Freikorps Oberland
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The ''
Freikorps (, "Free Corps" or "Volunteer Corps") were irregular German and other European military volunteer units, or paramilitary, that existed from the 18th to the early 20th centuries. They effectively fought as mercenary or private armies, regar ...
Oberland'' (also ''Bund Oberland'' or ''Kameradschaft Freikorps und Bund Oberland'') was a voluntary paramilitary organization that, in the early years of the
Weimar Republic The Weimar Republic (german: link=no, Weimarer Republik ), officially named the German Reich, was the government of Germany from 1918 to 1933, during which it was a constitutional federal republic for the first time in history; hence it is al ...
, fought against
Communist Communism (from Latin la, communis, lit=common, universal, label=none) is a far-left sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology and current within the socialist movement whose goal is the establishment of a communist society, a s ...
and Polish insurgents. It was successful in the 1921
Battle of Annaberg The Battle of (the) Annaberg ( pl, Bitwa o Górę Św. Anny) was the biggest battle of the Silesian Uprisings. The battle, which took place between May 21–26, 1921, was fought at the Annaberg (Polish: ''Góra Św. Anny''), a strategic hill ...
and became the core of the ''
Sturmabteilung The (; SA; literally "Storm Detachment") was the original paramilitary wing of the Nazi Party. It played a significant role in Adolf Hitler's rise to power in the 1920s and 1930s. Its primary purposes were providing protection for Nazi ral ...
'' (SA) in
Bavaria Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total lan ...
while several members later turned against the
Nazi Nazism ( ; german: Nazismus), the common name in English for National Socialism (german: Nationalsozialismus, ), is the far-right totalitarian political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in ...
s. The group was founded in April 1919 by
Rudolf von Sebottendorf Adam Alfred Rudolf Glauer (9 November 1875 – 8 May 1945), also known as Rudolf Freiherr von Sebottendorff (or von Sebottendorf) was a German occultist, writer, intelligence agent and political activist. He was the founder of the Thule Socie ...
, president of
Thule Society The Thule Society (; german: Thule-Gesellschaft), originally the ''Studiengruppe für germanisches Altertum'' ("Study Group for Germanic Antiquity"), was a German occultist and '' Völkisch'' group founded in Munich shortly after World War I, ...
. The cabinet of Johannes Hoffmann (SPD) had fled from
Bavarian Soviet Republic The Bavarian Soviet Republic, or Munich Soviet Republic (german: Räterepublik Baiern, Münchner Räterepublik),Hollander, Neil (2013) ''Elusive Dove: The Search for Peace During World War I''. McFarland. p.283, note 269. was a short-lived unre ...
to
Bamberg Bamberg (, , ; East Franconian: ''Bambärch'') is a town in Upper Franconia, Germany, on the river Regnitz close to its confluence with the river Main. The town dates back to the 9th century, when its name was derived from the nearby ' castle. C ...
. Major Albert Ritter von Beckh (1870–1958) assumed military control. Most of the volunteers came from Bavaria, and therefore the symbol of the Edelweiß was chosen. Its direct precursor was the "Kampfbund" within Thule Society, which also was against the Bavarian Soviet republic. In May 1919 Freikorps Oberland fought against the Bavarian Soviet Republic. Elements of the Freikorps, combined with Freikorps Epp became the Reichswehr brigade 21, which in 1920 fought in the
Occupation of the Ruhr The Occupation of the Ruhr (german: link=no, Ruhrbesetzung) was a period of military occupation of the Ruhr region of Germany by France and Belgium between 11 January 1923 and 25 August 1925. France and Belgium occupied the heavily industria ...
. The Freikorps itself was dissolved on 21 October 1919. However, all members went to Organization Escherich ( Georg Escherich). Therefore, in the
Silesian Uprisings The Silesian Uprisings (german: Aufstände in Oberschlesien, Polenaufstände, links=no; pl, Powstania śląskie, links=no) were a series of three uprisings from August 1919 to July 1921 in Upper Silesia, which was part of the Weimar Republic ...
1921 the Freikorps was quickly ready and participated in the conquest of the eponymic hill in Annaberg in
Upper Silesia Upper Silesia ( pl, Górny Śląsk; szl, Gůrny Ślůnsk, Gōrny Ślōnsk; cs, Horní Slezsko; german: Oberschlesien; Silesian German: ; la, Silesia Superior) is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia, located ...
. In Upper Silesia the Freikorps also had a propaganda unit. It is believed to have ordered the
Feme murders The Feme ('fā-mə) murders (German: ) were a series of politically motivated murders in Weimar Germany from 1919 to 1923 that were committed by elements of the German far right against political opponents they considered treasonous. The practice ...
and kidnappings. It had close connections with radical right-wing organizations in Bavaria. The murderers of
Matthias Erzberger Matthias Erzberger (20 September 1875 – 26 August 1921) was a German writer and politician (Centre Party), the minister of Finance from 1919 to 1920. Prominent in the Catholic Centre Party, he spoke out against World War I from 1917 and as a ...
,
Heinrich Tillessen Heinrich Tillessen (27 November 1894 – 12 November 1984) was one of the murderers of Matthias Erzberger, former German minister of finance of the Centre Party. One of his brothers was Karl Tillessen, deputy of Hermann Ehrhardt in the . The oth ...
and Heinrich Schulz did not only belong to
Organization Consul Organisation Consul (O.C.) was an ultra-nationalist and anti-Semitic terrorist organization that operated in the Weimar Republic from 1920 to 1922. It was formed by members of the disbanded Freikorps group Marine Brigade Ehrhardt and was respons ...
, but also to "Arbeitsgemeinschaft Oberland".(Committee Oberland). Some members of Oberland were possibly involved with the murder of
USPD The Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany (german: Unabhängige Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands, USPD) was a short-lived political party in Germany during the German Empire and the Weimar Republic. The organization was establish ...
politician Karl Gareis (1889-1921).


