Germans in the American Revolution

People of German ancestry fought on both sides in the American Revolution. Many of the small German states in Europe supported the British. King George III of Britain was simultaneously the ruler of the German state of Hanover. Around 30,000 Germans fought for the British during the war, around 25% of British land forces.^[1] In particular, 12,000 Hessian soldiers served as mercenaries on the side of British. However some Germans who were supporters of Congress as individuals crossed the Atlantic to help the Patriots.

Inside America, German Americans were largely concentrated in Pennsylvania and upstate New York. The majority supported Congress and the patriot cause. However many of the religious sects (such as the Amish) were neutral. Very few German Americans were Loyalists or supported King George. It is estimated that nearly 5,000 of the German auxiliaries permanently settled in the United States.