laborer / henchman
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laborer
A person who performs simple, usually physical helper's work, especially on a construction site or in a trade.
Auf der Baustelle arbeiteten mehrere Handlanger, die den Maurern die Steine brachten.
Several laborers worked on the construction site, bringing the bricks to the masons.
The word is made up of 'Hand' (hand) and an old verb 'langen' (to pass, to give). A 'Handlanger' (laborer/helper) was therefore literally someone who passes tools or materials to a craftsman by hand.
Ohne seine Handlanger könnte der Meister die Arbeit nicht so schnell erledigen.
Without his helpers, the master craftsman could not finish the work so quickly.
In its figurative meaning, 'Handlanger' (henchman) is a strongly derogatory word. It describes a person who carries out immoral or criminal orders without thinking for themselves and serves as another person's tool.
Die Anklage beschrieb ihn als willigen Handlanger des Diktators.
The prosecution described him as a willing henchman of the dictator.
You can tell from the context whether the neutral or negative meaning is intended. If it is about a construction site or a trade, it is often neutral. In contexts involving crime, politics, or abuse of power, the negative meaning is always intended.
Auf dem Bau ist er ein fleißiger Handlanger.
On the construction site, he is a hardworking laborer.
helper
'der Helfer' and 'der Handlanger' can both mean a person who supports someone else. 'Helfer' is neutral or positive and fits almost any kind of support. 'Handlanger' is narrower. It can be a person who does simple physical helper's work, especially on a construction site or in a trade. In addition, 'Handlanger' can sound very negative when someone helps another person with bad or criminal acts. The words can be confused because both have to do with helping. A safer rule is: for normal help, use 'Helfer'; use 'Handlanger' only in suitable work contexts or deliberately in a derogatory way.
Auf der Baustelle reichte der Handlanger dem Maurer die Steine.
On the construction site, the laborer handed the bricks to the mason.
Mein Bruder hat beim Streichen der Küche einen Helfer mitgebracht.
My brother brought a helper along to paint the kitchen.