This first half opens with the dramatic campaign of 1757 as Friedrich marches on Prague and wins the Battle of Prague, only to face frustration in the failed siege and the crushing setback at Kolin. The convergence of Austrian, Imperial, and Russian forces places him under mounting pressure, transforming bold initiative into precarious survival. At Leitmeritz and in Thuringia he confronts encirclement, maneuvering restlessly amid strategic uncertainty and political anxiety. Threats to Berlin and the wider German theatre expose both his military strain and personal isolation as enemies gather on every side. Overall this section portrays the war shifting from daring advance to dangerous crisis in which endurance becomes as vital as brilliance.