Corps ("das ~" (n), pronounced [koːr] (sg.), [koːrs] (pl.)) are the oldest still-existing kind of Studentenverbindung, Germany's traditional university corporations; their roots date back to the 15th century. The oldest today still existing corps was founded in 1789. Although distinct, the corps are in some aspects similar to and serve many of the same purposes of college fraternities found in the United States and to a lesser extent Canada. In linguistics, grammatical gender is a morphological category associated with the expression of gender through inflection or agreement. ... A Studentenverbindung (the umbrella term that includes the Burschenschaften, Landsmannschaften, Corps, Turnerschaften, Sängerschaften, Catholic Corporations, Wingolf and Ferialverbindungen) is a German student corporation somewhat comparable to fraternities in the US or Canada. ... Corporation refers to all different kinds of fraternities and sororities worldwide. ... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... For other uses, see College (disambiguation). ... While the term fraternity can be used to describe any number of social organizations, including the Lions Club and the Shriners, fraternities and sororities are most commonly known as social organizations of higher education students in the United States and Canada but there are fraternities in the whole world (for...

Characterization

Corps are built upon the principle of tolerance: No corps may endorse a certain political, scientific or religious viewpoint. In addition, all members are solely chosen by their personal character. Neither national, ethnic or social provenance play a role. It has been suggested that toleration be merged into this article or section. ...

Corpsstudenten (corps students) wear couleur (colored stripes and caps) and practice mensuren, academic fencing with razor-sharp blades that can result in bleeding face wounds, Schmisse. The corps are organized in two federations, the Kösener Senioren-Convents-Verband (KSCV) and the Weinheimer Senioren-Convent (WSC). Together, they comprise roughly 170 corps throughout Germany and Austria. The corps usually bear names that reflect their former origin from certain German regions, such as Saxonia (Saxony) or Guestphalia (Westphalia). Formerly, when a distance of a few hundred kilometres between a student's home town and his university meant weeks of travel, students from the same part of Germany traveled together and formed some kind of "new family". The distance, plus the fact that they carried the money for a complete semester with them in a bag, might also explain why students began fencing, simply for self defence, for students, military officers and aristocrats were the only people allowed to carry arms. Couleur (from french, in engl. ... Academic fencing or Mensur fencing is the traditional kind of fencing practiced by some student corporations (Studentenverbindungen) in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and recently to a minor extent in Latvia and Flanders as well. ... The Kösener Senioren-Convents-Verband (abbreviation: KSCV) is the oldest association of German and Austrian Studentenverbindungen. ... The Weinheimer Senioren-Convent (abbreviation: WSC) is the second oldest association of German Studentenverbindungen. ...

Like all Studentenverbindungen, corps consist of two bodies: The active part contains all members, that still study and have duties for the corps, and are not part of the Altherrenschaft, those who graduated. A fundamental idea is that older students should help their younger fellows, and this principle dominates the relationship between the two bodies. The former keeps the everyday business of the corps alive, organizes gatherings, keeps the Corpshaus (Corps House) in order. The Altherrenschaft, graduated students with regular income, provides a financial background. This usually means quite cheap housing for the younger members among other things. The Altherrenschaft has the power to intervene in the business of the active members, typically to ensure the principles and spirit of their corps.

The active body is headed by a panel of three chargierte (charged persons), who are elected by all active, full members at the beginning of each semester (or at the end of the former one). Their functions are called senior, consenior and drittchargierter (meaning third charged person, also named subsenior in some corps).:

• The senior is responsible for all corps affairs in general, but leading and heading gatherings and events in special; he supplements his signature with a single cross (x) (in some corps withs three crosses (xxx)) as an external sign of his duties.
• The consenior teaches fencing to all members of the inner corps and assures the execution of the mensuren in coordination with the conseniors of other corps; his signature is enhanced by two crosses (xx).
• The drittchargierter (also known as Sekretär, Secretary) has administrative tasks like paperwork and often the task of a treasurer; his sign is three crosses (xxx) (in some corps one cross (x)).

