Freikorps

Freikorps were paramilitary groups in Germany composed mainly of former soldiers and volunteers formed after World War I. They emerged during the early 1920s to oppose communist uprisings and political unrest. These groups operated outside official government control, often using force to suppress leftist movements. While some viewed them as defenders of stability, others saw them as politically extreme and involved in violent activities. The Freikorps played a significant role in shaping post-war German politics, and many of their members later influenced or joined nationalist movements, including the early Nazi Party.