Ian, that's correct! But there were many different unofficial paramilitary units called "Freikorps". At the end of ww1 a huge army had to be demobilized in Germany - and many soldiers kept their weapons and went on doing what they did for the last 5 years. It was a time in turmoil and chaos, political and economic insecurity. These men had thousands of different motives to join such a group, from not knowing what else to do and looking for a place where to belong (many went into war out of school, had no jobs or so) to being an extremist - there were wide varieties in thinking. But many Freikorps members later joined Hitlers SA, not all. I don't know anything about Bertholds motives to join a freikorps fighting in the Baltics, but it is quite obvious that he played with fire and that cost his life. Some time ago I read an article about Bertholds death, if you like, I can check the title and send it to you.
Warren, I agree with you regarding the problem of the term "historical truth". I would say, one can use it in a negative way, e. g. 'this or that has certainly nothing to do with a historical truth". But it is difficult to use it in a positive way, like "this or that IS the historical thruth". (Written) history is always an intepretation of the sources, are answers to questions that are asked to the sources. (I wouldn't call it 'lie'
) But it seems as we are coleagues, I too hold a PhD for history and I am employed at the university as researcher in history at the moment.
But all of that does not change the great quality of Ians wonderful Fokker E III !
Borsos
