Full text : Wilhelm der Siegreiche.

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WILIIELNNI  DER  SIEGREICIIE

 

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3.
12.  4.

responsibility,  refused  obedience  to  Napoleon,  and
concluded  an  armistice  with  the  Russians.

The  whole  nation  was  determined  to  shake  off  the  foreign
Joke.

The  king  left  Berlin  and  went  to  Breslau  uhere,  on
February  3,  1813,  he  published  the  famous  “  Appeal
to  my  People.

.  Having  made  an  alliance  with  the  Emperor  of  Russia  for

13.  8.

14.  10.

11.
15.  12.

—
*

16.  14.

15.
17.  16.

17.

18.  18.

the  liberation  of  Europe,  King  Frederick  William
declared  war  against  Napoleon.

Those  uho  did  not  take  part  in  the  war  at  least  contributed

  to  its  expense.

The  king's  state  of  health  made  it  impossible  for  him  to

take  part  himself  in  the  campaign.

Prince  William  who  was  then  sixteen  and  had  just  been
made  captain,  earned  bis  spurs  in  the  battle  of  Barsur-Aube.


.  The  valley  of  the  river  Aube  was  bordered  by  vineyards

which  were  occupied  by  Russian  troops.

IIis  Mlajesty  as  well  as  the  two  princes  were  exposed  to
the  greatest  danger.

Tihe  onl)  thing  to  do  is  to  go  back.

The  king  noticed  the  terrible  losses  of  the  tuo  Russian
regiments  which  fouglit  likc  tigers  and  did  not  yield  an
inch.

Prince  William  distinguished  himself  by  the  calmness  and
alacrity  with  which  he  carried  out  his  father's  order.
The  heights  of  Montmartre  having  been  stormed  by  the
Prussian  guards,  the  allied  troops  made  their  sclemn

entry  into  Paris  on  Alarch  0,  1814.

On  llay  30  peace  was  made;  Napoleon  was  deposed
and  banished.

Soon  after  his  return  to  Berlin  Prince  William  was  confirmed.
  .

Hcpromisedinhisconscssionthathewouldneversorget
thatbeforeGodaprinccisonlyaman1ikeothermen,
and  that  he  would  always  persorm  his  official  duties
with  the  utmost  punctuality.

Napoleon  having  returned  from  Elba  and  having  raised
a  large  army  once  more  tried  his  fortunc  against  the
allied  troops,  but  was  utterly  defeated  in  the  memorable
battle  of  Waterloo  on  June  18,  1815.