This is our fourth article in "The Hessians" series. Click here to view a full listing of all articles.
I was once shopping with a German couple and their newborn in Aldi, and they were trying to decide what to buy for dinner.
Anne: “Kris, should we buy sausage, or steaks, or chicken to grill? And what sort of vegetables do we want? I’m really not sure what we’re looking for exactly.”
Kris: “Anne, we’re looking for DEALS!”
This everyday scenario highlights a quintessential aspect of German culture: a keen eye for finding deals. This trait transcends mundane grocery decisions and extends to historic episodes. Centuries ago, when Great Britain sought German auxiliary armies to quell the American Revolution, it was all about securing the best deal.
But who truly emerged victorious in this game of military commerce? Join me as we unpack the six treaties that Great Britain signed to rent German auxiliary armies during the American Revolution. Let's examine financial transactions and underlying motivations to unveil the real winners!
Treaty Terms & Conditions
While lending out armies wasn't new for German princes, deploying them outside of Europe was unprecedented. The treaties explicitly allowed for German soldiers to serve anywhere in North America, not just within the 13 colonies. This broad scope was essential as Britain aimed to defend its interests during the Revolution from not only within the colonies, but also in peripheral territories like Canada and Florida [1].
In order to bring them to America, the transfer of armies from German to British command occurred at ports in Germany and the Netherlands. German princes were responsible for transporting their troops to these embarkation points. Upon arrival, British officers inspected the troops, ensuring fitness for duty. Soldiers then swore allegiance to the British King while maintaining loyalty to their sovereign. After this process, German soldiers sailed to England before embarking for America [2].
Command Structure
The British paid substantial sums to rent these auxiliary armies, and they intended to wield them at their discretion to secure victory. This arrangement meant that German officers were never allowed to make independent strategic decisions; they operated under strict British authority. However, on the battlefield, German soldiers remained under command of their own officers, allowing tactical autonomy and care for their well-being.
While there were several German general officers, the British rarely sought their strategic advice or involved them in decision-making processes. One notable exception was General Knyphuasen, who commanded New York City during a British campaign in the southern colonies [4].
The Money
German princes received annual payments for equipping and lending their armies (known as subsidy payments), as detailed in the chart below [5].
Principality | Date Signed | Subsidy Payment (In crowns per year) | Contracted Men | Eventual Total Men |
Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel | January 9th, 1776 | 64,500 | 4,300 | 5,700 |
Hessen-Kassel | January 15th, 1776 | 450,000 | 12,000 | 20,000 |
Hessen-Hanau | February 1776 | 25,050 | 688 | 2,400 |
Waldeck | April 1776 | 25,050 | 670 | 1,225 |
Ansbach-Bayreuth | February 1777 | 45,000 | 1,285 | 2,500 |
Anhalt-Zerbst | March &October 1777 (takes effect April 1778) | 22,500 | 600 | 1,300 |
In addition to the subsidy payments, all six treaties guaranteed that German soldiers would receive the same pay as British soldiers, amounting to 30 crowns per month. Both the British and German princes knew that due to the risks involved in serving in America, German men would need a large incentive to enlist and fight. For many lower-class Germans, this monthly pay greatly exceeded what they could earn at home [6].
It is impossible to fully calculate how much money Britain actually spent in total for the war. In addition to the subsidies and soldier pay, the British paid extra money for artillery units, transportation costs, medical supplies, free mail for the troops, and numerous other ancillary expenses [7].
Blood Money
Several, but not all, treaties included what has become known as the “blood money” clause. This stated that “three wounded men shall be reckoned as one killed. A man killed shall be paid for at the rate of levy money [30 crowns].” Essentially, if three of the prince’s soldiers were wounded, or if one were killed, the prince received their 30 crowns of pay.
This meant that German soldiers were worth more money to their rulers dead than alive, underscoring the transactional nature of their service.
Length of Service
The treaties stipulated that the British would provide “notice of the determination of the said subsidy to be given a whole year before it shall cease to be paid: Provided that such notice shall not be given till after the return of the troops into the dominions of his Most Serene Highness.”
This arrangement meant a lot of extra money for the German princes. The British could use the soldiers as long as they liked, and for each year that they used them, they would pay the annual subsidy payment. Only after German troops were firmly back on German soil, could the British officials then declare their intention to cease using the armies. Once this notice was provided, the British would still pay the Germans an entire year of subsidy payment, even though the auxiliary armies were safely at home.
Ok, so who got the best deal?
In evaluating the outcomes, it becomes evident that the German princes emerged as the primary beneficiaries, reaping substantial financial rewards each year their armies served in America. The urgency to suppress the rebellion swiftly and decisively is reflected in the exorbitant sums flowing from Britain into German hands. Compared to previous conflicts, the British nearly doubled their subsidy payments, underscoring the critical and urgent need for troops and their deployment to an unknown destination like America.
However, while the German princes secured lucrative deals, not all Germans benefited equally. Disparities existed among rulers, and it was above all the common enlisted soldiers who bore the brunt, their lives seemingly valued more in death than in life.
Despite the favorable terms for the Germans, the British also achieved their objectives. Facing an existential crisis, they spared no expense to maintain their empire. In exchange for their substantial payments, they acquired thousands of well-equipped and trained soldiers, initially intended for a one-year service period before being sent home.
Yet, the reality defied expectations as the war dragged on for almost eight years, becoming a significant financial burden for the British. In hindsight, the immense expenditure proved futile, underscoring the unpredictability and complexity of military engagements.
In this intricate dance of military commerce, while the German princes secured financial gains, and the British sought to preserve their empire, the true cost and consequences of their endeavors would only fully reveal themselves with the passage of time.
Achtung! Feuerbereit!
Although Great Britain initially signed contracts for roughly 20,000 German auxiliary soldiers, who actually were these men? Why would they sign up for service in America, and how were they recruited into German armies? Stay tuned for our next article!
Sources & Comments
[1] Treaties are accessible from University of Illinois Digital Library
[2] Baer, Friederike. Hessians. Oxford University Press, New York. 2022. 15.
[3] Image accessible at the Library of Congress.
[4] Ibid, 15.
[5] Dates, numbers, and figures come from Kapp, Friedrich. Der Soldatenhandel Deutscher Fürsten nach Amerika. Berlin, 1864. 268-280.
[6] Atwood, Rodney. The Hessians. Cambridge University Press, 1980. 28.
[7] Baer, 17. Baer has done excellent work trying to determine a total expenditure for auxiliary armies by Great Britain during the war, but she also illustrates the impossibility of this task.
Very interesting, especially regarding that the 30 crowns was more money than a lower class man would be able to earn in Germany at that time. I can see why some would agree to go to war, despite the horror and the risk of death.