Station: [5] Tobacco as a Lifesaver

Here you see a simple gold case. At first glance, it appears unremarkable. Yet it is of great historical significance.

According to tradition, King Frederick the Great wore the uniform shown here during the Battle of Kunersdorf on August 12, 1759. That battle ended in defeat for Prussia. The king himself was also wounded in the fighting.

Two of his horses were shot out from under him. Frederick himself was also hit. The bullet was aimed at his heart. He owed his survival, of all things, to an object one would hardly associate with saving a life.

As always, he carried a snuffbox in his breast pocket. In this case, it was the gold box on display here. The bullet ricocheted off it. Thus, the shot was deflected, and the king’s life was spared.

It is precisely this simplicity that makes the snuffbox so impressive. It is not a showpiece. It is a silent witness to a dramatic moment.

The events can still be traced on the uniform as well. The bullet hole is still visible today. It is located below the fourth button on the right. The uniform jacket was later mended. Together with the dented snuffbox, it preserves the memory of that moment.

Thus, these two very personal objects tell a story of war, chance, and survival. And they reveal an almost surprising twist: in rare cases, tobacco could, after all, save a life.