Biographisches Handbuch neumärkischer Offiziere (1715-1806)

In the old Prussian (or Friedrichian) army, officers from Neumark were similarly overrepresented as the Pomeranian nobility. Especially in the districts bordering Poland, small estates dominated, whose low yields forced the younger sons of the noble landowners to seek their livelihood in military service. The Seven Years' War intensified this dilemma and thus the influx of young nobles into the army. However, their commitment was not solely based on economic pressures but also on the hope of distinguishing themselves in service, advancing their careers, and acquiring material wealth. However, this was only achieved by a very small portion of the Neumark officers. The biographies provide insights into the family and financial situations of the officers as well as their career paths. At the same time, they offer a glimpse into the reality of life for old Prussian officers, one of the key pillars of the absolutist state. The compilation regarding the noble estates reveals both the frequent changes of ownership and the increasing indebtedness, both of which influenced the nobles' engagement in military service. The short biographies contain all ascertainable information for about 900 Neumark officers: parents, siblings, school attendance, military career stages, duration of advancement, reasons for early departure, provision in subordinate civil service, wife, estate acquisition, income from land ownership, and children. A compilation of the Neumark estates, their changing owners, tax values, and debts rounds out the whole picture.