Potsdam regiment

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The Potsdam Regiment , also known as the Freikorps Potsdam or Freiwilligen- Regiment Potsdam , was set up at the end of 1918 by Major Franz von Stephani from returning front units. In January 1919, the regiment was called in to suppress the Spartakus uprising in Berlin and on January 10, 1919, 560 men entered Berlin, where it stormed the forward editorial office, occupied by Spartacists , after five parliamentarians had met the conditions for the surrender should negotiate, were mistreated and then murdered in cold blood. A sixth parliamentarian was sent back into the building to deliver the demand for unconditional surrender. After this requirement was not met, the Freikorps stormed the building.

When the Vorwärts were stormed, 300 prisoners were taken, none of whom were killed. To find out what he should do with them, Stephani called the Reich Chancellery and received the answer from “Commander-in-Chief of the Government Troops” Gustav Noske ( SPD ): “Shoot everyone!” He refused to carry out this order. The losses that day were seven dead and eleven wounded at the Freikorps Potsdam.

Known members

literature

  • Patrick Neuhaus: The Freikorps Potsdam and the January battles in Berlin 1919 . In: Series of publications by the association “Militärmuseum Brandenburg-Preußen e. V. “ 5, 1, 2009, ZDB -ID 2194013-7 , pp. 11-14.
  • Gordon A. Craig : German History 1866-1945. From the North German Confederation to the end of the Third Reich . Beck, Munich 1999, ISBN 3-406-42106-7 ( Beck'sche Reihe 1306), pp. 427-468: Chapter XI: From Kiel to Kapp. The unsuccessful revolution 1918–1920 .
  • Arne Becker: The "Freikorps Potsdam" and its badge : In: medals and decorations. Das Magazin für Freunde der Phaleristik , Ed .: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ordenskunde , Issue 104, Volume 18, Gäufelden 2016. ISSN 1438-3772.