Bit of an obscure question. I'm writing an amateur alternate history novel on the 7 Years War and I'm having trouble finding source material.
During the 7 Years War (or 3rd Silesian War if you prefer), the forces of Hanover (co-dominion with the Kingdom of Great Britain) were defeated by the French in 1757 and reached an agreement in the German village of Zeven.
The beloved 2nd son of George II, the Duke of Cumberland, was given authority to negotiate by his father and worked out a deal effectively allowing much of Hanover to be occupied and the neutrality of the beaten Army of Hanover for the duration of the war, half of which would be interned. British-Hanover allies Hesse and Brunswick were largely under occupation by the French as well. Their forces still remaining under Cumberland's control would be dispersed by the treaty and sent home.
In the meantime, British-Hanover ally Frederick II of Prussia was in deep trouble to the east against Austria and Russia. If the French were allowed to attack Prussia, as well this might have been the final nail in the Prussian coffin.
However, George II ordered the Convention reneged and his forces reentered the war unexpectedly, the French forces somewhat foolishly having failed to enforce several of these decrees, leaving the relatively intact Hanoverian/Hessian/Brunswick/Lippe (paid for by Britain) force to counterattack and prevent Frederick the II from facing a fourth front. Eventually British soldiers arrived to support.
What if the French had been more diligent in enforcing the terms of the capitulation?
What if the French had immediately disarmed Hesse and Brunswick's soldiers and sent them home?
What if they'd immediately forced half of the Army of Hanover into internment per the terms?
Details are sketchy but I assume that the terms would allow for the return of Hanover to George II after the war (please contradict me if you feel this is incorrect). Non-Prussian prisoners (most Prussia soldiers from Prussia's western duchies were already fighting on the eastern front)on all sides were immediately exchanged and France would not assault the remainder of Hanover not under occupation.
Would Great Britain have attempted to reenter the war if half the Army of Hanover were still in internment and their other German allies dispersed?
How would this affect the American and Indian conflict Britain waged against France, waging at the same time?
I know this is esoteric but I can't find much information on the details.
If you have any good source material on this subject, please let me know.
The books I have on the subject almost completely gloss over what the other German Princes were doing when their Duchies were overrun.
I can only imagine they regretted entering a war for no other reason than receiving subsidies only to find their patrimonies under French occupation (I doubt they made money in the long run).
During the 7 Years War (or 3rd Silesian War if you prefer), the forces of Hanover (co-dominion with the Kingdom of Great Britain) were defeated by the French in 1757 and reached an agreement in the German village of Zeven.
The beloved 2nd son of George II, the Duke of Cumberland, was given authority to negotiate by his father and worked out a deal effectively allowing much of Hanover to be occupied and the neutrality of the beaten Army of Hanover for the duration of the war, half of which would be interned. British-Hanover allies Hesse and Brunswick were largely under occupation by the French as well. Their forces still remaining under Cumberland's control would be dispersed by the treaty and sent home.
In the meantime, British-Hanover ally Frederick II of Prussia was in deep trouble to the east against Austria and Russia. If the French were allowed to attack Prussia, as well this might have been the final nail in the Prussian coffin.
However, George II ordered the Convention reneged and his forces reentered the war unexpectedly, the French forces somewhat foolishly having failed to enforce several of these decrees, leaving the relatively intact Hanoverian/Hessian/Brunswick/Lippe (paid for by Britain) force to counterattack and prevent Frederick the II from facing a fourth front. Eventually British soldiers arrived to support.
What if the French had been more diligent in enforcing the terms of the capitulation?
What if the French had immediately disarmed Hesse and Brunswick's soldiers and sent them home?
What if they'd immediately forced half of the Army of Hanover into internment per the terms?
Details are sketchy but I assume that the terms would allow for the return of Hanover to George II after the war (please contradict me if you feel this is incorrect). Non-Prussian prisoners (most Prussia soldiers from Prussia's western duchies were already fighting on the eastern front)on all sides were immediately exchanged and France would not assault the remainder of Hanover not under occupation.
Would Great Britain have attempted to reenter the war if half the Army of Hanover were still in internment and their other German allies dispersed?
How would this affect the American and Indian conflict Britain waged against France, waging at the same time?
I know this is esoteric but I can't find much information on the details.
If you have any good source material on this subject, please let me know.
The books I have on the subject almost completely gloss over what the other German Princes were doing when their Duchies were overrun.
I can only imagine they regretted entering a war for no other reason than receiving subsidies only to find their patrimonies under French occupation (I doubt they made money in the long run).