Freigeister und Pragmatiker

Die preußischen Feldprediger 1750–1806

By (author) Angela Strauß

Book cover: Freigeister und Pragmatiker

Extent: 400 pages

Publisher: V&R unipress

Subjects: Eighteenth-Century Studies, Religious Studies

Language: German

Hardback (Published)

(October 2021)

ISBN: 9783847113058

6.3 x 9.25 inches

Price: $82.00

Out of stock

Der Band zeigt, dass es den preussischen Feldpredigern entgegen der bisherigen Annahme weniger um die Durchsetzung der militarischen Disziplin mittels der religiosen Erziehung ging als darum, Ideen im Militar zu verbreiten, die im Kontext der Aufklarung standen.


Prussia’s Protestant military chaplains were for a long time credited with using religion to discipline soldiers. In contrast, the author argues that military chaplains in the second half of the 18th century were not preachers of war. While they gave patriotic speeches, their participation in general theological debates was equally important, as well as their commitment to school education and a politicisation of the military in the spirit of the Enlightenment. The fact that the field preachers developed a collective identity at the same time is made clear by the evaluation of several hundred curricula vitae, which are supplemented by administrative writings as well as personal testimonies by the clergymen.

  • By (author) Angela Strauß