HAVE GERMAN WILL TRAVEL
FEIERTAG
BEKANNTE DEUTSCHEN IN AMERIKA
Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben
(der 17. September 1730 bis den 28. November 1794)
BARON VON STEUBEN TAG/ STEUBEN DAY
Von Steuben Day is a holiday traditionally held on a weekend in midSeptember (von Steuben was born September 17), celebrating Baron
Friedrich von Steuben, who arrived in the United States as a volunteer
offering his services to General George Washington, and is generally
considered the German-American event of the year. Participants march,
dance, and_play music.
The Week in Germany
Sep 23, 2016
Editorial
Dear 1WIG Readers,
Last weekend marked the 59th annual Steuben Parade in New York
City - one of the largest gatherings of German-Americans in the
world.
Thousands of participants and spectators attended the parade on
Fifth Avenue. Let's take a look at who this large event is named
after:
Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben (l 730-1 794) has long been a
symbol of German-American friendship. The Prussian-born military
officer fought in two major wars, and is best known for his
contributions on American soil. His experience gained during the
Seven Years' War equipped him with a wealth of military
knowledge that helped the young man rise in the ranks . When he
was in his thirties, he found himself in debt, and hoped to find
employement in a foreign army to gather funds. In 1777, the
young baron was introduced to General George Washington by
means of a letter. Soon thereafter, he was on his way to the United
States, where he offered to volunteer his services without pay.
Arrangements were made so that Steuben would be paid for his
services after the war, based on his contributions.
And he did not fail to impress: Von Steuben became inspector general and major general of the Continental
Army during the Revolutionary War, and he is often credited as being one of the founders of the
Continental Army. In the final years of the war, the Prussian-born military officer even served as General
Washington's chief of staff. In 1 784, he became an American citizen.