West/East Prussia and the state of Prussia

[g.l.s.h]

Sorry for my ignorance in this matter...

Historicly, what territories were included in modern Prussia (19th ce.)? were the provinces of east and west Prussia, the "heart" of Prussia, or its eastern edge?

[fdewaele]

During the 17th century the Hohenzollern territories were Brandenburg - which is the area around Berlin - and East Prussia (Koningsberg). Frederik the Great conquered Silesia from Austria in the mid 18th century. And the area around Posen (West Prussia) was annexed during the Polish particians. After the Napoleonic wars, a lot of the smaller principlaities were annexated and Prussia had territories up to the Belgian border. Also half of the Kingdom of Saxony (the northern part) was annexated by the Prussians. In 1866 the Kingdom of Hannover was annexated as well so in fact by 1866 Prussia included the entire northern part of Germany up to the line formed by the Rhine-Elbe (Belgian border-Frankfurt-Leipzig).

As to your question as to what was the eastern edge of Prussia: the eastern border was formed by East Prussia and West Prussia and Silesia with Russian Poland laying as a sailant between those territories.

[fdewaele]

you can find maps of the territorial formation on this site:

http://www.rootsweb.com/~deupru/maps/prussia1415.htm

[g.l.s.h]

During the 17th century the Hohenzollern territories were Brandenburg -.

Is there any territory, included in today Germany, that may be called "Prussia"? or it might be said that the "core" of historic Prussia is no longer in Germany?

[fdewaele]

Well, after 1701 when the elector became King in Prussia, all his territories got the name Prussia... that's why "Prussia" kept expanding untill after WWI it was the biggest of the federal states. (Goring was PM of Prussia) After WWII, Prussia as a political denomination dissapears.

The core of Prussia was formed by the lectorate Brandenburg and the area round Koningsberg in east Prussia. (The Hohenzollerns weren't Prussians but Brandenbergers who acquired those eastern territories and adopted the name)

[nondescript handle]

were the provinces of east and west Prussia, the "heart" of Prussia, or its eastern edge?

Prussia before 1701 was only the territory later known as "eastern prussia" (i.e. the aerea around Königsberg).
Between 1618 and 1701 the territories Brandenburg and Prussia were only associated by the personal union of the Kurfürst/Elector of Brandenburg and the Herzog/Duke of Prussia.
In January 18, 1701 the Kurfürst Frederick III of Brandenburg crowned himself "King *in* Prussia Frederick I" (not "King of Prussia" as some parts of Prussia were under Polish reign, after 1772 its "King of Prussia"), and all the territories he ruled (mainly Brandenburg and Prussia) were since then known as the "Kingdom of Prussia".

Is there any territory, included in today Germany, that may be called "Prussia"?

Quite a big chunk of todays Germany was once a part of the Kingdom of Prussia, but the historical "Herzogtum/Duchy Prussia" is now part of Poland and Russia.

Please refer also to http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prussia

Regards
Mark

[g.l.s.h]

Thank's for all (as usual) detailed answers.

Last one... when a certain general (after 1918) is described as "Prussian general", of as belonging to "the Prussian schole", what does it meannt to the people then, did it mean that he was of Prussian origin (ethnicly) or was that just a certain code of military behavior, any officer my have adopted?