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Roots of Strategy: A Collection of Military Classics
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Historical SummaryIn an unimportant battle, February 21, 1760, Major General Czetteritz, of the Prussian army, was captured. In examining his baggage a small volume entitled Military Instructions for the Generals was discovered. This was the instruction for the generals of Frederick the Great, which they were religiously bound to keep secret. It was duly prized and immediately translated into English, French, Polish and Russian. In it is synthesized the wisdom of the great soldier-king. Prussian discipline and Prussian military methods were adapted from it by all armies, for it contained the secrets of Frederick’s military success. Next to Clauswitz this small volume is the most influential work in founding the German military system of today. Most of the great Frederick’s observations apply to modern war. Understanding of German military success and the development of German methods is impossible without this book.
THE PRECAUTIONS THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN IN RETREATS AGAINST HUSSARS AND PANDOURS.
No attack by hussars or irregulars need be apprehended in open country. Hussars fear fire and pandours, hand to hand combat. In this sort of march, if they are able, they will attempt something against the baggage. They are brave when they hope to win booty. But it is quite different in woods and mountains. There, the pandours lie flat on the ground and hide themselves behind stones and trees so that they are able to fire without your being able to see where the shots come from, nor to return the injury and harm they do. Thus I shall only speak here about how you can best secure yourself from them in retreats made in mountains.
We made two such retreats during the year 1745, one from the center of Liebenthal and the other from Trautenau to Schatzlar. At that time we placed detachments of from four to six platoons on the wings of the columns. 362 They occupied the heights which dominated the road, to turn aside these scoundrels, and the officers who were in command only had to have a few men fire against them. The rear guard also is always withdrawn from height to height following the army. But here is what happens as soon as one group abandons a height. The pandours run to it, seize it, and shoot you from there. For this I know of no remedy, and whatever a general does he always loses lots of men uselessly in this sort of a retreat. No matter how small a plain may be, have your hussars sortie out against the pandours! This turns them aside for a moment. But do not amuse yourself too much with them; otherwise your march will stretch out and you will lose prodigous numbers. Consequently, halts should not be made, and this type of difficult march should be made as rapidly as possible. But if the pandours imprudently occupy a small wood that can be turned, then hunt them down and have the hussars saber as many as you can.
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Chicago: Frederick, "Frederick the Great For His Generals: The Precautions That Should Be Taken in Retreats Against Hussars and Pandours," Roots of Strategy: A Collection of Military Classics in Roots of Strategy: A Collection of Military Classics, ed. Thomas R. Phillips (Harrisburg, PA: The Military Service Publishing Company, 1940), Original Sources, accessed February 11, 2025, http://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=GD82U22IMEEVLC2.
MLA: Frederick. "Frederick the Great For His Generals: The Precautions That Should Be Taken in Retreats Against Hussars and Pandours." Roots of Strategy: A Collection of Military Classics, in Roots of Strategy: A Collection of Military Classics, edited by Thomas R. Phillips, Harrisburg, PA, The Military Service Publishing Company, 1940, Original Sources. 11 Feb. 2025. http://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=GD82U22IMEEVLC2.
Harvard: Frederick, 'Frederick the Great For His Generals: The Precautions That Should Be Taken in Retreats Against Hussars and Pandours' in Roots of Strategy: A Collection of Military Classics. cited in 1940, Roots of Strategy: A Collection of Military Classics, ed. , The Military Service Publishing Company, Harrisburg, PA. Original Sources, retrieved 11 February 2025, from http://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=GD82U22IMEEVLC2.
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