Separation

In summer 1922 the Bund became separated because of the question whether Bund Oberland should be integrated into Bund Bayern und Reich. The civil wing formed ''Bund Treu Oberland'', later Blücherbund. The military wing was led by veterinarian Friedrich Weber. In 1922 the Bund Oberland had a few hundred members. Until November 1923 in Bavaria were around 2000 members. Amongst them were many students, employees, members of free professions, and also some workers. Most of the military leaders were young former officers, who studied meanwhile. Most of the members were between 20 and 30 years old and had the experience of fighting either in the
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
or in the fights in Bavaria, Ruhr area or in Upper Silesia. They had enough weapons, however many weapons of the Bund were stored and maintained by the
Reichswehr ''Reichswehr'' () was the official name of the German armed forces during the Weimar Republic and the first years of the Third Reich. After Germany was defeated in World War I, the Imperial German Army () was dissolved in order to be reshaped ...
. Maybe the Bund was supported by the father-in-law of Friedrich Weber, national publisher Julius Friedrich Lehmann. Under the guidance of Weber Bund Oberland approached continuously to the radical people under
Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Nazi Germany, Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his death in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the le ...
and
Ernst Röhm Ernst Julius Günther Röhm (; 28 November 1887 – 1 July 1934) was a German military officer and an early member of the Nazi Party. As one of the members of its predecessor, the German Workers' Party, he was a close friend and early ally ...
. Together with the "Wehrverband Reichsflagge" and the SA the Bund formed in January 1923 the "Arbeitsgemeinschaft vaterländischer Kampfverbände". In September 1923 they joined together with the
Nazi Party The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party (german: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP), was a far-right politics, far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that crea ...
and more national organizations the "Deutscher Kampfbund". From 25 September 1923, the Kampfbund was guided by
Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Nazi Germany, Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his death in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the le ...
.


Beer Hall Putsch

On 8 November 1923 the Bund activated many members and participated actively in the
Hitlerputsch The Beer Hall Putsch, also known as the Munich Putsch,Dan Moorhouse, ed schoolshistory.org.uk, accessed 2008-05-31.Known in German as the or was a failed coup d'état by Nazi Party ( or NSDAP) leader Adolf Hitler, Erich Ludendorff and oth ...
. Members of the Bund, led by Ludwig Oestreicher took Jewish people as hostages. Because of his participation in the coup attempt the ''Bund Oberland e. V.'' first was forbidden in Bavaria and at the end of 1923 all over Germany. By act of
Gustav Ritter von Kahr Gustav Ritter von Kahr (; born Gustav Kahr; 29 November 1862 – 30 June 1934) was a German right-wing politician, active in the state of Bavaria. He helped turn post–World War I Bavaria into Germany's center of radical-nationalism but was the ...
the Bund Oberland was dissolved on 9 November 1923. Weber was sent to prison the same day and later accused in the Hitler-Process and sentenced to five years in prison. Former members of the Bund co-worked with extreme right terror organization
Organisation Consul Organisation Consul (O.C.) was an ultra-nationalist and anti-Semitic terrorist organization that operated in the Weimar Republic from 1920 to 1922. It was formed by members of the disbanded Freikorps group Marine Brigade Ehrhardt and was respons ...
. On 9. Januar 1924 they killed in French-occupied palatine separatism leader
Franz Josef Heinz Franz Josef Heinz, known as Heinz-Orbis, (25 February 1884 - 9 January 1924) was a Palatine separatist who briefly led the government of the "Autonomous Palatinate" during the French occupation of the Rhineland. He was assassinated by German natio ...
.


