German Student Corps

Corps (or Korps; "''das ~''" ('' n''), (''sg.''), (''pl.'')) are the oldest still-existing kind of ''Studentenverbindung'', Germany's traditional university corporations; their roots date back to the 15th century. The oldest corps still existing today was founded in 1789. Its members are referred to as corps students (''Corpsstudenten''). The corps belong to the tradition of student fraternities which wear couleur and practice academic fencing.

The corps are organized in two federations, the ''Kösener Senioren-Convents-Verband'' (''KSCV'') and the ''Weinheimer Senioren-Convent'' (''WSC''). Together, they comprise 162 Corps throughout Germany, Austria, Belgium, Estonia, Latvia, Hungary, Switzerland and Lithuania.

The German Student Corps were traditionally recruited from the nobility, royalty, and social elite, and are traditionally viewed as more aristocratic and elitist than other German student fraternities such as the Catholic Cartellverband and the Burschenschaften. They consider tolerance and individuality to be key tenets and are rooted in German idealism. By and large, they are generally conservative in political outlook, but less right-wing and less nationalist than the Burschenschaften. The corps are open to students of all nationalities and religions, unlike many other student fraternities. Although distinct, the corps are in some aspects similar to and serve many of the same purposes as college fraternities found in the United States.

Characterization

Corps are built upon the principle of tolerance: No corps may endorse a certain political, scientific, or religious viewpoint. In addition, all members are solely chosen by their personal character. Neither national, ethnic, nor social provenance play a role.

''Corpsstudenten'' (corps students) wear ''couleur'' (colored stripes and caps) and practice '' Mensuren'', academic fencing with razor-sharp blades that can result in bleeding face wounds, '' Schmisse''. The corps usually bear names that reflect their former origin from certain German regions, such as ''Saxonia'' (Saxony) or ''Guestphalia'' (Westphalia). Formerly, when a distance of a few hundred kilometres between a student's home town and his university meant weeks of travel, students from the same part of Germany traveled together and formed some kind of "new family". The distance, plus the fact that they carried the money for a complete semester with them in a bag, might also explain why students began fencing, simply for self-defense, for students, military officers, and aristocrats were the only people allowed to carry arms.

Like all ''Studentenverbindungen'', corps consist of two bodies: The active part consists of all members, that still study and have duties for the fraternity, and the so-called ''Altherrenschaft'' (alumni organization), comprising all those who graduated and thus provide the bear share of the monetary stimulus for the fraternity. A fundamental idea is that older students should help their younger fellows, and this principle dominates the relationship between the two bodies. The former keeps the everyday business of the corps alive, organizes gatherings, and keeps the ''Corpshaus'' (Corps House) in order. The ''Altherrenschaft'', graduates with regular incomes, provide financial support. This usually means quite cheap housing for the younger members among other things. The ''Altherrenschaft'' has the power to intervene in the business of the active members, typically to ensure the principles and spirit of their corps.

The active body is headed by a panel of three ''Chargierte'' (charged persons), who are elected by all active, full members at the beginning of each semester (or at the end of the former one). Their functions are called ''Senior'', ''Consenior'' and ''Drittchargierter'' (meaning ''third charged person'', also named ''Subsenior'' in some corps).:
*The ''Senior'' is responsible for all corps affairs in general, but leading and heading gatherings and events in special; he supplements his signature with a single cross (x) (in some corps with three crosses (xxx)) as an external sign of his duties.
*The ''Consenior'' teaches fencing to all members of the inner corps and assures the execution of the Mensuren in coordination with the Conseniors of other corps; his signature is enhanced by two crosses (xx).
*The ''Drittchargierter'' (also known as ''Sekretär'', Secretary) has administrative tasks like paperwork and often the task of a treasurer; his sign is three crosses (xxx) (in some corps one cross (x)).

Being the oldest of their kind, the corps tend to treat all other forms of German Studentenverbindungen with contempt; corps despise all posturing and affectation (e.g. the overly use of Latinisms) that other kinds of ''Studentenverbindungen'', esp. Catholic corporations and Burschenschaften show.

Even with the principle of tolerance being a central aspect in each corps' self-image, every corps student is urged to develop his own viewpoints, to stand for them and to strongly participate in society, whether in politics, economy, or social affairs. This encouragement for ethics and self-confidence on one hand, and the absence of a limitation to certain views on the other, let Corps students often show up as the leading figures of the most diverse political directions. The emphasis on individuality brought many corps students in opposition to totalitarian regimes, such as the National Socialist dictatorship.

The Weinheimer Student Corps also maintain a confederation with Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, a college Fraternity with over 270 chapters in the United States and Canada.

History

The Corps sprang from the older ''Landsmannschaft''. The name Corps came into use in 1810 at the University of Heidelberg and soon displaced the older name of ''Landsmannschaft'' at all the universities. The oldest still active Corps are the 1789 founded Guestphalia at the University of Halle, the 1798 founded Onoldia at the University of Erlangen who are both members of the KSCV and as a member of the WSC the Saxo-Montania founded also 1798 at the Bergakademie Freiberg today at the RWTH Aachen University. After the Carlsbad Decrees of 1819, the Corps were exposed to harsh persecution by university and state officials just like their rivals as at the universities in Germany the Burschenschaften. After 1848, they were officially approved.

A selection of famous Corps students

Politics

* Sir William Beale, 1st Baronet, M.P. Ayrshire, Corps Rhenania Heidelberg
* Otto von Bismarck, Chancellor of Prussia, later of the German Empire, "architect" of Germany's unification, Corps Hannovera Göttingen
*Max von Forckenbeck, German politician, founder of the German Progress Party and National Liberal Party, mayor of Berlin and President of the Reichstag, Corps Teutonia Giessen
*Ulrich von Hassell, German ambassador in Belgrade and Rome, resistance fighter in Nazi Germany, executed by the Nazis after the failed July 20 Plot, Corps Suevia Tübingen
*Friedrich Hecker, German revolutionary, Corps Rhenania Heidelberg
*Wilhelm Liebknecht

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