Lützow Free Corps

The Lützow Free Corps ( _de. Lützowsches Freikorps) was a voluntary force of the Prussian army during the Napoleonic Wars. It was named after its commander, Ludwig Adolf Wilhelm von Lützow.

Origins

The unit was officially founded in February 1813 as "Königlich Preußisches Freikorps von Lützow" (Royal Prussian Free Corps von Lützow). It consisted mostly of students and academics fromall over Germany, who had volunteered to fight against Napoleon I of France. Because the Kingdom of Prussia already had problems financing and equipping its regular forces, the volunteers had to equip and supply themselves by their own means, as they were not paid wages. This led to adoption of black as the colour of the unit's uniforms, because this was the only colour that could be used to dye the civilian clothing; with all other colours the final outcome was influenced by the clothing's original tone, resulting in an unacceptable mix of colours for the corps as a whole. Red trim was chosen for the rank insignia. In addition, with brass buttons, the unit wore a black-red-gold color scheme, a combination that became associated with republican ideals.

Combat

The average size of the corps was 2,900 infantry, 600 cavalry and 120 artillery, varying throughout the war. It fought in many battles, operating first independently in the rear of the French troops, later as a regular unit in the allied armies.

After the peace of 1814 the corps was dissolved, the infantry becoming the 25th Regiment, the cavalry the 6th Ulans. After Napoleon's return from Elba, both regiments fought at Ligny and Waterloo during the Hundred Days.

Legacy

Despite its relative small size the corps became famous after the war, as it was the only unit in the army consisting of people from all over Germany. Also, it contained academics, writers and other well known people such as Karl Theodor Körner, Friedrich Friesen, Joseph von Eichendorff, and Friedrich Ludwig Jahn. In addition, two women, Eleonore Prochaska and Anna Lühring, had managed to join in disguise.

As many Lützow Free Corps veterans took part in the first Wartburg festival of 1817, demanding German unity and democratic reforms, their black-red-gold uniform color scheme became associated with republican ideals. During the Hambacher Fest of 1832 and Revolutions of 1848 in the German states, flags with these colours were used. This combination, reminiscent of the Holy Roman Empire, was selected as the official national colours of Germany, as the flag of Germany in 1919, and again in 1949.