Reestablishment 1925

After the end of the ban, the Bund was re-established in February 1925. By 1930 there were differences, namely because the strong Austrian branch accepted the leadership of the Austrofascist
Ernst Rüdiger Starhemberg Prince Ernst Rüdiger Camillo von Starhemberg, often known simply as Prince Starhemberg, (Eferding, 10 May 1899 – Schruns, 15 March 1956) was an Austrian nationalist and politician who helped introduce austrofascism and install a clerical fas ...
, whose specifically Austrian brand of Fascism was in marked rivalry and contradiction to the Pan-German Fascism of Hitler and the Nazis.


Postwar

After the War, in 1951, the old fighters gathered around Ernst Horadam and founded the still-existing tradition community ''Kameradschaft Freikorps und Bund Oberland''. Some authors think of it is an extreme right organization.Oliver Schröm, Andrea Röpke: ''Stille Hilfe für braune Kameraden'', S. 180f; Andreas Angerstorf: ''Rechte Strukturen in Bayern 2005'' As late as 2006, a church service took place in
Schliersee Schliersee is a small town (Markt) and a municipality in the district of Miesbach in Bavaria in Germany. It is named after the nearby Lake Schliersee. It comprises the districts Schliersee (town), , , , Josefsthal and Spitzingsee. Among the poi ...
to commemorate the members of the Freikorps killed in 1921. According to a statement of the president of
Landsmannschaft Schlesien The Landsmannschaft Schlesien - Nieder- und Oberschlesien e.V. ("Territorial Association of Silesia - Lower and Upper Silesia", "Homeland Association of Silesia - Lower and Upper Silesia") is an organization of Germans born in the former Prussian pr ...
the event was regularly monitored by the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution.SPD-Kreisvorsitzender fordert Distanzierung vom Dritten Reich
In: ''
Münchner Merkur The ''Münchner Merkur'' (, literally "Munich Mercurius", i.e. the Roman god of messengers) is a German Bavarian daily subscription newspaper, which is published from Monday to Saturday. It is located in Munich and belongs to the Müncher Merkur ...
'', 21. Mai 2005 Since 2007 the commemorate became much smaller.


