The Forgotten Voices of War: Hessian War Diaries

 

This compelling volume brings together three firsthand accounts from soldiers and camp followers during the tumultuous mid-18th century. The Journal of Provision Clerk Möhle offers a rare glimpse into the logistical struggles of the Hessian campaigns from 1759 to 1761. The Campaign Journal of Lieutenant Georg Ernst von und zu Gilsa provides a vivid officer’s perspective on the early years of the Seven Years’ War. The Journal of Field Chaplain Heinrich Kümmel captures the experiences of a military chaplain serving in the American War, revealing the spiritual and human cost of conflict. Through these detailed and personal narratives, Voices from the Front paints an intimate portrait of war, survival, and duty in an era of global conflict.

PURCHASE

Diary of a Soldier: A Hessian Officer’s Eyewitness Account of the 1792 French Campaign

This diary captures the firsthand experiences of Hans Ephraim von Stamford, a Hessian officer, during the ill-fated campaign of 1792. Written amidst the march and the aftermath of battle, his entries preserve the raw impressions of a soldier witnessing the collapse of the Allied war effort against Revolutionary France.

Stamford, a veteran of the American War of Independence, belonged to the seasoned Hessian regiments whose discipline stood in stark contrast to the disarray of their coalition allies. His observations reveal the gradual shift from confidence to despair as superior tactics succumbed to the relentless fervor of the French levies.

Carried in the breast pocket of his uniform, the small leather-bound book bears the marks of the unforgiving autumn rains of 1792. Despite faded ink and hurried abbreviations, this faithful reproduction allows modern readers to glimpse the realities of war through the eyes of a soldier who endured it.

PURCHASE

A Jäger’s Journey: Memoirs of War and Valor, 1755-1758

 

In the turbulent years of the Seven Years' War, a young Hessian Jäger finds himself swept into the chaos of European conflict. From his enlistment in 1755 to his rise through the ranks, this gripping firsthand account follows his journey from the forests of Hesse to the battlefields of northern Germany.

Fighting under the command of General Count von der Schulenburg and the courageous Major von Freytag, our narrator takes part in skirmishes, rearguard actions, and full-scale battles against the formidable French forces. His vivid recollections bring to life the deadly precision of the Jägers, the relentless pursuit of enemy cavalry, and the camaraderie that bound these elite marksmen together.

From the brutal retreat through Bielefeld and Herford to the decisive engagements at Hastenbeck and beyond, this memoir offers a rare and intimate glimpse into the daily struggles, triumphs, and tragedies of a soldier’s life. Through relentless skirmishes, harrowing retreats, and moments of fierce resistance, he survives to tell the tale—offering a soldier’s-eye view of one of history’s greatest conflicts.

A Jäger’s Journey is an essential read for anyone interested in military history, personal memoirs of war, and the tactics of 18th-century light infantry.

PURCHASE

Hessian Steel: Hesse’s Troops in the War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748)

Hessian Steel: Hesse’s Troops in the War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748) provides an in-depth analysis of the Hessian military’s role in one of 18th-century Europe’s most consequential conflicts. From official records and firsthand accounts, Friedrich Freiherr von Dalwigk zu Lichtenfels details how Hesse-Kassel, a key ally of Britain and Austria, supplied disciplined troops to fight against the French and Bavarians. The book explores the Hessian army’s contributions to major campaigns, including their involvement in Flanders, the defense of key fortresses such as Bergen op Zoom, and their participation in decisive battles like Fontenoy and Lauffeld. It also examines recruitment, logistics, and the challenges of maintaining an auxiliary force in a prolonged war. This comprehensive study sheds light on the strategic importance of Hessian forces and their enduring impact on 18th-century European warfare.

PURCHASE

HESSE AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION 1776: Revolution and Democratic Resistance in Hessian History

 

This book is inspired by the historical exhibition organized by the Hessian State Archives in Marburg for Hessentag 1976, a regional cultural festival dedicated to celebrating Hessian history, culture, and identity. Since its establishment in 1961, Hessentag has served as an important platform for exploring the region’s rich past.

In 1976, the Hessian State Archives curated an exhibition focusing on Hesse and the American Revolution (1776), shedding light on the experiences of Hessian soldiers, the dynamics of democratic resistance, and the lasting impact of the American Revolution on Hessian history. We extend our gratitude to the scholars, archivists, and historians whose dedication made this exhibition possible, and whose work continues to inform our understanding of this critical chapter in transatlantic history

PURCHASE

Interesting Works on Hessen Kassel Miliary

 

PURCHASE

Preussisches Militär: Die Soldaten Friedrich's des Grossen

 

The Soldiers Friedrich's des Grossen

Lange, Eduard

Leipzig, [1853]