page_title: Prussia Columns
section_title: Groß Stresow
hierarchical_section_title: Prussia Columns / Historic background / Groß Stresow
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Postament der Preußensäule von 1855 bei Groß Stresow auf der Insel Rügen - im Oktober 2004 wiedererrichtet
context_page_description: The Prussia Columns are two monuments, over 15 metres high, that were erected in the years 1854 and 1855 by order of the Prussian king, Frederick William IV on the southeast coast of the German island of Rügen near Neukamp and Groß Stresow. Both villages are today part of the municipality of Putbus.
  The monument near Neukamp was inaugurated on 15 October 1854 and the one near Groß Stresow exactly one year later, on the 60th birthday of Frederick William IV. The drums and parts of the pedestal were carved from one of the largest glacial erratics in North Germany, the Great Rock near Nardevitz on Rügen's Jasmund peninsula. Most of the rock was destroyed as a result of being quarried for the columns. Nevertheless, it is still impressive today, and sticks 3 metres out of the ground. See also: Erratics on and around Rügen.
  The monuments were intended to commemorate the landings of the Brandenburg and later, Prussian troops on the island in the years 1678 and 1715 and to demonstrate Prussia's claim to power over the southern Baltic Sea region.
context_section_description: In the course of the Great Northern War (1700–1721), the Prussian king, Frederick William I, allied with the Danish king, Frederick IV, landed on 15 November 1715 with his forces (20,000–24,000 men) commanded by the Old Dessauer near Groß Stresow. They drove the Swedes, led by their king, Charles XII, from the island of Rügen over the Strelasund to Stralsund, which had been besieged for a long time by the Danes and Prussians, but had hitherto received Swedish supplies through Rügen. After further siege operations the Swedes trapped in the town of Stralsund gave themselves up on 23 December 1715, Charles XII only escaping in a fishing boat across the Baltic Sea. Despite their victory, Prussia had to cede the island to Sweden as part of the peace treaty of 14 August 1719.
caption: Pedestal of the Prussia Column of 1855 near Groß Stresow - re-erected in October 2004
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