Members

* Friedrich Weber, (1892-1954) head of veterinary surgery in Germany, also the group's leader *
Richard Arauner Richard Arauner (19 April 1902 in Solnhofen – 1 November 1936 near Tabarz) was an ''Oberführer'' in the ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) and agricultural functionary. Richard Arauner was born into an Evangelical quarry owner family and completed his far ...
, (1902-1936)''SS-Oberführer'' *
Karl Astel Karl Astel (26 February 1898 – 4 April 1945) was an Alter Kämpfer, rector of the University of Jena, a racial scientist, and also involved in the German Nazi Eugenics program. He was born on 26 February 1898 in Schweinfurt.Uwe Hossfeld: ...
(1898-1945), Nazi eugenics *
Eleonore Baur Eleonore Baur (7 September 1885 – 18 May 1981), also known as Sister Pia, was a senior Nazi Party figure and the only woman known to have participated in the Munich Beer Hall Putsch.''The Adelaide Advertiser'', "Pioneer Nazi", 2 September ...
, (1885-1981)''SS-Oberführer'' in
KZ Dachau , , commandant = List of commandants , known for = , location = Upper Bavaria, Southern Germany , built by = Germany , operated by = ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) , original use = Political prison , construction ...
*
Albert Ritter von Beckh Albert may refer to: Companies * Albert (supermarket), a supermarket chain in the Czech Republic * Albert Heijn, a supermarket chain in the Netherlands * Albert Market, a street market in The Gambia * Albert Productions, a record label * Alber ...
, ''SS-Gruppenführer'' *Kurt Benson, ''SS-Oberführer'' *
Josef Dietrich Josef "Sepp" Dietrich (28 May 1892 – 21 April 1966) was a German politician and SS commander during the Nazi era. He joined the Nazi Party in 1928 and was elected to the Reichstag of the Weimar Republic in 1930. Prior to 1929, Dietrich was ...
, (1892-1966), ''SS-Oberstgruppenführer'' and ''Generaloberst der Waffen-SS'' * Hans Dorn, ''SS-Sturmbannführer'', Commanding Suppily Officer Dachau Concentration Camp 1934-1936 *
Fritz Fischer Fritz Fischer (5 March 1908 – 1 December 1999) was a German historian best known for his analysis of the causes of World War I. In the early 1960s Fischer advanced the controversial thesis at the time that responsibility for the outbreak of the ...
, (1908-1999), historian, SA- and NSDAP-member *
Karl Gebhardt Karl Franz Gebhardt (23 November 1897 – 2 June 1948) was a German medical doctor and a war criminal during World War II. He served as Medical Superintendent of the Hohenlychen Sanatorium, Consulting Surgeon of the ''Waffen-SS'', Chief Surgeon in ...
, (1897-1948),''SS-Gruppenführer'', physician in
Ravensbrück concentration camp Ravensbrück () was a German concentration camp exclusively for women from 1939 to 1945, located in northern Germany, north of Berlin at a site near the village of Ravensbrück (part of Fürstenberg/Havel). The camp memorial's estimated figure o ...
* Franz Gutsmiedl, ''Reichstag'' delegate *
Wilhelm Harster Wilhelm Harster (21 July 1904 – 25 December 1991) was a German policeman and war criminal. A high-ranking member in the Schutzstaffel, SS and a Holocaust perpetrator during the Nazi era, he was twice convicted for his crimes by the Netherlands a ...
, (1904-1991), ''SS-Brigadeführer'' * Franz Hayler, (1900-1972), ''SS-Gruppenführer'' * Richard Hildebrandt, ''SS-Obergruppenführer'' *
Heinrich Himmler Heinrich Luitpold Himmler (; 7 October 1900 – 23 May 1945) was of the (Protection Squadron; SS), and a leading member of the Nazi Party of Germany. Himmler was one of the most powerful men in Nazi Germany and a main architect of th ...
, (1900-1945), ''Reichsführer'' SS and Chef of German Police *
Hans Hinkel Hans Hinkel (22 June 1901 – 8 February 1960) was a German journalist and ministerial official in Nazi Germany. He studied at the University of Bonn, where he was a member of the academic fencing fraternity ''Sugambria''. Hinkel had served in t ...
, (1901-1960),''SS-Gruppenführe'', ''Reichstag'' delegate * Ernst Horadam, ''SA-Obersturmbannführer'' * Max Humps, ''SS-Oberführer'' *
Friedrich Gustav Jaeger Friedrich Gustav Jaeger (25 September 1895 – 21 August 1944) was a resistance fighter in Nazi Germany and a member of the 20 July Plot. Resistance activities In 1938, after the Sudeten Crisis, Jaeger took part in the German invasion of Czecho ...
, (1895-1944), Officer and resistance leader in
20 July plot On 20 July 1944, Claus von Stauffenberg and other conspirators attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler, Führer of Nazi Germany, inside his Wolf's Lair field headquarters near Rastenburg, East Prussia, now Kętrzyn, in present-day Poland. The ...
* Rudolf Jordan, (1902-1988), ''SA-Obergruppenführer'', ''Gauleiter'' of
Magdeburg Magdeburg (; nds, label=Low Saxon, Meideborg ) is the capital and second-largest city of the German state Saxony-Anhalt. The city is situated at the Elbe river. Otto I, the first Holy Roman Emperor and founder of the Archdiocese of Magdebur ...
* Gerhard Krüger, (1908-1994), student leader *
Max Lebsche Max or MAX may refer to: Animals * Max (dog) (1983–2013), at one time purported to be the world's oldest living dog * Max (English Springer Spaniel), the first pet dog to win the PDSA Order of Merit (animal equivalent of OBE) * Max (gorilla) (1 ...
, physician, opponent of the Nazi regime *
Emil Maurice Emil Maurice (; 19 January 1897 – 6 February 1972) was an early member of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party) and a founding member of the ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS). He was Hitler's first personal chauffeur, and was one of ...
, (1897-1972), ''SS-Standartenführer'' * Carl von Oberkamp, ''SS-Brigadeführer'' and ''Generalmajor der Waffen-SS'' * Ludwig Oestreicher * Maximilian du Prel, Baron, Nazi author and press chief of the
General Government The General Government (german: Generalgouvernement, pl, Generalne Gubernatorstwo, uk, Генеральна губернія), also referred to as the General Governorate for the Occupied Polish Region (german: Generalgouvernement für die be ...
in occupied
Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...
*
Heinz Reinefarth Heinz Reinefarth (26 December 1903 – 7 May 1979) was a German SS commander during World War II and government official in West Germany after the war. During the Warsaw Uprising of August 1944 his troops committed numerous atrocities. After t ...
, (1903-1979), ''SS-Gruppenführer'' and ''Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS'', war criminal *
Arthur Rödl Arthur Rödl (13 June 1898 – 5 April 1945) was a German '' Standartenführer'' (Colonel) in the Waffen-SS and a Nazi concentration camp commandant. Rödl was born into a Catholic family. His father worked as a messenger and his mother ran a n ...
, (1898-1945), ''SS-Obersturmbannführer'' and commandant of
Gross-Rosen concentration camp , known for = , location = , built by = , operated by = , commandant = , original use = , construction = , in operation = Summer of 1940 – 14 February 1945 , gas cham ...
* Josef Römer, (1892-1944), Jurist, staff officer, later a communist and resistance member *
Arnold Ruge Arnold Ruge (13 September 1802 – 31 December 1880) was a German philosopher and political writer. He was the older brother of Ludwig Ruge. Studies in university and prison Born in Bergen auf Rügen, he studied in Halle, Jena and Heidelberg. ...
, university teacher * Ludwig Schmuck, ''SA-Gruppenführer'' *
Fritz von Scholz Fritz von Scholz (9 December 1896 – 28 July 1944) was a high-ranking member of the Waffen-SS during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords of Nazi Germany. Career Born in 1896, Fritz vo ...
, (1896-1944), ''SS-Gruppenführer'' and ''Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS'' *
Ernst Rüdiger Starhemberg Prince Ernst Rüdiger Camillo von Starhemberg, often known simply as Prince Starhemberg, (Eferding, 10 May 1899 – Schruns, 15 March 1956) was an Austrian nationalist and politician who helped introduce austrofascism and install a clerical fas ...
, (1899-1956), Austrofascist politician, opponent of the Nazi regime *
Bodo Uhse Bodo Uhse (12 March 1904 in Rastatt, Grand Duchy of Baden – 2 July 1963 in Berlin) was a German writer, journalist and political activist. He was recognised as one of the most prominent authors in East Germany. Early years Uhse came from a ...
, (1904-1963), writer, Nazi supporter but later a communist *
Hilmar Wäckerle Hilmar Wäckerle (24 November 1899 – 2 July 1941) was a commander in the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was the first commandant of Dachau concentration camp. War service The son of a Munich notary public, Wäckerle was sent t ...
,(1899-1941), ''SS-Standartenführer'' and commandant of
Dachau concentration camp , , commandant = List of commandants , known for = , location = Upper Bavaria, Southern Germany , built by = Germany , operated by = ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) , original use = Political prison , construction ...


