Die Militärreformen des Comte von Saint-Germain, oder der Zankapfel zwischen ausländischen Vorbildern und nationalen Stereotypen

Abstract

Summary The Military Reforms of the Comte de Saint-Germain, or the Bone of Contention between Foreign Role Models and National Stereotypes The battle of Rosbach on the 5th November 1757 signified a painful experience for the French army and had been perceived by the French public as a traumatising central scene of the war. Both the military and the civilian population suffered from this traumatic experience. The French army’s considerable weaknesses, which became apparent during the war, prompted the French military leaders to eagerly search for the „culprits“ of the defeat while at the same time preparing plans for reform to improve their army. A large number of them had become acquainted with the Prussian king’s tactics before and during the war. Therefore numerous French military experts regarded the victorious Prussian army as a source of inspiration for innovations within their own troops. From this comparison with the Prussian army originated the myth of Friedrich II as general. The military experts...