“Children of the Enlightenment” who admired each other yet treated each other critically.

On July 4, 2026, the USA will celebrate its 250th anniversary. Relations between Germany and the USA have been eventful and diverse. But one aspect has received little attention on either side of the Atlantic. That is the relationship between George Washington and Frederick the Great. They were contemporaries but never met, although both developed a lasting interest in the other’s activities and also developed an unusual appreciation for each other. In his lecture, Manfred Richter attempts to shed some light on this aspect of German-American history.