who were mercenaries who fought for the british
Hessian (soldier) Hessians /ˈhɛʃən/[1] were the 18th century German auxiliaries contracted for military service by the British government.[2] They took their name from the German state of Hesse-Kassel. The British hired Hessian troops for combat duty in several eighteenth century conflicts, but they are most widely associated with combat operations in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783).
Military history of the United States during World War II Prior to America's entry into World War II in December 1941, individual Americans volunteered to fight against the Axis powers in other nations' armed forces. Although under American law, it was illegal for United States citizens to join the armed forces of foreign nations and in doing so, they lost their citizenship, many American volunteers changed their nationality to Canadian. However Congress passed a blanket pardon in 1944.[8] American mercenary Colonel Charles Sweeny living in London began recruiting American citizens to fight as a U.S. volunteer detachment in the French Air force, however France fell before this was implemented.[8] During the Battle of Britain, 11 American pilots flew in the RAF, one of whom was killed,[9] Charles Sweeney's nephew, also called Charles formed a Home Guard unit from American volunteers living in London.[8]