Being the oldest and noblest of their kind, the corps tend to treat all other forms of German studentenverbindung with contempt; corps despise all mannerism and affectedness (e.g. the overly use of Latinisms) that other kinds of studentenverbindung, esp. Catholic corporations and burschenschafts show. This does not mean, that they understand other corporations as their natural-born enemies. This might happen occasionally, but also vice versa. A Latinism is a word borrowed from Latin into another language, such as English. ... Wikisource has an original article from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica about: Burschenschaft German Burschenschaften (abbreviated: B! , plural: B!B! ) are a special type of Studentenverbindungen (student fraternities). ...

Even with the principle of tolerance being a central aspect in each corps' self-image, every corps student is urged to develop his own viewpoints and stand for them and to strongly participate in society, be it in politics, economy or social affairs. This encouragement for an ethical and self-confident behaviour on one side and the absence of a limitation to certain views on the other side let corps students often show up as the leading figures of the most diverse political directions. The emphasis on individuality brought many corps students in opposition to totalitarian regimes, such as the Third Reich. Totalitarianism is a term employed by some political scientists, especially those in the field of comparative politics, to describe modern regimes in which the state regulates nearly every aspect of public and private behavior. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ...

The Weinheimer Student Corps also maintain a confederation with Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, a college Fraternity with over 270 chapters in the United States and Canada. Tau Kappa Epsilon (ΤΚΕ or Teke, pronounced T-K-E or IPA: , as in teak wood) is a college fraternity founded on January 10th, 1899 at Illinois Wesleyan University with chapters in the USA, and Canada, and affiliation with a German fraternity system known as the Corps of the Weinheimer Senioren...

History

A selection of famous Corps students

Politics

• Otto von Bismarck, Chancellor of Prussia, later of the German Empire, "architect" of Germany's unification, Corps Hannovera Göttingen
• Ulrich von Hassell, German ambassador in Belgrade and Rome, resistance fighter in Nazi Germany, executed by the Nazis after the failed July 20 Plot
• Wilhelm Liebknecht, co-founder of the German social-democratic party, chief editor of the "Vorwärts"-Paper, Corps Hasso-Nassovia Marburg, Corps Rhenania Gießen
• Karl Marx, socialist author and theoretician, inventor of marxism, Corps Palatia Bonn
• Wilhelm II of Germany, Last German Kaiser, Corps Borussia Bonn

Bismarck redirects here. ... For other uses, see Prussia (disambiguation). ... For German colonial territories, see German Colonial Empire. ... Couleur of Corps Hannovera Göttingen Bismarck 1836 The Corps Hannovera Göttingen is one of the oldest German Student Corps, a Studentenverbindung or student corporation founded 18 January 1809 at the Georg August University of Göttingen. ... Ulrich von Hassell (born 12 November 1881 in Anklam; died 8 September 1944 in Berlin (executed) was a German diplomat and an opponent of the Third Reich involved in the July 20 plot. ... For other uses, see Belgrade (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Rome (disambiguation). ... Claus von Stauffenberg The July 20 Plot was an attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler, the dictator of Germany, on July 20, 1944. ... Wilhelm Liebknecht Wilhelm Liebknecht (March 29, 1826 - August 7, 1900) was a German social democrat, one of the founders of the SPD and father of Karl Liebknecht and Theodor Liebknecht. ... The Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD – Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands) is the second oldest political party of Germany still in existence and also one of the oldest and largest in the world, celebrating its 140th anniversary in 2003. ... , Marburg is a city in Hesse, Germany, on the Lahn river. ... theatre in Giessen Architecture in Giessen Giessen (German spelling Gießen) is a city in the German federal state (Bundesland) of Hesse, capital of both the Giessen district and the Giessen Administrative Region. ... Karl Heinrich Marx (May 5, 1818 – March 14, 1883) was a 19th century philosopher, political economist, and revolutionary. ... Marxism is both the theory and the political practice (that is, the praxis) derived from the work of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. ... Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. ... German Emperor Wilhelm (born Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albrecht, Prince of Prussia 27 January 1859–4 June 1941), was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia (de: Deutscher Kaiser und König von Preußen), ruling from 15 June 1888 to 9 November 1918. ... Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. ...

