Скачать или смотреть Potsdam Giants During King Frederick William I of Prussia’s Reign

In the 18th century, one king’s strange obsession created one of the most unusual military regiments in history. 👑 Frederick William I of Prussia, known as the “Soldier King,” was fascinated by tall men. He wasn’t just impressed — he was obsessed. To fill his elite guard, he recruited, bought, or even kidnapped tall soldiers from all over Europe.

Standing at least six feet tall, these men were known as the Potsdam Giants (Lange Kerls or “Long Fellows”). One of the most famous recruits was James Kirkland, a 7-foot Irishman who was forced into service after being tricked onto a Prussian ship. The taller the man, the higher the pay, and the king would go to extreme lengths just to add a few inches of height to his collection.

Frederick William I even arranged marriages between his Giants and tall women, hoping their children would grow into future soldiers. Still unsatisfied, he pushed further, experimenting with cruel stretching devices that sometimes caused death. These men weren’t meant for battle; instead, they marched in dazzling uniforms, paraded before the king, and stood as living trophies of his obsession.

Though feared and admired, the Potsdam Giants symbolized how far royal power could bend reality. After the king’s death, his son Frederick the Great saw little value in such a regiment and slowly disbanded it. But their legacy remains one of the strangest chapters in military history — a mix of vanity, spectacle, and human cost. ⚔️

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Letovice Castle Torture Chamber by Václav Oujezský, licensed under CC BY 3.0
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