The Royal Prussian Army was the army of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1701 to 1919. Elector Friedrich Wilhelm of Brandenburg, who reigned from 1640 to 1688, transformed Brandenburg-Prussia's primarily mercenary army into a viable standing army, while King Friedrich Wilhelm I of Prussia (r. 1713-1740) dramatically increased its size and improved its doctrines. King Frederick the Great established Prussia as a political and military power in Europe through his disciplined army's victories in the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War. However, it became outdated and under-resourced by the time of the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars, and it was defeated in the War of the First Coalition and the War of the Fourth Coalition. Under Gerhard von Scharnhorst, the Prussian military was modernized, with flogging being abolished and a meritocracy being established. The Prussian Army contributed greatly to France's defeat during the War of the Sixth Coalition in 1814, but conservatives halted some of the reforms, and the Prussian Army became a bulwark of the conservative royal government. The Prussian Army later fought successful wars against Denmark in the Second Schleswig War of 1864, the Austrian Empire in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, and the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. The Royal Prussian Army formed the core of the Imperial German Army, which was replaced by the Reichswehr after the fall of the German Empire in 1918.
Under Scharnhorst, the Prussian military underwent significant educational reforms influenced by Enlightenment thought, emphasizing rationality and discipline. Military academies began to incorporate liberal ideas about governance and civic duty, shaping a new generation of officers. Enlightenment principles promoted merit over noble birth. This shift allowed talented individuals from the bourgeoisie to rise through the ranks, fostering a more professional and ideologically diverse officer corps. The defeat of Prussia by Napoleon in 1806 galvanized nationalist sentiments. Many military leaders and soldiers embraced the idea of a unified German nation as a response to foreign domination. This was evident in the formation of volunteer units, such as the Freikorps, which attracted those motivated by nationalist ideals. Some progressive officers, influenced by liberal and nationalist ideas, advocated for reforms within the military and broader society. They supported constitutional governance and the idea of a nation-state, believing that a strong, unified Germany could emerge from the military’s successes. While many in the military supported the monarchy and traditional authority, some segments favored reforms that aligned with Enlightenment values, including civil rights and national unity. Despite the presence of liberal-nationalist ideals, the military was largely conservative. High-ranking officers, especially from the aristocracy, often resisted radical changes and maintained loyalty to the monarchy. The Prussian military had to balance the emerging liberal-nationalist sentiments with the demands of loyalty to the king and the existing social order. This led to a cautious adoption of some liberal ideas while firmly rejecting others that threatened the traditional hierarchy.
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