Germanic Legion
Encyclopedia
The Germanic Legion was a military unit of the French Revolutionary Wars
, theoretically made up of German volunteers fighting under French command. It was set up in September 1792 and dissolved on 22 June 1793.
German volunteers was born in summer 1792. It was most probably the example of the légion des Belges
and légion des Liégeois unis
which gave the Prussian Anachasis Cloots and Saxon Saiffert, both resident in Paris, the idea of such a Legion, at first to be called a Prussian Legion then a Vandal Legion. It rapidly hit recruitment problems, however, since there few expatriate Germans in France were in favour of the Revolution. Cloots thus had the idea of recruiting deserters from the Austrian and Prussian armies. A decree of the Legislative Assembly
of August 1792 granted such deserters a pension for life of 100 livres should they join the unit. Cloots and his military adjutants colonels Dambach and van Hayden, however, felt the Germanic Legion must not just become a refuge for deserters but the "core of future German liberty". Saiffert composed a hymn with the chorus "Arise ye oppressed people; stand up, you who speak the same language, be free like the French" ("Lève-toi peuple opprimé ; debout, vous qui parlez la même langue, soyez libres comme les Français").
A "capitulation" (ie a treaty) was concluded by the future legion's leaders and the Minister for War
, stipulating that the Legion would never be deployed against Austrian or German troops and that that no Frenchman would be accepted into it. The Legion's existence was officialised by a law of 4 September 1792, but the capitulation was very soon violated, with Frenchman being admitted into the Legion (mainly Germanophone Alsatians
and Lorrainians
). Marceau and Augereau also served in it.
At first used to re-establish order in the Chartres
region, it was then sent to the Ardennes
front, again breaching the capitulation. After the outbreak of the War in the Vendée, the Legion was deployed to Western France, where it carried out the fusillades de Nantes. At the same moment its leaders were accused of "despotism" and certain officers such as Marceau were relieved by the représentants en mission
to the Vendée. More and more members of the Legion switched to the vendéen side and the legion was finally disbanded on 22 June 1793, with its members redistributed into French units.
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
, theoretically made up of German volunteers fighting under French command. It was set up in September 1792 and dissolved on 22 June 1793.
History
The idea of forming an army corps from pro-RevolutionaryFrench Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
German volunteers was born in summer 1792. It was most probably the example of the légion des Belges
Belgian Legion
Several military units have been known as the Belgian Legion:-French Revolution:The first Belgian and liégeois legions were formed in 1792 from volunteers who had come to serve the First French Republic from the Austrian Netherlands and Principality of Liège respectively...
and légion des Liégeois unis
Belgian Legion
Several military units have been known as the Belgian Legion:-French Revolution:The first Belgian and liégeois legions were formed in 1792 from volunteers who had come to serve the First French Republic from the Austrian Netherlands and Principality of Liège respectively...
which gave the Prussian Anachasis Cloots and Saxon Saiffert, both resident in Paris, the idea of such a Legion, at first to be called a Prussian Legion then a Vandal Legion. It rapidly hit recruitment problems, however, since there few expatriate Germans in France were in favour of the Revolution. Cloots thus had the idea of recruiting deserters from the Austrian and Prussian armies. A decree of the Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly (France)
During the French Revolution, the Legislative Assembly was the legislature of France from 1 October 1791 to September 1792. It provided the focus of political debate and revolutionary law-making between the periods of the National Constituent Assembly and of the National Convention.The Legislative...
of August 1792 granted such deserters a pension for life of 100 livres should they join the unit. Cloots and his military adjutants colonels Dambach and van Hayden, however, felt the Germanic Legion must not just become a refuge for deserters but the "core of future German liberty". Saiffert composed a hymn with the chorus "Arise ye oppressed people; stand up, you who speak the same language, be free like the French" ("Lève-toi peuple opprimé ; debout, vous qui parlez la même langue, soyez libres comme les Français").
A "capitulation" (ie a treaty) was concluded by the future legion's leaders and the Minister for War
Minister of Defence (France)
The Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs is the French government cabinet member charged with running the military of France....
, stipulating that the Legion would never be deployed against Austrian or German troops and that that no Frenchman would be accepted into it. The Legion's existence was officialised by a law of 4 September 1792, but the capitulation was very soon violated, with Frenchman being admitted into the Legion (mainly Germanophone Alsatians
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
and Lorrainians
Lorraine (province)
The Duchy of Upper Lorraine was an historical duchy roughly corresponding with the present-day northeastern Lorraine region of France, including parts of modern Luxembourg and Germany. The main cities were Metz, Verdun, and the historic capital Nancy....
). Marceau and Augereau also served in it.
At first used to re-establish order in the Chartres
Chartres
Chartres is a commune and capital of the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France. It is located southwest of Paris.-Geography:Chartres is built on the left bank of the Eure River, on a hill crowned by its famous cathedral, the spires of which are a landmark in the surrounding country...
region, it was then sent to the Ardennes
Ardennes
The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests, rolling hills and ridges formed within the Givetian Ardennes mountain range, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France , and geologically into the Eifel...
front, again breaching the capitulation. After the outbreak of the War in the Vendée, the Legion was deployed to Western France, where it carried out the fusillades de Nantes. At the same moment its leaders were accused of "despotism" and certain officers such as Marceau were relieved by the représentants en mission
Représentant en mission
During the French Revolution, a représentant en mission was an extraordinary envoy of the Legislative Assembly...
to the Vendée. More and more members of the Legion switched to the vendéen side and the legion was finally disbanded on 22 June 1793, with its members redistributed into French units.