Why did Frederick II rely on Junkers as Prussian army officers?

Frederick II relied on the Junker class to serve as army officers because he viewed the nobility as the most vital class in Prussian society, possessing a unique sense of personal honor and responsibility. He believed the continued existence of the state depended on them, and the regime could not function without their cooperation.1

Consequently, Frederick II ensured their interests were safeguarded, drawing the majority of his army officers and virtually all higher-ranking ones from this group. While he occasionally attempted to limit the harsh treatment of peasants by these landlord-officers, he ultimately maintained a conservative social order that relied on the Junkers to dominate both the military and local government. His reliance on this class was so absolute that it set significant limits on the reforms he could pursue during his reign.12