Prussia - Rudolf von Thadden

This is a series of reflective essays which pose fundamental and deceptively simple questions about Prussia, which for over fifty years has ceased to exist as a political entity but which continues to exert a strong and unusual influence upon German history and contemporary affairs. Professor von Thadden succeeds in demolishing many of the legends which have surrounded Prussia but pays tribute to the unique role it has played in ushering Germany into the modern world. After dealing with comparatively straightforward questions about periodisation and geographical location, Professor von Thadden proceeds to examine Prussia's social structure, its political character, its relations with Germany, its church and finally, its relations with Europe. Based on a series of radio talks in 1979, the book was originally published as Fragen an Preussen in 1981.