Free Corps

thumb|Two soldiers of an Habsburg monarchy|Austrian Freikorps ([[David Morier, 1748)]] '''' (, "Free Corps" or "Volunteer Corps") were irregular German and other European paramilitary volunteer units that existed from the 18th to the early 20th centuries. They effectively served as mercenaries or private military companies, regardless of their own nationality. In German-speaking countries, the first so-called ("free regiments", Freie Regimenter) were formed in the 18th century from native volunteers, enemy renegades, and deserters. These sometimes exotically equipped units served as infantry and cavalry (or, more rarely, as artillery); sometimes in just company strength and sometimes in formations of up to several thousand strong. There were also various mixed formations or legions. The Prussian included infantry, jäger, dragoons and hussars. The French Volontaires de Saxe'' combined uhlans and dragoons.

In the aftermath of World War I and during the German Revolution of 1918–19, , composed in part of World War I veterans, were raised as paramilitary militias. They were ostensibly mustered to fight on behalf of the government against the German communists attempting to overthrow the Weimar Republic. However, many also largely despised the Republic and were involved in assassinations of its supporters, later aiding the Nazis in their rise to power.