British officers with FreiKorps

German Freikorps, Reichsheer and Reichsmarine 1919-1934.
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adrian
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British officers with FreiKorps

Post by adrian »

I felt sorry for this forum so I posted! Also I wanted to be first at something!

Does anyone know what the Landsers etc etc felt about being commanded by their recent enemies? A number of quite well known offcers did time with Friekorps units such as Richard Alexander. Any others?

adrian
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Post by Rohrbach »

Hi Adrian,

This is the first that I have heard about British officers in Freikorps units. It is very surprising (and interesting) given the intensely nationalistic character of the Freikorps. You specifically mentioned Richard Alexander and alluded to a number of other well known officers. Can you tell us anymore about the FK unit in which Alexander served? What are the identities of the other British officers? I would like to read more about the British officers in the FK, can you recommend any reading materials?

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adrian
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First an apology!

Post by adrian »

My next door neighbour is Richard Alexander! I refer to HAROLD Alexander in my mindless ramblings. :?

Alexander (as in the General, not my neighbour!) commanded the Baltic Landeswehr (Latvia/East Prussia) composed of German and Latvian soldiers in the fighting against the Bolshevik Russians in 1919/20. He had a German CoS (Baron Rahden) and enjoyed great sucess whilst in command. Years later he managed to get a number of his former command into the US, away from the rather irate Russian Army!

What I'm curious about is the extent of this unofficial British involvement. Alexander was only technically an Advisor and observer. After all British troops were in action against the 'Reds' in Nth Russia at the same time so they were in a common setting.

Thanks for your time - I felt a right dill when I reread the post!

best regards,
adrian
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Post by Rohrbach »

Hi Adrian,

Given the context, I now understand where you were coming from in your initial post. Then Lt. Colonel Alexander took command of the Baltische Landeswehr in July 1919. The Baltische Landeswehr was created in November 1918 and was composed of Baltic Germans, Latvians, White Russians, and later Reich German volunteers (the Freikorps element). When Alexander took command, all the Reich Germans were purged from the Baltische Landeswehr. In answer to your original question, one might say that there was no reaction from the Landsers because there were no Landsers to have reactions... :D From what I have read, Alexander was the only British officer to have fought in the field in the Baltic states during that period.

In a strange twist, the officer who was forced to relinquish command of the Baltisches Landeswehr to Alexander, was a Prussian Major named Fletcher. He was of Scots-descent.

The British were fairly involved in the Baltic during 1919. British ships patrolled the region throughout the year. In the early spring they shelled Bolshevik positions. When the Freikorps unit under von Manteuffel attempted to overthrow the Latvian government under Ulmanis, Ulmanis and members of his cabinet sought refuge on British ships. During the summer, Rudiger von der Goltz , who was commander of the German forces, refused to leave Latvia and joined his forces with an anti-Bolshevik army under the command Paul Bermondt. In response, the British provided arms, munitions, and training for an expanded Latvian army. In October 1919, the British navy shelled the Bermondt/von der Goltz army when it attempted to capture Riga which was defended by Latvian forces.

An excellent book on the subject is Cowan's War by Geoffrey Bennett.

Rohrbach
Last edited by Rohrbach on Mon May 12, 2003 10:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
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adrian
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Cheers

Post by adrian »

G'day Rohrbach,
Thanks for your input on this little known subject of WW1's aftermath. The RN had Destroyers and Subs in the Baltic in 1919,but I dont think any capital units (BB,CA) found their way into those relatively confined waters. Its intersting that many assume the fighting just stopped in 1918. I'll have to have a bit more of a look on this subject!

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Post by Rohrbach »

Hi Adrian,

The RN had a fairly strong presence in the Baltic. According to the Appendix in Bennett's book, from November 1918 to December 1919 the the RN deployed the following in the Baltic:

Light Cruisers 23
Aircraft Carrier 1
Destroyers 85
Monitor 1
Minelayers 2
Minesweepers 18
Submarines 20
C.M.B.s 10
Depot Ships 4
Auxiliaries 74

From November 1918 up to June 30, 1919, the daily average number of RN vessels in the area was 29. From July 1, 1919, to December 31, 1919, the average was 88.

Given that all the turmoil and activity during the early period of the Weimar Republic set the stage for the rise of the Third Reich, it is surprising how little of it is generally remembered or studied today.

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adrian
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Quite a substantial foce!

Post by adrian »

I've read a few accounts of men serving on HM destroyers in Max Arthurs excellent 'True Glory:the Royal Navy 1914 - 1939'. Not only did they take part in bombardments but landing parties were put ashore by the RN in punitive actions as well. What the punishment was for escapes me at this point but its definelt an interesting period in history.

You refer to Bennets book - could you pass some info on so I can try and locate this tome?

Certainly strange that such a formative period in European history is so little covered in popular history!

best regards,
adrian
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Post by Rohrbach »

Hi Adrian,

The title and author are "Cowan's War: The Story of British Naval Operations in the Baltic, 1918-1920" by Geoffrey Bennett. It was published by Collins, London, in 1964. The book is now out of print, but you should be able to find a copy on-line or at a library.

Best Regards,

Rohrbach
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Thanks!

Post by adrian »

Cheers for this info - I know we've diverged from the original conversation but hey,I've learnt a few things!

best regards,
adrian :D
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Post by Shawn »

Rohrbach,

Great info! Does "Cowan's War" list the composition of the Allied naval squadron that bomarded the "Russian Army of the West" (Colonel Prince Pavel Mikhailovitch Avalov-Bermondt) during its attack on Riga in October 1919? I've read that the squadron included French ships and was commanded by a French admiral.

Thanks!
Shawn
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Post by Rohrbach »

Hi Shawn,

Unfortunately, there is no list in the book of the composition of the Allied naval squadron involved at Riga. Reading through the text, the author makes mention of French involvment with the destroy Garnier and the escort ships Abdiel, Aisne and Marne. It is not certain that these were the only French ships involved.

There is mention made in the appendices regarding some of the French ships that were on station in the Baltic area during 1919. These were the cruisers Gueydon and Montcalm; the destroyers Garnier and Lestin. A number (not further identified) of escort ships including Aisne, Ancre, Marne; and the torpedo gunboat Dunois. The total number of French warships in the area during 1919 was 26.

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Post by Shawn »

Again, great info! Thank you!

Regards,
Shawn
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Post by Wolf »

My Great Grandfather was in the Freikorps and was associated with Runge the Murdera of Rosa Luxomborg but died a year before the war ended.
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Post by Kaiser »

Hello all!
A little bit off topic maybe, but anyway it deals with Brittish-Baltic relations. A few days ago I read an article dealing with Estonian orders and decorations, it turns out that the first four awards of the Estonian Cross of Liberty were made to Britons who had aided the Estonian Independence struggle.

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Post by KampfgruppeMeyer »

I think Freikorps was SS. Am I wrong?
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