Frederick II, king of Prussia. September 1775. Bavaria.
My kingdom is a colossus with feet of clay. Indeed, it is larger than ever. Thuringen and Saxony are my vassals, England and Hannover are my allies and the armies of Hannover were a great help during years. Austria has been defeated twice, Poland is any more a threat but the shade of a state. But, however today my army is very reduced (8500 inf); the revolt thunders in my kingdom (Danzig is already in full revolt) and the war is declared with Russia and Denmark.
My incomes are weak and cover only partially my war efforts... It is necessary for me to conclude peace with my powerful neighbor Russia and to focus me on central Europe and the German states.
1775
October : I try to approach the tzar to propose peace. My ambassador is gotten rid of without courtesy. I believe that the war is inevitable and that it will be necessary to fight hard to conclude a good peace. I go back to Berlin to recruit fresh troops.
November : A Russian army is in front of Konigsberg and besieges the city. I do not have concern for the moment, the city is well strengthened but it is not necessary that this situation lasts.
1776
January 1 : Oufff, I have a little money, I buy new troops...
January 2 : Thank you once again in Hannover. Whereas Lithuania fell between the hands of Russia, an army of Hannover (15000 men) has just beaten the Russian army (21 000 men) in Konigsberg. To release me here from this spine... After that, this army goes to Lithuania.
February 23 : Reinforced by new troops, I crush the revolt in Danzig. The reports of the governors of my provinces indicate that the risks of revolt are negligible in all the kingdom. The annexation of Bavaria is forgotten.
March : For the moment, the russian armies are contained thanks to the intervention of the army corps of Hannover which holds good in Lithuania even if it is not enough strong to be able to besiege Vilnius.
On the other hand, in Western Europe, the fate of the war is very different: Hannovre was invaded and conquered by the Danish and Bremen is besieged. So I decide to put fine at the war with Denmark and since I cannot make peace by diplomacy, the weapons will speak and the most powerful army will impose its law. I do not doubt that he will be me!
I walk immediately on Denmark...
April : I arrive to Berlin, I spend only one night in my castle of Potsdam and the following day I take the road of Copenhagen with my 16 000 inf.
May 15 : After multiple attacks, Hannover is liberated by my troops and Hannover takes the control of the province. It is a good thing but now it is necessary for me to make fold Denmark. I walk on Kiel (province of Holstein).
June 24 : I am here in front of the walls of Kiel, the siege starts. For once, I do not command the assault on the city, I prefer to save the life of my men and to trust my talents in siege...
September : The Danish army in Bremen was destroyed by an hannovrian army. Denmark have any more an army in Western Europe (there still remain to them 6 000 men in Russia, in the province of Kurland).
1777
January : this year, my incomes enable me to recruit 10 000 inf in Berlin !
The war will be easier...
March 4 : Konigsberg (Eastern Prussia) is again besieged by Russian, but this time it will be harder to me to keep the province, they are nearly 50000 Russian who make the siege!
May 6 : France makes peace with England and receives the colony of Penobscot.
May 14 : The city of Kiel was takent after almost 1 year of siege. Holstein is mine but it is not yet enough! Go to Jylland!
June 13 : I initiated the siege in Jylland.
June 19 : The city not being sufficiently strengthened and to save time in order to make peace as fast as possible and to turn over me against Russia, I order the assault of the city. The city falls quickly, my losses are a little more than 1000 men.
The end of this campaign of Denmark will be good for me without doubt now and I propose peace by asking ONLY Holstein and his CoT. Denmark refuses and proposes to me only the province of Jylland.
I refuse in my turn.
July : After several vain attacks, the Russian army which besieged Konigsberg lost ! Indeed, they lost more than 30 000 men during this siege. And they are not able now to take the city. That still gives me a little respite but it is necessary for me quickly to finish the war with Denmark.
August 2 : I see th walls of Kobenhavn with more than 14 700 men. I make the siege with a smile : if I can take the capital, the war is finished.
August 8 : France declares war upon Netherlands and Sweden.
November 9 : 9000 men of reinforcements from Berlin increase my troops. With these new troops, I can hope to take the city by a storming assault.
December 4 : Kopenhavn fell forcing Denmark to negotiate according to my conditions: Jylland + Holstein (& his CoT) + 250o in indemnities. Denmark can only accept the conditions of the winner.
I return to Berlin to recruit troops because even if there remain to me 23300 men, it is necessary some reinforcement to make war to Russia.
1778
January 1: I am promoted Prince.
January 3 : Denmark accepts peace with Hannover paying 120o in indemnities. So peace is also done between Hannover and Russia.
July 1 : I constituted through recruitment an army of 37000 men but it is now more than 100 000 russians which besiege Konigsberg : the battle turns short in the event of confrontation.
I thus camp in Posen waiting to have more gold to recruit always more troops.
To be continued ...
------------------
Si vis pacem, para bellum
[This message has been edited by JP (edited 15-09-2000).]
