Interaction and perception in Anglo-German armies, 1689-1815
Throughout the âlong eighteenth centuryâ Britain was heavily reliant upon soldiers from states within the Holy Roman Empire to augment British forces during times of war, especially in the repeated conflicts with Bourbon, Revolutionary, and Napoleonic France. The disparity in populations between these two rival powers, and the British publicâs reluctance to maintain a large standing army, made this external source of manpower of crucial importance. Whereas the majority of these forces were acting in the capacity of allies, âauxiliaryâ forces were hired as well, and from the mid-century onwards, a small but steadily increasing number of German men would serve within British regiments or distinct formations referred to as âForeign Corpsâ. Employing or allying with these troops would result in these Anglo-German armies operating not only on the European continent but in the American Colonies, Caribbean and within the British Isles as well. Within these multinational coalitions, soldiers would encounter and interact with one another in a variety of professional and informal venues, and many participants recorded their opinions of these foreign âbrother-soldiersâ in journals, private correspondence,
Wishon, M.
Interaction and perception in Anglo-German armies, 1689-1815. Throughout the âlong eighteenth centuryâ Britain was heavily reliant upon soldiers from states within the Holy Roman Empire to augment British forces during times of war, especially in the repeated conflicts with Bourbon, Revolutionary, and Napoleonic France. The disparity in populations between these two rival powers, and the British publicâs reluctance to maintain a large standing army, made this external source of manpower of crucial importance. Whereas the majority of these forces were acting in the capacity of allies, âauxiliaryâ forces were hired as well, and from the mid-century onwards, a small but steadily increasing number of German men would serve within British regiments or distinct formations referred to as âForeign Corpsâ. Employing or allying with these troops would result in these Anglo-German armies operating not only on the European continent but in the American Colonies, Caribbean and within the British Isles as well. Within these multinational coalitions, soldiers would encounter and interact with one another in a variety of professional and informal venues, and many participants recorded their opinions of these foreign âbrother-soldiersâ in journals, private correspondence,
interaction perception anglo_german army throughout_britain heavily reliant upon soldier state within holy roman_empire augment british force time war especially repeat conflict bourbon revolutionary napoleonic france disparity population rival power british_public reluctance maintain large stand_army make external source manpower crucial importance whereas majority force act capacity ally auxiliary force hire well mid_century onwards small steadily increase_number german men would serve within british regiment distinct formation refer foreign corps employing ally troop would anglo_german army operate european continent american caribbean within british_isles well within multinational coalition soldier would encounter interact one_another variety professional informal venue many participant record opinion foreign brother journal private correspondence