WORKSHEET “FREDERICK II. OF PRUSSIA”
His Youth
Frederick was born in Berlin the son of King Frederick William I of Prussia
and Sophia Dorothea of Hanover. The so-called Soldier-King, Frederick
William I. had developed a formidable army but was also known for his
temper. He would strike men in the face and kick women in the street.
Frederick was brought up by Huguenot governesses and tutors and learned
French and German simultaneously.The young Frederick, with the help of his
tutor Jacques Duhan, built for himself a three thousand volume secret library
of poetry, Greek and Roman classics, and French philosophy. He also loved
music, composing songs and playing the flute.
When he was 18, in 1730, Frederick wanted to flee to England with Hans www.spsg.de/media/de/friedrich2_jung.jpg
Hermann von Katte and other junior army officer. Frederick and Katte were
arrested and imprisoned in Küstrin. Because they were army officers who had tried to flee Prussia for
Great Britain, Frederick William accused both of them of treason (dt.: Hochverrat).
The king forced Frederick to watch the decapitation (dt.: Enthauptung) of his friend Katte at Küstrin on
November 6th. Frederick was granted a royal pardon and released from his cell on 18 November,
although he remained stripped of his military rank.
Music and arts
Frederick was a gifted musician who played the flute. He composed 100
sonatas for the flute as well as four symphonies. The Hohenfriedberger
Marsch, a military march, was written by Frederick to commemorate his
victory in the Battle of Hohenfriedberg.
Frederick also wanted to be a philosopher-king like the Roman emperor
Marcus Aurelius. He stood close to the French Enlightenment, admiring
above all its greatest thinker, Voltaire, with whom he corresponded
frequently. In addition to his native language German, Frederick spoke
French, English, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian; he also understood
Latin, ancient and modern Greek, and Hebrew. Preferring instead French culture, Frederick disliked the
German language, literature, and culture.
Tasks:
1. Write a short profile of Frederick II
(incl. parents, hobbies, languages, events in his life, ...).
2. Did Frederick have a nice youth or not? Give reasons for your answer.
Underline passages in the text which are reasons for your opinion.
3. Frederick liked music and arts. What do you think was the opinion of Frederick`s
father (Frederick William I) on it? Write down possible reactions.
WORKSHEET “FREDERICK II. OF PRUSSIA”
Modernization
Frederick managed to transform Prussia
from a European backwater (dt.:
Schlusslicht) to an economically strong and
politically reformed state. He fought
against Austria to get Silesia, to provide
Prussia's new built industries
with raw materials, and he protected
these industries with high customs and
minimal restrictions on internal trade.
Canals were built, including between the
Vistula (dt.: Weichsel) and the Oder,
swamps (dt.: Sümpfe) were drained (= to
make them dry) for agricultural cultivation,
and new crops, such as the potato and
the turnip, were introduced.
With the help of French experts, he reorganized the system of
indirect taxes, which provided the state with more revenue than
direct taxes. Frederick gave his state a modern bureaucracy.
Prussia's education system was seen as one of the best in Europe.
Frederick also abolished torture and corporal
punishment. In the army, corporal punishment was not
forbidden, but important for the discipline.
Tasks:
1. In which fields was Prussia modernized?
Underline in the text and number each reform (1, 2, ...)
2. Tick the correct fields (mentioned in the text) which were modernized by Frederick?
music agriculture sports education clothing
military taxes civil rights economy infrastucure
computers administration building arts science
3. What do you think were the three most important things he modernized? Give a
reason for your answer.
WORKSHEET “FREDERICK II. OF PRUSSIA”
Religious tolerance
Frederick generally supported religious toleration, including having catholic Jesuits as teachers
in Silesia. He was interested in attracting a diversity (= many different) of skills to his country,
whether from Jesuit teachers, Huguenot citizens, or Jewish merchants and bankers, particularly
from Spain. He wanted development throughout the country, specifically in areas that he judged
as needing a particular kind of development.
As under Frederick much wasteland was made useable, Prussia was looking for new colonists.
Frederick always said that nationality and religion were of no concern to him.
Tasks:
1. Of what faith (religion) were people who came to Prussia?
2. Were people of other faith/religion welcomed in Prussia? Give reasons for your
answer, underline in the text.
Some statements of Frederick:
„Wäre nur eine Religion in der Welt, so würde
sie stolz und zügellos despotisch sein."
„In meinem Staate kann jeder nach seiner
Façon selig werden." (Façon = Art und Weise)
In French: “Chacun à son goût.”
„Es heißt, dass wir Könige auf Erden die
Ebenbilder Gottes seien. Ich habe mich daraufhin im Spiegel
betrachtet. Sehr schmeichelhaft für den lieben Gott ist das nicht.“
„Jedem das Seine!“
Tasks:
1. Was Frederick a religious person? What do you think?
Put a cross on the line where you would see Frederick.
Yes a little bit no
Give a reason for your answer.
2. Was he a tolerant person concerning religion? Give a reason for your answer.
3. Why do you think has Robbie Williams a tatoo showing one of Frederick`s
statements?
WORKSHEET “FREDERICK II. OF PRUSSIA”
Architecture
Frederick had famous buildings constructed in his capital, Berlin, most of which still exist today,
such as the Berlin State Opera, the Royal Library (today the State Library Berlin), St. Hedwig's
Cathedral, and Prince Henry's Palace (now the site of Humboldt University). However, the king
preferred spending his time in his summer residence Potsdam, where he built the palace of
Sanssouci, which means: “carefree” or “without worry”.
He concentrated new constructions along the wide boulevard
“Unter den Linden”, which leads from the Brandenburg Gate to
Museums` Island. Today, the most obvious mark Frederick left of
himself is a large statue standing high over “Unter den Linden”.
all from: www.suite101.com/content/frederick-the-greats-influence-on-berlin-
a82563#ixzz153eX3RSc
C
below: from the west side
right: main entrance D
D
www.ag-nbi.de/archiv/www.xml-clearinghouse.de/ws/BXML2003/Umgebung.gif
Task:
A Which of the pictures is
1 St.Hedwig’s Cathedral?
2 Prince Henry’s Palace?
3 Berlin State Opera House?
B 4 Sanssouci?
Write the correct letter into the box.
www2.pccu.edu.tw/CRSSPY/wchiang/Photos/Berlin_0370.jpg