Freikorps Epp
German Freikorps unit (1919–1920)
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Key Takeaways
- Freikorps Epp or Freikorps Ritter von Epp , also called the Bayerisches Schützenkorps was a paramilitary Freikorps of the Weimar Republic, which was raised in February 1919 by Franz Ritter von Epp to suppress the Bavarian Soviet Republic following the German revolution of 1918–1919.
- Notable members of the unit included Ernst Röhm, Rudolf Hess, Eduard Dietl, Hans Frank, Gregor Strasser and Otto Strasser.
- Epp was awarded the Military Order of Max Joseph for heroism displayed in 1916 and was ennobled with the title of Ritter by Wilhelm, German Crown Prince.
- Following the 1918 Armistice, the German Empire was dissolved after the declaration of the Weimar Republic which plunged much of Germany into the German revolution of 1918–1919.
- Freikorps were a way for the new republic to establish and maintain order during its early years.
Freikorps Epp or Freikorps Ritter von Epp, also called the Bayerisches Schützenkorps was a paramilitary Freikorps of the Weimar Republic, which was raised in February 1919 by Franz Ritter von Epp to suppress the Bavarian Soviet Republic following the German revolution of 1918–1919. The unit was absorbed into the Reichswehr, the armed forces of the republic, and was later used to suppress the Ruhr Red Army during the Ruhr uprising. Notable members of the unit included Ernst Röhm, Rudolf Hess, Eduard Dietl, Hans Frank, Gregor Strasser and Otto Strasser.
History
Franz Ritter von Epp was a career officer of the Imperial German Army who fought in the Herero Wars, the Boxer Rebellion, and World War I. Epp was awarded the Military Order of Max Joseph for heroism displayed in 1916 and was ennobled with the title of Ritter by Wilhelm, German Crown Prince. By 1918, Epp was promoted to the rank of Oberst and commanded the Royal Bavarian Life Guards.
Following the 1918 Armistice, the German Empire was dissolved after the declaration of the Weimar Republic which plunged much of Germany into the German revolution of 1918–1919. During this time, many Freikorps were created to suppress the numerous revolutionary outbreaks, which included the Spartacist uprising and the Bavarian Soviet Republic among others. Freikorps were a way for the new republic to establish and maintain order during its early years. They also demonstrated the ineptitude of the provisional Reichswehr and its inability to maintain law and order.
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