Freikorps Postcards

[Brian L.]

Maybe some people will post their Freikorps postcards.

I'll start off with just one that I received today. Sometimes you still find sleepers on eBay.

This is a member of Detachment Grothe, a small unit that was part of Freikorps Hülsen.

The collar badge consisted of a narrow EK ribbon (the type used for ribbon bars) mounted behind the Freikorps Hülsen oakleaf collar badges. Note also that he wears the MG sleeve badge but with a black cloth backing. It was the style of Freikorps units who continued to wear the MG sharpshoorter badge to mount it with a black backing, instead of field gray as was the custom during the war. Some wore a reduced size version of the MG badge and based on the one seen in the photo, it appears he's wearing one of these.

[Brian L.]

This is actually a 13.5x18.5 cm photo, dated October 1919.

A soldier of Freikorps Epp in Front of an armoured car, marked "Bay Schütz Brig 21". At the time of this photo, October 1919, Freikorps Epp, which had become Reichswehr-Brigade 21 in June 1919 merged with Reichswehr-Brigade 22 to form Reichswehr-Brigade 21 in the Übergangsheer (Transition Army).

I particularly like his mountaineering boots and wool socks. reminiscent of the Alpenkorps in WWI.

[Brian L.]

The Drum and Bugle Corps of Reichswehr-Schützen-Regiment 41, Reichswehr-Brigade 21, Übergangsheer (Freikorps Epp) probably around April / May, 1920.

Note the M18 helmet with the large, angled white/light blue Bavarian Shield painted on the side.

They're also wearing the mountaineering socks and boots, a particular style adopted by Freikorps Epp and carried over to the transitional army.

[Brian L.]

An NCO in Deutsche Schutzdivision.

[Brian L.]

Fahnenjunker Unteroffizier Kurt Meiling, Freikorps von Eulenburg

[Brian L.]

1. Garde-Reserve-Division

[Brian L.]

Hindenburg visiting one of the two Freikorps named after him. I don't think he ever smiled.

Freiwilligen Garde-Grenadier Bataillon, Freikorps Feldmarschall von Hindenburg.

The unit badge, likely made by Juncker was a silvered 'H' inside a silvered wreath (same wreath as on Prussian pilot's badge, minus the imperial crown). You can see the badge on the sleeve of the man in front, at the extreme left. The unit also wore oakleaves with an 'H' on them on the collar.

[Brian L.]

3. (III.) Marine-Brigade von Loewenfeld

[Brian L.]

Freikorps Lützow

[Brian L.]

A new PK. Scarce Freikorps unit - part of 3. Marine-Brigade Loewenfeld.

4. Kompagnie, II. Bataillon, Marine Regiment 6.

They wore the collar badges of 3. Marine-Brigade Loewenfeld as well as their own unit arm badge - a bronze oval oak wreath enclosing crossed swords over an anchor with the letter 'M' superimposed on top.

The card is inscribed: "Zum Andenken an die Grenzwache an der polnische Grenze Oktober 1919" - In memory of the border watch on the Polish border, October 1919.

[Brian L.]

Another new PK.

Freiwilliges Landesschützenkorps (Roeder) / Freikorps Landesschützen

Served in Berlin and Bremen from January-June 1919.

He wears the Bremen Iron Roland badge for service against the Spartacists in Bremen.

[polux]

Hello Bolewts58,

Magnificent images which present badges and decorations rarely photographed, congratulations. Cordial greetings.

Polux

[Brian L.]

With the kind permission of Polux, here is his example of the rare armbadge seen in the picture below of the 4. Kompagnie, II. Bataillon, Marine Regiment 6., III. Marine-Brigade Loewenfeld.

[Brian L.]

1. MG S. S. Abteilung, II. Marine-Brigade "Ehrhardt", sometime in early 1920, prior to the Kapp Putsch. They wear the 2nd pattern arm badge inscribed "Ehrhardt" and the collar badges with a Stahlhelm in an oakleaf wreath similar to those worn by the Garde-Kavallerie-Schützen-Division, but without the initials GKSD.

Note, that many wear the MG badge with black backing; a popular affectation of Freikorps machine-gunners.

Also, several wear the square honor class of the unit inscribed: "Verdienst ums Vaterlands"

[Brian L.]

A couple of recent acquisitions.

1/ Schutztruppen-Regiment von Lettow-Vorbeck
Armshield with a lion on a Zulu shield with crossed spears.

2/ Freikorps Stever
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