerania and against Austria to extend my territories to the south and to limit his influence and his power.
1759
August : with my weak cash, I can only promote my establishments in Berlin. My economy is weak and it is necessary for me to be patient...
November : England makes peace with Sweden by giving 206o in allowances and the colony of Delaware. Automatically, Sweden is in peace with me, I cannot more from now on hope to recover Pommerania quickly (to declare the war in Sweden now would make me lose 7 points of stability, unimaginable! It would be the revolt assured in all the country )
December : Sweden sends a invasion force (20 000 men) in Pommerania in order to besiege Stralsund. The armies of Hanover is wedged by its conquest in Lithuania and cannot assist the besieged (they have no way to go to W. Pommerania).
1760
January : with the incoming taxes of the new year, I can invest in Magdeburg in new infrastructures, with the little money that it remains I recruit 3000 new soldiers.
February : the conclusion has just fallen: I failed to conquer Western Pommerania. 5 years that passes quickly... But I succeeded in preserving Silesia, finally the success of the one compensates for the failure of the other.
I accept new mission: RM with Denmark and to keep Kleves (a small province wedged between various german kingdoms in the west). The marriage with Denmark is quickly concluded.
March : 32 000 keen Swedish makes the siege at Stralsund while a fleet of 6 ships makes the blockade of the port. And still not help in sight for the besieged. I cannot do anything in their favour because I have peace agreement with Sweden. Besieged are lonely.
April : I start to collect the fruits of my investments: inflation fells to 99% (Youpiiiiii !!! ) and the price of the soldiers becomes less expensive (29 instead of 30).
September : England asks that we honor our Alliance and declares war upon Spain, and by consequence upon The Knights and Persia. Ok ok... I accept by pure principle but the theatre of war is too far from my provinces so that I’ll not be affected and I will not even hear the sound of the gun.
December : Here now more than one year that Stralsund is always besieged and still resists against the invader whose their armies are now 43 000 men and 13 ships.
The situation inside the city must be dramatic...
1761
January : Hessen changes religion and becomes reformed while Thuringen becomes Protestant.
But relations with the first degrades while with the second they improve clearly, it is the occasion to strengthen our relations, and I invite them in our alliance with England and Hanover. Our relations are such as we can regard ourselves as the closest friends ...
June : England accepts peace with France and gives up Connecticut & Placentia : this war will have been primarily a colonial war because very little confrontations took place on the continent. I don’t know how the fate of the weapons turned because I had only little information from America...
July : Before Stralsund falls, and to avoid confusions and violences, Hanover requires peace and pays 250o in allowances to Sweden, Pommerania turns over under Swedish sovereignty.
It is the end of more than 18 months of bloody siege...
1763
February : Improvement of the infrastructures in Silesia... My finances improve slowly but insufficiently. I cannot increase my armies nor to recruit soldiers. My projects of large Germany is likely to turn short. It is insane what I am bored in times of peace.
1764
January : Wurtemberg changes its state religion to Protestant, I benefit immediately from our new sympathies to propose a RM to him which it accepts. The german web is woven little by little...
1765
June : Considering the very good relations which I have with Thuringen, I propose to him to become my vassal what it accepts at once with a good surprising grace.
November : General Heinrich dies. It was my best General and it was useful to me well during the campaign of Poland. I will miss it for my future campaigns.
A Requiem will be celebrated in its honor in the cathedral of Berlin.
1766
August : WAR ! The war is declared between Austrian alliance (Austria, Portugal, Parma) and Turkish alliance (Turkey, Crimea, Algers) but also against the French Alliance (France, Genoa, Poland, Papal states, Savoy). This double war should as well mobilize the Austrian troops on their Italian borders as on their southern borders (in Hungary) that in the east with Poland.
The Austrian army should be very busy.
October 16 : after some essential preparations, recruitment and regrouping my troops in two armies : 17000 men with Frederic II, 26 000 with General Seydlitz who goes at the Austrian border in Silesia, I declare war against Austria.
I assume completely the lack of Casus Belli (-2 stability but no bad consequences) and I ask my allies to honor their alliance and to join me. All my allies (England, Hanover and Thuringen) accept.
I move on Erz while General Seydlitz has command to walk on Moravia.
November 7 : I besiege Karlsbad (Erz). My troops are insufficient (17 000 against 15 000 of garrison) to allow me to launch an attack to the city. Thus I start a long siege.
November 20 : General Seydlitz arrives in front of the walls of Brunn (Moravia). In the same way, the city is so well strengthened that it will be necessary to be patient and slowly reduce its inhabitants to the famine to be able to take the city. This campaign of Austria is announced like a long war of siege.
December 29 : Just before midnight supper, certainly to mark their devotion and to please to me, 22 000 men of the troops of Thuringen, my vassal, join the siege of Stralsund and in a fantastic armed wave, go up to the assault of the walls of Karlsbad and helped by my soldiers win a brilliant victory.
This evening, I will sleep in the fortress of Karlsbad.
1767
January 2 : after having celebrated the new year in Karlsbad, I move towards Prague and his castle...
January 27 : Brunn (Moravia) falls to the hands of my hanovrian allies although we have to initiate the seat, General Seydlitz indeed misses charisma to assert the victory and to claim the city for our own colors. Too bad... Moravia and its richnesses would have been an appreciable complement for my kingdom.
To avoid the new ones fighting for nothing and in order to have a greater force, I order to General Seydlitz to meet me at the siege of Prague.
February 5 : Austria proposes to me a peace agreement with the province of Erz. It is quite insufficient. Their armies are busy in Italy, Helvetia, Hungary and Poland and undergo great losses. I have the free hands and the road is free to Vienna so I hope to sleep in the palace of Schönbrunn very soon...
August 19 : after six months of siege, impatience gaining me, I order the attack of Prague. Thanks to the reinforcements of the army of the General Seydlitz, the attack against the 15 000 men of garrison is victorious but I lose 6000 men nevertheless... My army is not composed any more but of 28 000 men (only infantry). I wait urgently for reinforcements.
Lastly, 'for each day suffices its sorrow', this evening, I sleep in the castle of Prague ...
September 5 : 4000 men of reinforcement whom I had recruited (at very high cost) were beaten by 3 000 Austrians whereas they came to join me in Prague. Taken in a ambush close to Karlsbad, they could fight defending their skin dearly but finally having to make retreat in complete disorder. However the roughness of the battle was such as it did not remain any more but 566 surviving on the prussian side and 767 on the austrian side.
The worst, it is that I cannot count any more on reinforcements before many months and the war is not finished.
September 7 : I should now take again the initiative with the remainder of my men. I walk on Presburg to help my hanovrian allies in their siege.
November 10 : just arrived at Presburg with my 16 000 men, I take the command of the operations and orders the seat at once. The attack is given and after a few hours of bloody combat, the city is mine. One more
November 11 : Austria makes me a second peace proposal : Erz + Presburg. It is still insufficient, I want a total victory. For that, it becomes essential to make the war in front of the gates of Vienna. Austria is in such a badly position, attacked of every sides, that should be done without too much problem. In spite of the numerical weakness (15 000 men) of my army, I go to Vienna to end the war...
------------------
Si vis pacem, para bellum
[This message has been edited by JP (edited 06-09-2000).]