No doubt they thought that by eliminating Prussia they would hit at the very heart of German militarism. It was banished, first by Hitler, who abolished all German states, and then by the allies who singled out Prussia for oblivion as Germany was being reconstituted under their occupation. Today Prussia does not even exist on the map, not even as a province of Germany. And German militarism would go on to dominate the first half of 20th century history. The German general staff became the gold standard for armies everywhere, and, man for man, the German soldier was the best in the world.Įvery country looking to train an army wanted German officers to do the job.
