Before I got so rudely interrupted by medical problems, I was continuing that biography of General Seydlitz, and I made a note to pass this anecdote on. Check out this hilarious bit of mutual passive-aggressiveness on the part of two of Fritz's officers.
"[Seydlitz] was particular in procuring good and various wines, and was annoyed if a guest sought to conceal a preference for any particular kind of wine, out of modesty. And this was a repugnance which General von Natzmer* loved to excite; for when he came to Trebnitz to inspect the squadron, and sat at the major's table, he invariably asked for the ordinary French wine, to show that he did not live well himself, and that he despised luxury. The haughty host, however, to confront the unwelcome lesson with the offence which the general affected to reprehend, caused the finest and most costly wines to be served to himself and his other guests."
Way to go, guys! Such mature, very officer, wow. :P
Meanwhile, as you may recall, Fritz served only the cheapest wine when dining with his men. If you wanted something better, you brought it yourself. All of which he thought was hilarious. "Because if there's one thing I learned from Dad, it's--okay, verbally abusing people. But if there's two things I learned from Dad, it's verbally abusing people and saving money. :DD"
* Different Natzmer from the one who converted FW to Pietism and gave Katte three hours to escape before reluctantly being forced to arrest him.
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Passive aggressive generals
Date: 2019-11-16 08:28 am (UTC)"[Seydlitz] was particular in procuring good and various wines, and was annoyed if a guest sought to conceal a preference for any particular kind of wine, out of modesty. And this was a repugnance which General von Natzmer* loved to excite; for when he came to Trebnitz to inspect the squadron, and sat at the major's table, he invariably asked for the ordinary French wine, to show that he did not live well himself, and that he despised luxury. The haughty host, however, to confront the unwelcome lesson with the offence which the general affected to reprehend, caused the finest and most costly wines to be served to himself and his other guests."
Way to go, guys! Such mature, very officer, wow. :P
Meanwhile, as you may recall, Fritz served only the cheapest wine when dining with his men. If you wanted something better, you brought it yourself. All of which he thought was hilarious. "Because if there's one thing I learned from Dad, it's--okay, verbally abusing people. But if there's two things I learned from Dad, it's verbally abusing people and saving money. :DD"
* Different Natzmer from the one who converted FW to Pietism and gave Katte three hours to escape before reluctantly being forced to arrest him.