My kingdom is a colossus with feet of clay. Indeed, it is larger than ever. Thuringen and Saxony are my vassals, England and Hannover are my allies and the armies of Hannover were a great help during years. Austria has been defeated twice, Poland is any more a threat but the shade of a state. But, however today my army is very reduced (8500 inf); the revolt thunders in my kingdom (Danzig is already in full revolt) and the war is declared with Russia and Denmark.
My incomes are weak and cover only partially my war efforts... It is necessary for me to conclude peace with my powerful neighbor Russia and to focus me on central Europe and the German states.
1775
October : I try to approach the tzar to propose peace. My ambassador is gotten rid of without courtesy. I believe that the war is inevitable and that it will be necessary to fight hard to conclude a good peace. I go back to Berlin to recruit fresh troops.
November : A Russian army is in front of Konigsberg and besieges the city. I do not have concern for the moment, the city is well strengthened but it is not necessary that this situation lasts.
1776
January 1 : Oufff, I have a little money, I buy new troops...
January 2 : Thank you once again in Hannover. Whereas Lithuania fell between the hands of Russia, an army of Hannover (15000 men) has just beaten the Russian army (21 000 men) in Konigsberg. To release me here from this spine... After that, this army goes to Lithuania.
February 23 : Reinforced by new troops, I crush the revolt in Danzig. The reports of the governors of my provinces indicate that the risks of revolt are negligible in all the kingdom. The annexation of Bavaria is forgotten.
March : For the moment, the russian armies are contained thanks to the intervention of the army corps of Hannover which holds good in Lithuania even if it is not enough strong to be able to besiege Vilnius.
On the other hand, in Western Europe, the fate of the war is very different: Hannovre was invaded and conquered by the Danish and Bremen is besieged. So I decide to put fine at the war with Denmark and since I cannot make peace by diplomacy, the weapons will speak and the most powerful army will impose its law. I do not doubt that he will be me!
I walk immediately on Denmark...
April : I arrive to Berlin, I spend only one night in my castle of Potsdam and the following day I take the road of Copenhagen with my 16 000 inf.
May 15 : After multiple attacks, Hannover is liberated by my troops and Hannover takes the control of the province. It is a good thing but now it is necessary for me to make fold Denmark. I walk on Kiel (province of Holstein).
June 24 : I am here in front of the walls of Kiel, the siege starts. For once, I do not command the assault on the city, I prefer to save the life of my men and to trust my talents in siege...
September : The Danish army in Bremen was destroyed by an hannovrian army. Denmark have any more an army in Western Europe (there still remain to them 6 000 men in Russia, in the province of Kurland).
1777
January : this year, my incomes enable me to recruit 10 000 inf in Berlin !
The war will be easier...
March 4 : Konigsberg (Eastern Prussia) is again besieged by Russian, but this time it will be harder to me to keep the province, they are nearly 50000 Russian who make the siege!
May 6 : France makes peace with England and receives the colony of Penobscot.
May 14 : The city of Kiel was takent after almost 1 year of siege. Holstein is mine but it is not yet enough! Go to Jylland!
June 13 : I initiated the siege in Jylland.
June 19 : The city not being sufficiently strengthened and to save time in order to make peace as fast as possible and to turn over me against Russia, I order the assault of the city. The city falls quickly, my losses are a little more than 1000 men.
The end of this campaign of Denmark will be good for me without doubt now and I propose peace by asking ONLY Holstein and his CoT. Denmark refuses and proposes to me only the province of Jylland.
I refuse in my turn.
July : After several vain attacks, the Russian army which besieged Konigsberg lost ! Indeed, they lost more than 30 000 men during this siege. And they are not able now to take the city. That still gives me a little respite but it is necessary for me quickly to finish the war with Denmark.
August 2 : I see th walls of Kobenhavn with more than 14 700 men. I make the siege with a smile : if I can take the capital, the war is finished.
August 8 : France declares war upon Netherlands and Sweden.
November 9 : 9000 men of reinforcements from Berlin increase my troops. With these new troops, I can hope to take the city by a storming assault.
December 4 : Kopenhavn fell forcing Denmark to negotiate according to my conditions: Jylland + Holstein (& his CoT) + 250o in indemnities. Denmark can only accept the conditions of the winner.
I return to Berlin to recruit troops because even if there remain to me 23300 men, it is necessary some reinforcement to make war to Russia.
1778
January 1: I am promoted Prince.
January 3 : Denmark accepts peace with Hannover paying 120o in indemnities. So peace is also done between Hannover and Russia.
July 1 : I constituted through recruitment an army of 37000 men but it is now more than 100 000 russians which besiege Konigsberg : the battle turns short in the event of confrontation.
I thus camp in Posen waiting to have more gold to recruit always more troops.
To be continued ...
------------------
Si vis pacem, para bellum
[This message has been edited by JP (edited 15-09-2000).]