Literature

*Hans Fenske: ''Konservativismus und Rechtsradikalismus in Bayern nach 1918.'' Verlag Gehlen, 1969 *Kameradschaft Freikorps und Bund Oberland: ''Bildchronik zur Geschichte des Freikorps und Bundes Oberland''. München 1974 *Peter Schuster: ''Für das stolze Edelweiß'', Brienna, Achau, 1995. *Oliver Schröm, Andrea Röpke: ''Stille Hilfe für braune Kameraden''. Ch. Links Verlag, Berlin 2001, *Andreas Angerstorf: ''Rechte Strukturen in Bayern 2005'', Bayernforum,


References


External links

*Christoph Hübner, Bund Oberland, i
Historisches Lexikon Bayerns
mit Bildern
Infoseite zum Freikorps und den Gegenveranstaltungen„Kennzeichen Edelweiß“
Artikel aus der Wochenzeitschrift " Freitag (Zeitung)"
Als "Patrioten" pflegen sie stolz den unseligen Geist
"Artikel aus
Süddeutsche Zeitung The ''Süddeutsche Zeitung'' (; ), published in Munich, Bavaria, is one of the largest daily newspapers in Germany. The tone of SZ is mainly described as centre-left, liberal, social-liberal, progressive-liberal, and social-democrat. History ...
"
Magnus Bosch: Heldengedenken im Zeichen des Edelweiß - Artikel aus dem Magazin "Hinterland"
{{Authority control Oberland Paramilitary organisations of the Weimar Republic Military units and formations established in 1919 1919 establishments in Germany Military units and formations disestablished in 1923 1923 disestablishments in Germany Military units and formations established in 1925 1925 establishments in Germany Anti-communist organizations