The Seven Years' War in Europe Quiz

Answer: Frederick

Frederick the Great (aka Frederick II) was King of Prussia from 1740-1787. Frederick was both a warrior king (taking his nation to war within a year of ascending the throne, the first war of four during his reign) and an enlightened monarch (his drinking buddies included Voltaire and C.P.E. Bach). Frederick earned a name for himself, and his relatively young kingdom, during the Seven Years' War.

Peter the Great was Tsar of Russia during the early 18th century.
Catherine the Great was Tsaritsa (or Empress) of Russia in the late 18th Century.
Franz Josef was the Austrian Habsburg Emperor from 1848-1916 - and he wasn't given the title 'the Great'.

Answer: Britain

Prussia and Britain were allies during the Seven Years' War.
British troops fought in North-West Germany alongside Prussians and minor allies like the Hanoverians (the British King George II was also the Elector of Hanover), Brunswickers and Hessians.

France, Würzburg and Sweden were all at war with Prussia.

Answer: Kolin

Kolin was Frederick the Great's first defeat. The mauled Prussian army retreated but had recovered enough by the autumn campaign season to inflict two great defeats on it's enemies.
For the Austrians, Kolin was a much needed morale boost. Empress Maria Theresa created a new medal, the 'Order of Maria Theresa' celebrating the victory, and it was awarded to Daun. Hastenbeck was a French victory over an Allied Army. Hochkirch (1758) was an Austrian victory, and Kunersdorf (1759) a combined Austrian and Russian victory over Prussia.

Answer: Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick

Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick was given command of the Allied army, and initially seemed to be doing no better than his predecessor. However, on 1st of August 1759, he led his army in the masterful defeat of a larger French Army at Minden. Much of the credit for this victory must go to the British Foot Regiments, who, due to a misunderstood order, charged - and defeated - the French cavalry.
After Minden, despite Ferdinand losing more minor engagements, the morale of the French army was greatly reduced and the security of the German states was ensured.

Von Seydlitz was one of Frederick the Great's cavalry commanders.
Henri was Frederick's brother, he commanded armies against the Austrians during in the War.
Frederick of Holstein-Gottorp was the son-in-law of Peter the Great.

Answer: Rossbach and Leuthen

Both Rossbach and Leuthen are seen as examples Fredericks brilliance as a commander, and his astonishing luck. At Rossbach, the Prussians suffered under 550 casualties, and virtually destroyed the French army, causing 7700 casualties and taking 10,000 prisoners!

The battle of Leuthen was referred to by Napoleon as the perfect "oblique attack". Out of view of the Austrians, Frederick maneuvered his army and attacked his opponents flank, rolling it up and soundly defeating his enemy. The Prussians suffered 7,000 casualties, and inflicted 22,000 on the Austians.
Maxen, Torgau and Pirna are all battles from the Seven Years' War. Breitenfeld and Lützen are from the Thirty Years War (1618-1648) and Strasbourg is a city in eastern France.

Answer: Freikorps

The Freikorps (literally 'Free Corps') were raised by local landlords. A Freikorps could consist of Musketeer/Grenadier Battalions, Light Infantry, Light Cavalry or Dragoons. They wore distinctive uniforms, and varied greatly in quality. The Freikorps were named after their Proprieter (e.g. Freikorps von Kleist, Freikorps von Schorny). In the 18th Century, each regiment was commanded by a Colonel, and one of his responsibilites was to pay for his soldiers' uniforms, kit, regimental colors etc. He was provided with funds from the government for this.

In nations like Russia and France, many colonels embezzeled their government funding, leaving their troops poorly equipped and clothed.

Answer: James Keith

Field Marshal James Keith, trusted commander and friend of Frederick the Great, was killed during the battle of Hochkirch in 1758. Keith was known as an intelligent and talented field commander. It was of course most unusual for a Field Marshal to fall in battle, and the Prussians and Austrians arranged a 24-hour ceasefire, so that Keith's body could be handed over to the Prussians.

He was buried with full military honours in Berlin. Statues of Keith can be seen both in both Scotland and in Germany today.

Many other nations also took on Jacobite officers under contract. The French even went so far as to raise several regiments of Scots and Irish. The Regiment 'Lally' which fought in India was comprised of and commanded by Irishmen, and it fought with distinction. Rudyard Kipling's poem 'The Irish Brigade' is a stirring testimony of the brave Irishmen who fought for France.

Answer: 24 pairs of ladies gloves

Haddick was not to stay in Berlin long, he ended up remaining there for only one day. His demands of the population were for 27,000 pounds and "two dozen pair of gloves to the Empress Queen".
Haddick left at five the next morning, with the Prussian army of Moritz von Anhalt-Dessau hot on his heels.
It was only when the gloves were delivered to the Empress Queen that it was discovered they were all left handed.
Apparently, this is why in the Austrian Army, officers only wore one glove, holding the right-handed glove with the left hand.

Answer: Tsarina Elizabeth of Russia died

The Tsarina Elisabeth Petrovina died in January 1762. Her succesor, Peter of Holstein was an ardent admirer of Frederick the Great, and a self-confessed 'Prussophile'. He immediately recalled the Russian troops and called off the war, and even talked of making an alliance against Austria.

This 'Miracle', enabled Frederick to refocus his forces against the Austrians and French. (There were also sound political reasons for Russia to pull out of the war, for if Prussia had been severely defeated or even wiped off the map, the main beneficiary in Central Europe would have been Austria).

Answer: Treaty of Hubertusberg; Treaty of Paris

The war had affected all nations involved, and it would affect the course of world history for the next 200 years.

England had gained practically of the French territory in both Canada and India, as well as the islands of Grenada and the Grenadines in the Caribbean from the French. The Royal Navy was now seen as the foremost navy in the world. The British were the real 'winners' of the war.

Prussia had retained Silesia in spite of the efforts of Austria, France, Russia and Sweden. Her military prowess under Frederick the Great had been applauded by allies and enemies alike. Prussia had displaced Austria's position as the leading military power in Central Europe. In the very long term, this culminated in the unification of Germany under Prussian leadership in 1871.

Austria's war had cost her dearly. The war showed that the Holy Roman Empire, of which the Austrian Habsburg Dynasty were rulers, was dying. It would be less than 50 years before the empire would be dissolved, thus ending a thousand year reign.
Also, Austria's military prowess had been all but destroyed, leading the way for Napoleon's early victories, and the rise of French military prowess under Napoleon.

France had been bankrupted by the war. Her people starved, her armies had been shown to have little conviction for their cause. The North American and Indian colonies had been lost, and her military had been shamed.
The aristocrats still lived in decadence, the war had not affected them as severely as the peasants and middle class, but not for long. Within 30 years, the monarchy would be toppled and the people would seize control of France, ending the Bouboun dynasty, and introducing a new form of government - democracy. Then, Napoleon Bonaparte would lead France's armies to victories which would surpass any the world had ever seen.

After conquering Prussia, Napoleon went to visit the tomb of Frederick the Great in Berlin. He spoke quietly to his Marshals by the tomb, saying 'If he were still here, I would not be here now'.