Correction, he was not a lieutenant until August 1729, according to my sources. In "early" 1729, he would still have been a cornet. (He appears to have spent a long time as cornet, from 1724-1729, then gone very quickly from lieutenant to first lieutenant (July 1730). Nobody I can find is sure what's up with that, but I feel like there's got to be a story we don't know.)
Regardless! I don't think cornets get to come back late from leave going, "Never mind!" and then get quickly promoted twice in the next year, even if their dad and granddad are high-ranked officers, and even if they didn't engage in treasonous correspondence with the British on behalf of the Crown Prince.
Speaking of Katte and dates and evidence, Fontane places his birthday on February 21, and cites documentary evidence: "Hans Hermann von Katte wurde den 21. Februar 1704 zu Berlin geboren. Diese Zahlen sind zuverlässig. Auf dem Familiengute Wust findet sich folgende bald nach der Geburt Hans Hermann von Kattes in das dortige Kirchenbuch eingetragene Notiz: »Anno 1704 den 21. Februar ist des Herrn Obrist-Wachtmeisters (von Katte) Söhnlein zu Berlin geboren und den 22. getauft und mit Namen Hans Hermann benennet worden." With a little help from Google translate: "Hans Hermann von Katte was born February 21, 1704 in Berlin. These numbers are reliable. On the family estate Wust the following note, soon after the birth of Hans Hermann von Katte, can be found in the local church register: 'Anno 1704 the 21st of February was born to the Colonel (von Katte) a little son in Berlin and baptized the 22nd and given the name Hans Hermann.'"
So now I'm not sure where the Feb 28 date in Wikipedia comes from.
Also, turns out the horse story that I've seen in a number of places also makes an appearance in Zeithain. Haha. Whether or not it's apocryphal, I hope (and believe) that RL Hans made Fritz laugh a lot. :D <3 In the short time they had together. </3
Re: Katte
Correction, he was not a lieutenant until August 1729, according to my sources. In "early" 1729, he would still have been a cornet. (He appears to have spent a long time as cornet, from 1724-1729, then gone very quickly from lieutenant to first lieutenant (July 1730). Nobody I can find is sure what's up with that, but I feel like there's got to be a story we don't know.)
Regardless! I don't think cornets get to come back late from leave going, "Never mind!" and then get quickly promoted twice in the next year, even if their dad and granddad are high-ranked officers, and even if they didn't engage in treasonous correspondence with the British on behalf of the Crown Prince.
Speaking of Katte and dates and evidence, Fontane places his birthday on February 21, and cites documentary evidence: "Hans Hermann von Katte wurde den 21. Februar 1704 zu Berlin geboren. Diese Zahlen sind zuverlässig. Auf dem Familiengute Wust findet sich folgende bald nach der Geburt Hans Hermann von Kattes in das dortige Kirchenbuch eingetragene Notiz: »Anno 1704 den 21. Februar ist des Herrn Obrist-Wachtmeisters (von Katte) Söhnlein zu Berlin geboren und den 22. getauft und mit Namen Hans Hermann benennet worden." With a little help from Google translate: "Hans Hermann von Katte was born February 21, 1704 in Berlin. These numbers are reliable. On the family estate Wust the following note, soon after the birth of Hans Hermann von Katte, can be found in the local church register: 'Anno 1704 the 21st of February was born to the Colonel (von Katte) a little son in Berlin and baptized the 22nd and given the name Hans Hermann.'"
So now I'm not sure where the Feb 28 date in Wikipedia comes from.
Also, turns out the horse story that I've seen in a number of places also makes an appearance in Zeithain. Haha. Whether or not it's apocryphal, I hope (and believe) that RL Hans made Fritz laugh a lot. :D <3 In the short time they had together. </3