Prussianism Quotes

“The Prussian Junkers in league with reactionary Austria instituted their rule in Germany with the aim of converting the whole country into a barracks whose inmates would obey implicitly the orders of the drill-sergeant.”
― Mark Borisovich Mitin, Marx and Engels on Reactionary Prussianism

“the troops were composed of peasant serfs and poor burghers who were forcibly compelled to enlist. Recruiting frequently degenerated into sheer manhunts which led to bloody clashes. The whole system of military training was of a piece with these acts of cruelty and violence.

‘A soldier should fear his officer more than his enemy.’

Such was the principle laid down by Frederick II.”
― Mark Borisovich Mitin, Marx and Engels on Reactionary Prussianism

“Engels’ Conditions in Germany, one of his early works, contains an excellent pen-portrait of this king.

‘The Kingdom of Prussia […] was then governed by Frederick William III, nicknamed The Just, one of the greatest blockheads to ever grace a throne. Born to be a corporal and to inspect the buttons of an army; dissolute, without passion, and a morality-monger

”
― Mark Borisovich Mitin, Marx and Engels on Reactionary Prussianism