TheFreischar (German:[ˈfʁaɪ̯ˌʃaːɐ̯]ⓘ) was the German name given to anirregular,volunteer military unit that, unlikeregular orreservemilitary forces, participated in a war without the formal authorisation of one of thebelligerents, but on the instigation of a political party or an individual. AFreischar deployed against a foreign enemy was often called aFreikorps. The termFreischar has been commonly used in German-speaking Europe since 1848. The members of aFreischar were calledFreischärler (German:[ˈfʁaɪ̯ˌʃɛːɐ̯lɐ]ⓘ). As early as 1785Johann von Ewald published inKassel hisEssay on Partisan Warfare (German:Abhandlung über den kleinen Krieg), which described his experiences with the rebels in theNorth American colonies.
TheHague Convention of 1907 distinguished betweenmilitia, volunteer corps and members of the regular armed forces. According to the then ruling legal principle, volunteers did not have to be brought before a court. They could be sentenced by acourt martial and executed. A historic example is the execution of theofficers of theFreischar ofFerdinand von Schill in 1809.
This legal situation changed with the signing of theGeneva Convention.Freischärler were givencombatant status if they had an organisational structure, a fixed distinctive emblem recognizable at a distance, carried arms openly and conducted their operations in accordance with thelaws and customs of war. They also had a right to humane treatment and a fair trial.
Freischaren were deployed:
In conservative circles the term was often used in a hostile and derogatory fashion, but it achieved great popularity in 1848. There was even a cultural magazine,Der Freischärler.
Units and formations of republicanFreischars in theBaden Revolution of April 1848:
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