Sciences

• Alois Alzheimer, neurologist, Corps Franconia Würzburg
• Emil von Behring, physician, Nobel prize laureate, Corps Suevo-Borussia Hamburg
• Karl Ferdinand Braun, physicist, Nobel prize laureate, inventor of the cathode ray tube Corps Teutonia Marburg
• Alfred Brehm, naturalist and author (zoological encyclopedia Brehms Tierleben), Corps Saxonia Jena
• Justus von Liebig, chemist, founder of organic and agricultural chemistry, Corps Rhenania Erlangen
• Joseph von Lindwurm, physician and dermatologist, Corps Bavaria Würzburg

Aloysius Alois Alzheimer (14 June 1864, Marktbreit, Bavaria - 19 December 1915, Breslau, now Wrocław, Poland) was a German psychiatrist and neuropathologist and a colleague of Emil Kraepelin. ... For the German World War II radar system of the same name, see Würzburg radar. ... Emil Adolf von Behring (March 15, 1854 - March 31, 1917) was born at Hansdorf, Germany. ... The Nobel Prize (Swedish: ) was established in Alfred Nobels will in 1895, and it was first awarded in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace in 1901. ... For other uses, see Hamburg (disambiguation). ... Karl Ferdinand Braun (6 June 1850 in Fulda, Germany – 20 April 1918 in New York City, U.S.) was a German inventor, physicist and Nobel Prize laureate. ... The Nobel Prize (Swedish: ) was established in Alfred Nobels will in 1895, and it was first awarded in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace in 1901. ... Cathode ray tube employing electromagnetic focus and deflection Cutaway rendering of a color CRT: 1. ... , Marburg is a city in Hesse, Germany, on the Lahn river. ... Alfred Edmund Brehm Alfred Edmund Brehm (born February 2, 1829 in Unterrenthendorf, now called Renthendorf; died November 11, 1884 in Renthendorf) was a German zoologist and writer, the son of Christian Ludwig Brehm. ... , For other uses, see Jena (disambiguation). ... Freiherr Justus von Liebig (May 12, 1803 in Darmstadt, Germany – April 18, 1873 in Munich, Germany) was a German chemist who made major contributions to agricultural and biological chemistry, and worked on the organization of organic chemistry. ... Erlangen around 1915 Erlangen is a German city in Middle Franconia. ... For the German World War II radar system of the same name, see Würzburg radar. ...

Economy and Engineering

• Gottlieb Daimler, engineer, Corps Stauffia Stuttgart
• Rudolph Hering, American engineer, Corps Altsachsen
• Alfred Herrhausen, CEO of the Deutsche Bank, murdered by Red Army Faction-terrorists in 1989, Corps Hansea Köln
• Wilhelm von Opel, engineer, Corps Franconia Darmstadt
• Hanns-Martin Schleyer, board member of Daimler-Benz, head of the employer's confederation and of Germany's federal industry confederation, murdered by Red Army Faction terrorists in 1977, Corps Suevia Heidelberg

