Freikorps Oberland

Bund Oberland (Nuremberg 1923)

The Freikorps Oberland ("Highlands Free Corps"; also Bund Oberland or Kameradschaft Freikorps und Bund Oberland) was a voluntary paramilitary organization that, in the early years of the Weimar Republic, fought against communist and Polish insurgents. It was successful in the 1921 Battle of Annaberg and became the core of the Sturmabteilung (SA) in Bavaria while several members later turned against the Nazis.

The group was founded in April 1919 by Rudolf von Sebottendorf, president of the Thule Society. The cabinet of Johannes Hoffmann (SPD) had fled from the Bavarian Soviet Republic to Bamberg. Major Albert Ritter von Beckh (1870–1958) then 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 the Thule Society, which also was against the Bavarian Soviet Republic.

In May 1919 the 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 Ruhr uprising. The Freikorps itself was dissolved on 21 October 1919. and all the members went to Organization Escherich.

In the Silesian Uprisings of 1921 the Freikorps was ready and participated in the conquest of the eponymous hill in Annaberg in Upper Silesia. The Bavarians of the Freikorps Oberland were characterized by atrocities towards prisoners of war and the Polish civilians.[1] The Freikorps also had a propaganda unit in Upper Silesia. It is believed to have ordered Feme murders and kidnappings.[2] It had close connections with radical right-wing organizations in Bavaria. The murderers of Matthias Erzberger, Heinrich Tillessen and Heinrich Schulz did not only belong to Organization Consul, but also to "Arbeitsgemeinschaft Oberland".(Committee Oberland).[3] Some members of Oberland were possibly involved with the murder of USPD politician Karl Gareis (1889–1921).[4]

  1. ^ Franciszek Hawranek, Aleksander Kwiatek; et al., eds. (1982). "Freikorps Oberland". Encyklopedia Powstań Śląskich (in Polish). Opole: Instytut Śląski w Opolu. p. 131. ISBN 978-83-89802-73-6.
  2. ^ Ulrike Claudia Hofman: Verräter verfallen der Feme! Fememorde in Bayern in den zwanziger Jahren. Böhlau, Köln 2000, S. 125.
  3. ^ Horst Möller: Die Weimarer Republik. Eine unvollendete Demokratie. dtv, München 2004, S. 152.
  4. ^ Ulrike Claudia Hofman: Verräter verfallen der Feme! Fememorde in Bayern in den zwanziger Jahren. Böhlau, Köln 2000, S. 118 f.