Freigeister und Pragmatiker: Die preussischen Feldprediger 1750-1806

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.