"Der Soldatenhandel deutscher Fürsten nach Amerika (1775 - 1783)" by Friedrich Kapp is a historical and political study examining the practice of German states hiring out troops for foreign service, particularly during the American Revolutionary War.
A central focus of the work is the system of military subsidies (“Soldatenhandel”), by which rulers of various German territories—especially the Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel—provided trained troops to Great Britain in exchange for financial payments and diplomatic advantages. These forces formed a significant part of British military strength in North America.
The book analyzes the political, economic, and moral dimensions of this practice, arguing that the “leasing” of soldiers was a structural feature of 18th-century German territorial states, rather than an exceptional or purely mercenary system. It places particular emphasis on the motivations of ruling dynasties and the financial reliance of small states on military revenue.
Another key theme is the experience and fate of German auxiliary troops in America, including their deployment in major campaigns, battlefield performance, captivity, and the reactions they provoked among American revolutionaries.
The work is also notable for its critical historical interpretation, as Kapp approaches the subject from a 19th-century liberal perspective, often criticizing the practice as politically and morally problematic while still grounding his analysis in archival sources.
