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Seven
Years War - An important
factor in bringing the Germans to the Lower Volga.
The areas of now central Germany were devestated,
creating more instability for the peasants.
When
Frederick II came to the Prussian throne in 1740,
he inherited his father's large and accomplished
army. Although Frederick II was interested in the
intellectual ideas of the Enlightenment (he was a
friend of Voltaire), he still believed might equals
right for European monarchs.
He sent his
army into Silesia, a rich, all-German
province.
The invasion
was the spark for a worldwide war with France and
Russia joining the side of Austria and Britain
siding with Frederick II and Prussia. By 1762, the
Austrian Alliance was near its goal of conquering
Prussia and dividing its territory. Fortunately for
Frederick II, Empress Elizabeth of Russia died and
her successor, Peter III (an admirer of Frederick
II), withdrew Russia from the war and spared
Prussia.
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