In this essay I shall examine the role of the Freikorps in the Weimar Republic and show how they
changed from loyal government troops in 1918 – 1920, to reactionary forces by 1923. To some
historians, the Freikorps have no place in political history, but rather in military history. They seem
to ignore the fact that civil wars were sometimes more important than conventional wars. The
politically motivated soldiers of the 20th century conflicts were decisive from the Red Guards of the
October Revolution in Russia to the Vietminh of the 1950s and 1960s, and up to the Mujjahedin in
Afghanistan in the 1980s. The Freikorps fought and defeated the large threat from Communism,
minimised territorial losses on the borders and prevented national secession. The movement started
with honest aims, but once routine crept in and disappointment rose very high, the soldiers became
disillusioned by the government which they felt had “betrayed” them.
When we look at the Freikorps, we have to distinguish between the time up to their official
disbanding and the time afterwards, when they were just underground fighters with the ultimate aim
of crushing the Republic. The Freikorps can be split into three groups. The first group had generals
or wartime officers as their superiors; these were conservatives who had no enthusiasm for the
democratic republic, but in most cases they had moderate political views and disbanded their units
when the main dangers to the state had been warded of. Usually these units ended up in the
Reichswehr. The second group, which were the majority of the Freikorps, were local defence
groups, or units, which were formed and disbanded within weeks or months. But in these units,
there were many officers whose political views changed over the years. This will be the third
group. It is here that the most radical leaders can be found. They and their soldiers could not accept
that Germany had been defeated on the front line – they detested the left wing parties for the “stab
in back”1 and hated the government who signed the Armistice. [...]
1 Field Marshall v. Hindenburg, when asked why Germany lost the war, brought up this legend.
Table of Contents
1. Essay on Weimar Germany
Research Objectives and Topics
This essay explores the political and military role of the Freikorps within the Weimar Republic, analyzing their transition from government-sanctioned forces in 1918 to radicalized, anti-republican entities by 1923, and examines how their actions and ideologies influenced the stability of the young democracy.
- Evolution of the Freikorps from loyalist units to reactionary paramilitary forces.
- Interaction between the Reichswehr and paramilitary groups in maintaining order against leftist insurrections.
- The impact of the Treaty of Versailles on the morale and political radicalization of Freikorps veterans.
- The historical continuity between Freikorps ideology, tactics, and the rise of the Nazi Party.
Excerpt from the Book
The Freikorps and the Baltic Conflict
The most surprising part of the Freikorps history, however, was the Baltic fighting in 1919. As this aspect is important to understand the role of the Freikorps in general, I will go into some detail. In November 1918 the German Army still occupied the Baltic States with the Red Army waiting for their withdrawal. The Allies acknowledged this and the German 8th Army was commanded to stay in this region. Communist ideas were prevalent among the soldiers and a major, called Bischoff, was raised from among them. It was the only German unit to fight the Red Army in the Baltic.
The Latvian nationalists fought side by side with the Germans. As they managed to free Riga from the Red Army, they were to receive “good pay” and later they were even entitled “to Latvian citizenship plus ninety acres of land”. Many volunteers came from Germany, a dream of Ostsiedlung (settlement in the east) in their minds as their ancestors of the Teutonic Knights had colonised these lands in the Middle Ages. But when it became clear, that the German government would sign the Treaty of Versailles some soldiers returned home, others decided to stay in the Baltic region to join forces with the Russian White Army. Here, once again, many soldiers felt betrayed and hated the government for signing the Treaty. In the end they were forced to leave the Baltic as the British and French joined the Latvians and the Lithuanians.
Summary of Chapters
Essay on Weimar Germany: This section provides an analytical overview of the Freikorps movement, tracing their origins, internal structures, radicalization process, involvement in key political events like the Kapp Putsch, and their eventual dissolution and influence on later fascist movements.
Keywords
Freikorps, Weimar Republic, Reichswehr, Kapp Putsch, Paramilitary, Communism, Versailles Treaty, Nationalism, Radicalization, Ruhrgebiet, Oberschlesien, NSDAP, Sturmtruppen, Baltic States, Counter-revolution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this essay?
The essay examines the evolution and impact of the Freikorps in the Weimar Republic from 1918 to 1923, focusing on their shift from state-aligned troops to anti-democratic actors.
What are the central themes of the work?
The central themes include the collapse of order in post-war Germany, the rise of paramilitary violence, the complex relationship between the government and the army, and the emergence of radical right-wing ideologies.
What is the primary goal of the research?
The goal is to determine the specific role the Freikorps played in the political history of the Weimar Republic and how their perceived betrayal by the government led to their radicalization.
Which scientific methodology is used?
The paper utilizes historical analysis, drawing upon contemporary reports, archival evidence, and historical scholarship to trace the development and legacy of the Freikorps.
What is covered in the main section of the essay?
The main section details the major campaigns of the Freikorps, their involvement in crushing revolutionary movements, their disillusionment with the Versailles Treaty, and their ultimate role in the rise of National Socialism.
Which keywords characterize the work?
The work is characterized by terms such as Freikorps, Weimar Republic, paramilitary, radicalization, Reichswehr, and nationalism.
How did the Freikorps facilitate the rise of the Nazi Party?
Many Freikorps veterans joined the NSDAP and the SA, transferring their aggressive military spirit, specific organizational tactics, and anti-republican ideology to the Nazi movement.
Why did the Berlin government feel compelled to cooperate with the Freikorps initially?
The provisional government lacked a strong, loyal military force to suppress communist insurrections and maintain public order, making them dependent on the volunteers of the Freikorps.
- Quote paper
- Michael Gärtner (Author), 2003, What role did the Freikorps play in the Weimar Republic?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/13985
