The Freikorps

More history, and yes, yet again it comes from one of my favorite sources, the Osprey books I invariably put on my Amazon.com wishlist for Christmas and thus receive as gifts.   But they’re all fascinating.  At least to me: in this case, The German Freikorps 1918-23, by Carlos Caballero Jurado, and well-illustrated yet again by Mr. Ramiro Bujeiro.

Anyhow.  After World War I (formerly known as The Great War before World War II came around) Germany wound up Kaiser-less and in danger of Bolshevik minions establishing a Red dictatorship.   With a surplus of demobilized soldiers with a surplus of free time and deficit of useful outlets therefor, naturally this pool of excess military capacity rapidly congealed into volunteer units called the Freikorps.  Interestingly, the German republic was socialist, but moderate socialists (the SPD) who weren’t keen on following Russia into a totalitarian dictatorship – mind you, this was in 1918-20, before the Russian Civil War was even resolved in Lenin’s favor.   I’m not a big fan of socialism, but the absence of gulags in Sweden and Denmark – and all other European countries which have had socialist governments over the past 60 years – indicates that some discernment should be made between North Korea and these countries.  ANYHOW.

The first unit was the Eiserne Brigade (Iron Brigade) in Kiel, a response to the Volksmarine, the Red militia composed of sailors and soldiers.  General Maercker formed the Freiwilliege Landesjägerkorps, which established the standard format for Freikorps units.  Most were named after the particular officer or general who raised them: the troops were loyal to particular leaders they had served under during the war.  Even Von Lettow-Vorbeck, of East Africa fame, had a Freikorps unit.   Because of the ad hoc nature of these units, they were very often mixed-arms (infantry-cavalry-artillery) so as to be self-sufficient and flexible.  They were volunteer units, so not all members were actually military – some civilians filled the ranks.  And although called up from certain areas, they may actually fight in another part of the country (e.g. Bavaria or Upper Silesia). 

Uniform.   The basic uniform of Freikorps units was the field grey German WWI uniform with puttees.  A few Freikorps units dressed in civilian clothes, and Freikorps Bayreuth wore French Adrian helmets painted field grey.   The units then indulged in specific insignia for each of them, but essentially look like late WWI German soldiers.   Some units painted swastikas on the front of the helmets, although they weren’t actually NSDAP units.  Skull and crossbones (not SS) and arrow were also painted on helmets.

January 1919.  Spartakist Rebellion in Berlin.   Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg (Flora Hamburger/Blackford) killed in the process.   Freikorps win.

Early 1919.  Red rebellions in Kiel, Bremerhaven, Hamburg, Wilhelmshaven. As these were port cities, the most of the Reds were sailors: the Volksmarine.   Freikorps units put out these fires and restored control.  (“And there was much rejoicing.”)

Red Army of the Ruhr.   Initial red rebellions erupted in the highly industrialized Ruhr area in 1919, and were put down by the Freikorps at that time.  In 1920 they erupted again, with a so-called Red Army of the Ruhr, large and well-organized, at the front.   This was also put down by the Freikorps in 1920, until the French marched in to restore order.  Incidentally, the Allies occupied the Ruhr not just in 1923 – the most well-known operation – but also earlier in May 1920 (as noted here), and March 1921.

Kapp Putsch.  Actually led by General von Luttwitz of the Ehrhardt Brigade, and centered on Berlin.  This failed: the SPD called a general strike, and von Luttwitz failed to coordinate with any other units.  While many of the leaders and rank and file of the Freikorps could be described as reactionary, and somewhat contemptuous of the Weimar Republic which they defended, this sentiment failed to reach a critical mass prompting these units to actually overthrow the socialist government.  This right-wing revolt, and the Nazi Putsch in 1923, had nowhere close to mass support, even within the Freikorps movement.

Bavarian Uprising.  In April 1919 the Communists took over Munich and proclaimed a red republic.  The Freikorps responded, surrounded the city, and put down the revolt by early May. 

Plebiscites in Poland.   With Poland becoming a new, independent country after the war, its borders were not quite established; in particular, Upper Silesia.  Although the May 1920 plebiscite resulted in a victory for the Germans, the Poles rebelled, took over the entire area, and hoped that doing so would effectively nullify the plebiscite results.   The German government refused to do more than whine to the Allies about obeying the results.  Without official backing, on their own, the Freikorps units banded together, arrived from all parts of Germany, and fought back - and succeeded at defeating the Polish irregulars.  Eventually the Allies intervened and allowed the territory to remain German.

Baltics & Russian Civil War.   Many Freikorps units went up to the Baltics.   On one hand, the Reds were streaming west from Petrograd and attempting to spread the revolution, or least military control, as far west as they could.  The Germans sympathized with the White Russians, and even allied with one Russian leader, Prince Avalov-Bermondt.  On the other hand, the Germans also hoped to make the Baltic countries eastern sectors of Germany, while the Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians preferred their freedom.  After some initial cooperation at fighting the Reds, the Freikorps fell out with the Baltic armies, and the latter eventually expelled the Germans.  Note: the Latvians were actually hardcore Reds and formed the elite backbone of the nascent Red Army.

November 1923 Munich Putsch.   Not necessarily a Freikorps action per se, although there was some overlapping between the Nazi party forces and local Freikorps elements.  Of course the Putsch failed and Hitler went to prison, writing Mein Kampf there with Rudolf Hess’ cooperation.   The failure of the Putsch convinced Hitler that power would have to be taken by convential means, i.e. appointed Chancellor on January 30, 1933.

End of the Freikorps.   By 1923 the socialist government was sufficiently stable and established that it no longer felt the need for the Freikorps.  The Army was solidly behind the government – which it would remain.  Many Freikorps members joined the Nazis.   Most notable was Ernst Roehm, head of the S.A., who never abandoned his quest for a mass popular army – until Hitler put an end to his ambitions on June 30, 1934.  But the units had served their purpose and the Army and Police were sufficient to keep order from then on.