Gottlieb Daimler Gottlieb Wilhelm Daimler (March 17, 1834 - March 6, 1900) was an engineer, industrial designer and industrialist, born in Schorndorf (Kingdom of Württemberg), in what is now Germany. ... For other uses, see Stuttgart (disambiguation). ... Birth: 1847 in Philadelphia Death Date: 1923 Hes buried at West Laurel Hill Cemetary, 215 Belmont Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004, plot 330 ( http://forever-care. ... Banker Alfred Herrhausen fell victim to a terrorist bomb shortly after leaving his home in Bad Homburg on the November 30, 1989. ... Deutsche Bank AG (pronounced [2]) (ISIN: DE0005140008, NYSE: DB) (literal translation - German Bank) is a leading global investment bank with a broad private clients franchise, headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany. ... Red Army Faction Insignia - a Red Star and a Heckler & Koch MP5 The Red Army Faction or RAF (German Rote Armee Fraktion) (in its early stages commonly known as Baader-Meinhof Group [or Gang]), was one of postwar West Germanys most active and prominent militant left-wing groups. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Köln may refer to: Cologne (German: Köln), the fourth largest city in Germany and largest city of the North Rhine-Westphalia state German Cruiser Köln that served from 1930-1945 mostly for the Kriegsmarine German Frigate Köln (1961-1982), a F120 Köln class frigate of... Wilhelm von Opel (known as Wilhelm Opel before being granted nobility) was one of the founding figures of the German automobile manufacturer Opel. ... For other uses, see Darmstadt (disambiguation). ... Hanns-Martin Schleyer (May 1, 1915, Offenburg, Germany – October 19, 1977 near Mulhouse, France) was a German manager, CDU member and employer representative. ... Daimler-Benz AG was founded on May 1, 1924 by the merger of Benz & Cie. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... For other uses, see Heidelberg (disambiguation). ...

Fine Arts and Culture

• Heinrich Heine, German poet and journalist, Corps Guestphalia Göttingen
• Georg Heym, poet, most important exponent of early expressionism, Corps Rhenania Würzburg
• Egon Erwin Kisch, Czech-German author und journalist, corps student in Prag
• Robert Schumann, composer and pianist, Corps Saxo-Borussia Heidelberg
• Ludwig Thoma, author, publisher and editor, Corps Suevia Munich
• Richard Wagner, composer, Corps Saxonia Leipzig

Christian Johann Heinrich Heine (December 13, 1797 – February 17, 1856) was a journalist, an essayist, and one of the most significant German romantic poets. ... Göttingen marketplace with old city hall, Gänseliesel fountain and pedestrian zone Göttingen ( ) is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany. ... Georg Heym (30 October 1887 in Hirschberg, Silesia– 16 January 1912 in Berlin) was a German writer. ... The Scream by Edvard Munch (1893) which inspired 20th century Expressionists Portrait of Eduard Kosmack by Egon Schiele Rehe im Walde by Franz Marc Elbe Bridge I by Rolf Nesch On White II by Wassily Kandinsky, 1923. ... For the German World War II radar system of the same name, see Würzburg radar. ... Egon Erwin Kisch ( Prague, April 29, 1885 - March 31, 1948) was a Czechoslovakian writer and journalist, who wrote in German. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... For other persons named Robert Schumann, see Robert Schumann (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Heidelberg (disambiguation). ... Ludwig Thoma (January 21, 1867 - August 26, 1921) was a German author, publisher and editor, who gained popularity through his partially exaggerated description of Bavarian workaday. ... For other uses, see Munich (disambiguation). ... Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner (22 May 1813 – 13 February 1883) was a German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or music dramas as they were later called). ...

External links

In English

• Mark Twain describes his encounters with German corps students in chapters IV to VII of his travelogue "A Tramp Abroad".
• Journalist Jonathan Green published this article in the Financial Times Magazine, covering both the traditions and the current role of the Corps at length.

Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910),[1] better known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American humanist,[2] humorist, satirist, lecturer and writer. ... A Tramp Abroad was a work of non-fiction travel literature published by American author Mark Twain in 1880. ... The Financial Times (FT) is a British international business newspaper. ...

In German

• Homepage of KSCV and WSC

In Dutch

• Flaminea Leuven - a Flemish Corps

• link title

• Utrechtsch Studenten Corps - a Dutch Corps