Figure 1.-- The Freikorps Oberland was one of many voluntary paramilitary organization that after Wirld War I fought against Communist and Polish insurgents. It prtiucipated in the he 1921 Battle of Annaberg against the Polish insurectionists in Silesia. It became the core of the Sturmabteilung (SA) in Bavaria althouh several members later turned against the NAZIs. Freuikorps Oberland was founded by Rudolf von Sebottendorf, president of Thule Society (April 1919). The cabinet of Johannes Hoffmann (SPD) had fled from Bavarian Soviet Republic to Bamberg. Major Albert Ritter von Beckh (1870–1958) assumed military control. Most of the volunteers came from Bavaria, and therefore Alpine Edelweiß dloewer was chosen as their symbol. Its direct precursor was the Kampfbund within the Thule Society, which also opposed the Bavarian Soviet republic.

Freikorps units were organized in Germany after World War I, mostly from disilusioned right-wing veterans as well as some youths who had been too young to participate in the War. The veterans had made huge sactifices during the war and did not understand how Germany with its martial heritage could have lost the War. They were outraged with the Versaillers Peace Treaty which transferred former German/Austrian territory to neigboring coutries, including the newly crrated countries of Poland and Czechoslovakia. The new German Republic faced many problems after World war I. It was set up at Weimar because the Socilists who dominated the Republic did not think it could be defended in Berlin. One of the problems was the luke warm support from the Germany Army. The Republic faced attacks from Communists wjo tried to seise control. Another problem were areas of Germany whose future were to be decided by plebesite. This was a special problem in the Eat where the new Polish Republic wanted to expand its territory. Polish military units attempted to seize territory. The Allies did not permit the German Army to intervene. The Freikorps were used to both defeat Comminist uprisings and to fight the Poles. Many Freikorps members were hostile to the Weimar Republic, but willing to fight Communists and Poles. The most prominant Freikorps unit was Brigade Ehrhardt. It was the Freikorps that suppressed the Bavarian Communists. Many Freikorps members gravitated to right-wing parties like the NAZIs. Quite a few NAZI luninaries served in the Freikorps, including Seep Dietrich, Hans Frank, Rudolf Hess, Heinrich Himmler, Reinhard Heydrich, and many others. Many lesser known Freikorps members gravitated to the the SA. Thus the Freikorps is seen by many as the origin of the Sturmabteilungen (SA)--The NAZI stormtroopers. They certainly played an important role, but the more direct origin was in the right-wing political parties that formed in Germany following the War.

Origins

The Freikorps (Free Corps) first appear in history during the Seven Years War. Frederick II of Prussia recrited volunteer units durung the War when Prussia was hard pressed by the Russiahs and Austrians. other Freikorps appeared during the Napoleonic Wars. They were led by Ludwig Adolf Wilhelm von Lützow. The early Freikorps were a kind of militia and generallregarded as unreliable by regular armies, so that they were mainly used as sentries and for minor duties.

Defeated Germany (November 1918)

Freikorps units were organized in Germany after World War I as the Imperial Army desintegrated. The groups dopted the old historucl term --fewikorps. Freikorps members were mostly from disilusioned right-wing veterans as well as some highly patriotic youths who had been too young to participate in the War. The veterans had made huge sactifices during the war and did not understand how Germany with its martial heritage could have lost the War. Yhry were one of the several Weimar paramilitary groups. There was no centeal organizations, but indeopendent groups organized by caharismatic leder who were ble to obtain some funding.

New German Republic

The new German Republic faced many problems after World war I. It was set up at Weimar because the Socilists who dominated the Republic did not think it could be defended in Berlin. One of the problems was the luke warm support from the Germany Army which hd strong monarchist sympathies. The Republic faced attacks from Communists who tried to seize control, firsr in Berlin and then in Munich. The Freikorps were used to both defeat Comminist uprisings and to fight the Poles. Many Freikorps members were hostile to the Weimar Republic, but willing to fight Communists and Poles. The most prominant Freikorps unit was Brigade Ehrhardt. It was the Freikorps that suppressed the Bavarian Communists.

Poland

Versailles Peace Treaty (July 1919)

Baltics

Several Freikorps fought in the Baltics This was an area of the former Tsarit Empire that the Bolshevik Government tried to win back after the Allies forced the Germans to resind the Treary of Brest-Litovsk and withdraw from the East. The fighting in the Baltics, with a substahtial popultion of ethnic Germans was complicated. The Freikoros sometimes fought the Bolsheviks abd simetimes the Liyhuanian, Latvian, and Estonian natiionalist forces.

Kapp Putsch

The Freikoros were largely disbabded (1920). Some members later backed the Kapp Putsch which failed (March 1920).

Right-wing Politics

After tge Freikporos were dusbanded, many Freikorps members gravitated to right-wing parties. Quite a number were not impressed with the NAZIs, at least at first. Many wondered where Hitler was when they fought the Communists. This seems to relate to the fact that Hitler's Army comrads did not take him seriously and few joined him and the NAZIs. Hitler at the time was beginning his political career. ermann Ehrhardt and his deputy Commander Eberhard Kautter , leaders of the Viking League refused to help Hitler and Luddendorf in their Beer Hall Putsch and conspired against them.

The NAZIS

Quite a few NAZI luninaries served in the Freikorps, including Ernst Röhm, future head of the Sturmabteilung (SA) Otherw included: Seep Dietrich, Hans Frank, Rudolf Hess, Heinrich Himmler, Reinhard Heydrich, and many others such as Rudolf Höss, the future Kommandant of Auschwitz. Many lesser known Freikorps members gravitated to the the SA. Thus the Freikorps is seen by many as the origin of the Sturmabteilungen (SA)--The NAZI stormtroopers. They certainly played an important role, but the more direct origin was in the right-wing political parties that formed in Germany following the War.