Episode 429: Knights in Slavery's Service (trailer)

Parallels Between Free Corps and Historical Militant Groups

The discussion highlights the similarities between the Free Corps of post-World War I Germany and various other paramilitary groups, particularly in their operations against communist uprisings as well as their involvement in the Baltic regions. The Free Corps, consisting of demobilized German soldiers and reactionary elements, aimed to establish puppet governments in Eastern Europe but faced significant resistance from local national movements and Bolshevik factions. This historical context is mirrored in the activities of other militant groups, which sought to extend influence and control through force. The narrative suggests a shared theme of romanticizing defeat and a yearning for past glories, akin to the Southern mythos in the United States, yet culminating in far darker outcomes, particularly during the Holocaust.