Hessians: German Soldiers in the American Revolutionary War

During the American Revolution, Britain hired 30,000 German soldiers, known as Hessians, from six German territories within the Holy Roman Empire. They experienced a wide range of locations, triumphs, and defeats, and their experiences are documented in letters, diaries, and official records. Friederike Baer's book offers a unique perspective on this watershed event in world history.

Format: Hardback
Length: 528 pages
Publication date: 08 July 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Between 1776 and 1783, Britain enlisted an estimated 30,000 German soldiers to aid in its war against the Americans. These soldiers, known collectively as Hessians, hailed from six German territories within the Holy Roman Empire. Throughout the conflict, members of the German corps, including women and children, endured extended periods of deployment in diverse locations, ranging from Canada in the North to West Florida and Cuba in the South. They participated in every significant British military triumph and defeat. Thousands succumbed to disease, perished in battle, were captured by the enemy, or deserted. Collectively, they documented their experiences and observations of the war, the lands they traversed, and the people they encountered in a substantial body of letters, diaries, and similar private and official records. Friederike Baer offers a unique perspective on Britain's war against the American rebels by examining the experiences of the German soldiers, who were situated both in the midst of the conflict and at its margins. This book presents a groundbreaking reinterpretation of this pivotal event in world history.

Weight: 904g
Dimension: 168 x 244 x 44 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780190249632