Chapter 1: War and Peace

revised

Chapter 1: War and Peace

An important victory

The evening was still young but the city was already covered with a dark and cold winter fog which was usual to all Berliners, and most unpleasant to anyone else not used to this type of weather. All the passersby were rushing to get home, eager to have something hot to warm their freezing members, and could hardly guess the intense activity going on in the nearby palace, just on the street they were walking. Officers and court members alike were pressing in the main room to celebrate an important victory. Prussia, with the acquisition of Western Prussia and other territories such as the much coveted bishopric of Ermland, would, finally, after so many long and strenuous wars, gather again in 1772 in its crown its previously lost territories.

Frederick I, King in Prussia, was now proceeding to change with pride and satisfaction, after so many years of frustration and shattered hopes, his title into King of Prussia. This first division of the kingdom of Poland, from which the Prussians have taken territories, would be celebrated in Prussia as a very important victory, as it would allow again the raise of the Kingdom of Prussia, after so many humiliating years. Persistent wars and active diplomacy have allowed the Prussians to conquer again the original kingdom of their ancestors, and their victory, although hard fought, would now appear to these otherwise very frugal people, sweeter than ever.

This was a day of celebration for all the officers, and also for the court members who were present in the council this evening: a sober celebration, in comparison with the importance of the victory, however, a very significant one for all Prussians, even the ones not present this evening in the room.

 

The king, Frederick I, would be honored for this occasion with a restrained reverence and solemnity, which was, however, full of symbolic significance. Despite the simplicity of the ceremony, the king behaved in full command of the events, evolving with pride among the officers and some courtiers who, despite the solemnity of the hour, would try to attract the attention of the king with their pompous gestures and marks of flattery, behaviors usually banned from all the Prussian palaces.

The Prussians have still not forgotten that a few years previously, the Russian troops, with Tsarina Elisabeth at their head, have taken over their beloved city, Konigsberg, and have made of their even beloved poet, Emmanuel Kant, a quasi prisoner in this city. They also have not forgotten that it was Tsarina Catherine, the successor to Tsarina Elisabeth, who has created the title of King of Poland, from a kingdom which was previously part of the Prussian territories.

Well aware that their Russian neighbors, after their recent victory, would not remain idle, the Prussians would already decide to develop their next plan for the acquisition and control of many more territories, mainly in their northern and eastern borders, in the coming months.

If Tsarina Elisabeth had already been a declared enemy of Prussia, the enmity of Russia was completely otherwise with Tsarina Catherine. This Prussian born princess would not hide her active, hostile intentions to the rulers of her former homeland: her striving for more conquests in the east of Prussia she would persistently affirm, even after the reconstitution of the former Prussian kingdom, through hostile acts. On the other side, everyone would only foresee, in this last Prussian victory, the future ones which will make of this kingdom a power to be reckoned with, again, in the middle of Europe.

-“Long live the King!“ would a man in the assembly utter to the others who, almost in unison, would reply: “Long live the King!“ in a deep and military tone, from which a trace of joyful exuberance could hardly be detected.

The famous discipline and esprit de corps of the Prussians was not a myth; these men could in a blink of an eye show such impressive proof of their cohesion to any stranger, sometimes rather abruptly, but always with stunning precision.

War and Peace

In wartime, kingdoms are invaded, destroyed and scattered, and in the ensuing peacetime, the winners can officially stretch their frontiers to those of their defeated enemies, taking anything they want from their conquests. It is the game of chaos and organization. In chaos, men are giving themselves a stage where their capacity for survival and defense is given a real life dimension. Courage, fierceness, resistance are tested with deadly consequences for men who have been prepared since childhood for such confrontation. Afterward only, after the battles, will the same people learn the higher and essential goals of this eternal fight between groups: either they win or lose the battle, they must acknowledge and apply the organization lessons which always necessarily come after the confrontation.

Reviews

[Richard]

This is very difficult to read. Right from the beginning the sentences are too long, and the over use of commas make it hard to understand. There are also some sections that just don't make sense. "A sober celebration?" Does this mean there was no alcohol?

[Mauricio Montoya]

I love history, so far so good, excellent write well done

[Dutch Jr.]

A good read. Very interesting.

[Ruth]

You know your history! This is amazing work, well written, I am intrigued:)

xx

[X]

wow dudette this seems like a biography mixed with history. it's awsome (i wish i could write stories) lol but im still practicing poetry. wicked nice man 100 points

[Victoria Thornton]

Interesting, I like history so you got points there.

[NeonKnightWriter]

Alright, I'm no historian and I'm no historical fiction enthusiast, I'm not familiar with this author or his work, but I thought I'd chip in my two sense.

Firstly, just a pair of spelling errors:
blick = blink

"evolving with pride among the officers and courtiers" Are you sure you're using the right word there?

I think there was another one in there, but when looking back, I couldn't find it. Also, the sentences seem quite-long. Sometimes it's a little awkward other times it's alright. But, I think that may just be a problem when translating other languages directly into English. Overall, it's a little dry. But, once again that's historical fiction for you.

The moralizing at the end was interesting. I certainly hope the ideas are elaborated upon throughout the remainder of the text.

Am I supposed to be commenting on the story itself, or the translation? I'm not entirely sure. Is it intended to be a direct translation or are you trying to make it more accessible for an English audience? If the situation is the latter, then spicing up the prose a little, making it flow a little more smoothly might make it more palatable. This last part is just my personal opinion.