Freikorps (, "Free
Corps") were
German volunteer units that existed from the 18th to the early 20th centuries, the members of which effectively fought as
mercenaries, regardless of their own nationality. In German-speaking countries the first so-called
Freikorps "free regiments" were formed in the 18th century from native volunteers, enemy renegades and deserters, and criminals. These sometimes exotically equipped units served as
infantry and
cavalry or, more rarely, as
artillery. Sometimes in just
company strength, sometimes in formations up to several thousand strong, there were also various mixed formations or legions. The Prussian
von Kleist Freikorps included infantry,
jäger,
dragoons and
hussars. The French
Volontaires de Saxe combined
uhlans and
dragoons.
