Yeah, I am just so very not impressed with FW all around. And it's also clear to me that pretty much no one in this situation is thinking purely legalistically. Some people are pitting the law against their conscience and choosing their conscience, other people (FW) are picking and choosing when the law suits them and overriding it when it doesn't.

I've even read (untrustworthy source) that he later spared the life of a Potsdam giant who deserted because his *favorite* son asked nicely. Which, if that story is true, must have *rankled* with Fritz.