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Why is the Hessian important?
Hessians (US: /ˈhɛʃənz/ or UK: /ˈhɛsiənz/) were German soldiers who served as auxiliaries to the British Army during the American Revolutionary War. Auxiliaries were a major source of income for many small and poor German states, typically serving in wars in which their governments were neutral.
Why were the Hessians so important to the British?
Rather, they were generally excellent soldiers. The term “Hessians” refers to the approximately 30,000 German troops hired by the British to help fight during the American Revolution. This allowed the state’s prince, the Landgraf Friedrich II, to keep taxes low and public spending high.
Why would Hessians help the British?
How did the Hessians help the British?
Who are the Hessians and what did they do?
Hessians are literally just people from Hesse, which is part of Germany. Hessians show up in military history particularly in the 18th century because the the state of Hesse kept a needlessly large standing army around and rented them out to foreign empires to fight in wars.
How many Hessians fought for the British in WW2?
Known for their discipline and martial prowess, around 30,000 Germans fought for the British during war, comprising a quarter of British land forces. Although frequently referred to by scholars as mercenaries, Hessians were in terms of 18th century legal thought distinguished as auxiliaries.
Why was plunder important to the Hessian army?
Although plunder was officially verboten (forbidden), it remained common practice (as in most military forces at the time), offering another incentive for service. Overall, Hessian troops were considered superb fighters, even by their opponents. The Hessian military became a major source of economic strength.
Where did Hessians fight in the War of the Austrian Succession?
In the midst of the War of the Austrian Succession in 1744, 6,000 Hessians were fighting with the British army in Flanders whilst another 6,000 were in the Bavarian army. By 1762, 24,000 Hessians were serving with Ferdinand of Brunswick’s army in Germany.