Johann Friedrich Adolf von der Marwitz
Encyclopedia
Johann Friedrich Adolf von der Marwitz (24 March 1723 – 14 December 1781) was a Prussia
n general during the epoch of Frederick the Great.
, district of Küstrin
; †he entered the cavalry regiment Gensdarmes at the age of 17 and was promoted to commander over the years. In the Battle of Zorndorf
he led his regiment with distinction and was promoted to major. He was even awarded the highest decoration of Prussia, the Pour le Mérite
. In the battle of Hochkirch he fought and led his troops with success. Near the end of the Seven Years' War
Prussian troops conquered the elector of Saxonys hunting lodge, Hubertusburg
, near Leipzig
.
The castle was given to Marwitz by the Prussian king Friedrich II.
, together with the order to sack it thoroughly. This was intended to be King Frederick's revenge for the sacking of Charlottenburg Palace
by Russian, Austrian, and Saxon troops in 1760, depriving him of his highly-beloved collection of antiques. Given the order to sack the castle, von der Marwitz replied to his king, "This is unbefitting to an officer of His Majesty" ("es würde sich allenfalls für den Offizier eines Freibataillons schicken, nicht aber für einen Kommandeur Seiner Majestät Gensdarmes") and resigned his commission.
Frederick then gave the castle to his adjutant Quintus Icilius, who finally sacked and sold it. Several years later, von der Marwitz won most of the famous Hubertusburg books collection playing cards against Quintus Icilius.
Many years fallen from grace with Frederick the Great, Marwitz eventually became employed during the War of the Bavarian Succession as a Major Kriegskommissar with the king's brother Prince Henry of Prussia
. Near the end of his life he was promoted to Major General. On the distribution of his parents' heritage he was assigned his family's stately home, Friedersdorf. However, he paid little attention to it, instead staying in Berlin, with his beloved books and paintings. He died, as his brother writes, "completely insolvent", but as an "extremely honest and widely tributed soldier, an honourable and very well-educated man of the world, a great friend of literature and arts".
His tombstone bears the following inscription, engraved by his nephew Friedrich August Ludwig von der Marwitz: "Chose disgrace where obedience did not bring honour" ("Wählte Ungnade, wo Gehorsam nicht Ehre brachte.")
Johann Friedrich Adolf von der Marwitz died unmarried in Berlin
in 1781.
This gravestone inscription is still a widely known phrase in Germany, to denote an example of a man who decided against his orders when he judged them as injust. Also the July 20 plot
conspirers referred to him to show that every single man is responsible to his conscience first, and only secondly to his political leader.
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n general during the epoch of Frederick the Great.
Biography
Born on his family's estate, Friedersdorf, near SeelowSeelow
Seelow is a German town, seat of the Märkisch-Oderland, a district of Brandenburg.-Geography:It is situated in the extreme east of Germany, 70 km east of Berlin, 16 km west of the boundary with Poland.-History:...
, district of Küstrin
Küstrin
Before 1945 Küstrin was a town in the former Prussian province of Brandenburg in Germany, situated on both sides of the Oder river...
; †he entered the cavalry regiment Gensdarmes at the age of 17 and was promoted to commander over the years. In the Battle of Zorndorf
Battle of Zorndorf
The Battle of Zorndorf was a battle fought on August 25, 1758 during the Seven Years' War, fought between the forces of the Russians troops under the command of Count William Fermor – and a Prussian army under King Frederick the Great...
he led his regiment with distinction and was promoted to major. He was even awarded the highest decoration of Prussia, the Pour le Mérite
Pour le Mérite
The Pour le Mérite, known informally as the Blue Max , was the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order for German soldiers until the end of World War I....
. In the battle of Hochkirch he fought and led his troops with success. Near the end of the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
Prussian troops conquered the elector of Saxonys hunting lodge, Hubertusburg
Hubertusburg
thumb|right|300px|Hubertusburg, WermsdorfHubertusburg is a palace in Saxony, in the village of Wermsdorf and midway 6 m. between the towns Oschatz and Grimma. It was built in 1721-1724 by Frederick Augustus I, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, and is given to his son Augustus III in 1724, as a...
, near Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
.
The castle was given to Marwitz by the Prussian king Friedrich II.
Frederick II of Prussia
Frederick II was a King in Prussia and a King of Prussia from the Hohenzollern dynasty. In his role as a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire, he was also Elector of Brandenburg. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel...
, together with the order to sack it thoroughly. This was intended to be King Frederick's revenge for the sacking of Charlottenburg Palace
Charlottenburg Palace
Charlottenburg Palace is the largest palace in Berlin, Germany, and the only royal residency in the city dating back to the time of the Hohenzollern family. It is located in the Charlottenburg district of the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf burough.The palace was built at the end of the 17th century...
by Russian, Austrian, and Saxon troops in 1760, depriving him of his highly-beloved collection of antiques. Given the order to sack the castle, von der Marwitz replied to his king, "This is unbefitting to an officer of His Majesty" ("es würde sich allenfalls für den Offizier eines Freibataillons schicken, nicht aber für einen Kommandeur Seiner Majestät Gensdarmes") and resigned his commission.
Frederick then gave the castle to his adjutant Quintus Icilius, who finally sacked and sold it. Several years later, von der Marwitz won most of the famous Hubertusburg books collection playing cards against Quintus Icilius.
Many years fallen from grace with Frederick the Great, Marwitz eventually became employed during the War of the Bavarian Succession as a Major Kriegskommissar with the king's brother Prince Henry of Prussia
Prince Henry of Prussia
Frederick Henry Louis , commonly known as Henry , was a Prince of Prussia. He also served as a general and statesman, and, in 1786, was suggested as a candidate for a monarch for the United States....
. Near the end of his life he was promoted to Major General. On the distribution of his parents' heritage he was assigned his family's stately home, Friedersdorf. However, he paid little attention to it, instead staying in Berlin, with his beloved books and paintings. He died, as his brother writes, "completely insolvent", but as an "extremely honest and widely tributed soldier, an honourable and very well-educated man of the world, a great friend of literature and arts".
His tombstone bears the following inscription, engraved by his nephew Friedrich August Ludwig von der Marwitz: "Chose disgrace where obedience did not bring honour" ("Wählte Ungnade, wo Gehorsam nicht Ehre brachte.")
Johann Friedrich Adolf von der Marwitz died unmarried in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in 1781.
Legacy
"Chose disgrace where obedience did not bring honour"This gravestone inscription is still a widely known phrase in Germany, to denote an example of a man who decided against his orders when he judged them as injust. Also the July 20 plot
July 20 Plot
On 20 July 1944, an attempt was made to assassinate Adolf Hitler, Führer of the Third Reich, inside his Wolf's Lair field headquarters near Rastenburg, East Prussia. The plot was the culmination of the efforts of several groups in the German Resistance to overthrow the Nazi-led German government...
conspirers referred to him to show that every single man is responsible to his conscience first, and only secondly to his political leader.
Literature (German)
- Günter de BruynGünter de BruynGünter de Bruyn is a German author.-Life:Günter de Bruyn was born in Berlin and served as a Luftwaffenhelfer and soldier in World War II. After his release from his American arrest, he found a place as a farm worker in Hesse. After his return to Berlin, he would be trained as a "new teacher" in...
: Mein Brandenburg, Frankfurt/M 1993 - Friedrich August Ludwig von der Marwitz, Nachrichten aus meinem Leben, (Hg.: Günter de Bruyn), Berlin 1989