Friedersdorf - Prussian memorial sites

The Friedersdorf estate has belonged to the Von der Marwitz family, one of the oldest aristocratic families in Brandenburg, since the end of the 17th century. Branches of the family are still alive today.

Johann Friedrich Adolf von der Marwitz

Johann Friedrich Adolf von der Marwitz (1723-91) fought in many battles for King Frederick II. During the Seven Years’ War (1756-63), he was ordered to loot the Jagdschloss Hubertusburg Saxon hunting lodge belonging to the prince – the king wanted to avenge himself for the looting of Charlottenburg Palace. However, Colonel von der Marwitz refused, saying that "he would acquiesce if need be for the officer of a light cavalry regiment but not for a commander of his majesty's gendarmes”. He fell into disgrace and only served again in the War of the Bavarian Succession (1778/79) in the wake of the king's brother Prince Henry.

Choose disgrace where grace does not bring glory...

A gravestone in the Friedersdorfer Kirche church is still a reminder today of General von der Marwitz. “Saw Frederick's heroism and fought with him in all his wars; chose disgrace where grace did not bring glory”.

Further information

Friedersdorf village church
Key/guided tours by arrangement

Dresel family
Telephone +49 3346/844975
th-dresel@t-online.de
Von der Marwitz family
Telephone: +49 3346/ 242
v.d.marwitz-friedersdorf@gmx.de

Tip

Kunstspeicher Friedersdorf
Frankfurter Strasse 39
15306 Friedersdorf
Telehone +49 3346 84 38 56
info@kunstspeicher-friedersdorf.de
www.kunstspeicher-friedersdorf.de