Well you got me there. I bow to your superior intellect. Three generations of support is now a traditional ally. And strong economic ties makes one an ally. I guess that makes Japan a traditional ally too. Same with South Korea. And Mexico. And Brasil.
And yes ole 'Baron' von Steuben came here on the urging of the Prussian government and not because he was out of work for 7 years. Or did you just gloss over that part of history? And yes he really was a general, and not just a captain when he served in the Prussian army.
Tell me Mr Astute Historian why you neglected to mention the Hesse-Kassel Jaegers Korps and their role in the American Revolution? Oh, you see, they helped burn a major port in my home state, fighting on the side of the British. And gee, they were from Prussia.
But Prussia/Germany really helped us out when we needed it. Yup, they sure are a traditional ally.
You're correct, the (many) Germans/Prussians/Hessians/Teutons who fought on the rebel side ("American") in the RevWar basically did so of their own volition.
Some of the duchies (as stated, there was no big Germany, only many kingdoms), basically all Hesse-X, went in w/Britain as mercenaries.
So any official gov support came on the Brit side.
But there were many Germans, both genuine Old Country and colonists, who sided w/the rebels.