Corps (or Korps; "das ~" (n), German pronunciation:[ˈkoːɐ] (sg.), (pl.)) are the oldest still-existing kind of Studentenverbindung, Germany's traditional university corporations; their roots date back to the 15th century. The oldest corps still existing today was founded in 1789. Its members are referred to as corps students (Corpsstudenten). The corps belong to the tradition of student fraternities which wear couleur and practice academic fencing.
Studentenverbindung is the umbrella term for many different kinds of fraternity-type associations in German-speaking countries, including Corps, Burschenschaften, Landsmannschaften, Turnerschaften, and Catholic fraternities. Worldwide, there are over 1,600 Studentenverbindungen, about a thousand in Germany, with a total of over 190,000 members. In them, students spend their university years in an organized community, whose members stay connected even after graduation. A goal of this lifelong bond is to create contacts and friendships over many generations and to facilitate networking. The Lebensbund is very important for the longevity of these networks.
Academic fencing or Mensur is the traditional kind of fencing practiced by some student corporations in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Latvia, Estonia, and, to a minor extent, in Belgium, Lithuania, and Poland. It is a traditional, strictly regulated épée fight between two male members of different fraternities with sharp weapons. The German technical term Mensur in the 16th century referred to the specified distance between each of the fencers.
The Kösener Senioren-Convents-Verband is the oldest association of German, Austrian and Swiss Studentenverbindungen or students fraternities. It comprises roughly 105 German, Austrian and a Flemish (Belgian), Hungarian and Swiss Corps, all of which are based upon the principle of tolerance.
The Weinheimer Senioren-Convent is the second oldest association of German Studentenverbindungen. It comprises roughly 60 German Corps, all of which are based upon the principle of tolerance.
"De Brevitate Vitae", more commonly known as "Gaudeamus igitur" or just "Gaudeamus", is a popular academic commercium song in many European countries, mainly sung or performed at university graduation ceremonies. Despite its use as a formal graduation hymn, it is a jocular, light-hearted composition that pokes fun at university life. The song is thought to originate in a Latin manuscript from 1287. It is in the tradition of carpe diem with its exhortations to enjoy life. It was known as a beer-drinking song in many early universities and is the official song of many schools, colleges, universities, institutions, student societies and is the official anthem of the International University Sports Federation.
The Union of Catholic German Student Fraternities is a German umbrella organization of Catholic male student fraternities (Studentenverbindung).
Couleur is the expression used in Central European Studentenverbindungen for the various headgear and distinctive ribbons worn by members of these student societies.
The Catholic German student corporation Saarland (Saarbrücken) Jena, founded in 1961, is a Catholic German academic fraternity. As all the other member fraternities of the Cartellverband (CV), the largest organization of academic persons in Germany, the members of the K.D.St.V. Saarland do not practise academic fencing (Mensur) because of their Catholic religion.
Otto Planetta was an Austrian National Socialist who assassinated the Chancellor of Austria, Engelbert Dollfuß, during the July Putsch in 1934.
Corps Palatia is a fencing fraternity belonging to the Kösener Senioren-Convents-Verband, the oldest association of German and Austrian student corporations. It unites students of Munich's universities, most notably Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich and the Technical University of Munich. Palatia's members are known as Pfälzer, which is derived from the Bavarian region of Upper Palatinate.
The Corps Hubertia Freiburg is a fraternity (Studentenverbindung) in Freiburg, Germany. It was founded on October 29, 1868 and is one of 162 German Student Corps in Europe today. The Corps is a member of the Kösener Senioren-Convents-Verband (KSCV), the oldest federation of classical European fraternities with roots dating back to the 15th century and member fraternities across Austria, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Latvia and Switzerland.
The Corps Altsachsen is a fraternity (Studentenverbindung) in Dresden, Germany. It was founded on October 31, 1861 and is one of 162 German Student Corps in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Latvia and Hungary today. The Corps is a member of the Weinheimer Senioren-Convent (WSC), the second oldest federation of classical Fraternities in Europe with roots dating back to the 15th century.
The Corps Saxo-Thuringia München is a fraternity (Studentenverbindung) in Munich, Germany, founded on March 15, 1882. It is one of 162 German Student Corps in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Latvia and Hungary today. The Corps is a member of the Weinheimer Senioren-Convent (WSC), the second oldest federation of classical European fraternal corporations, with roots dating back to the 15th century and fraternities founded in several European countries.
The Corps Marko-Guestphalia Aachen is a fraternity (Studentenverbindung) in Aachen, Germany, founded on December 2, 1871. It is one of 162 German Student Corps in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Latvia and Hungary today. The Corps is a member of the Weinheimer Senioren-Convent (WSC), the second oldest federation of classical European fraternal corporations, with roots dating back to the 15th century and fraternities founded in several European countries.
The Corps Berlin is a fraternity (Studentenverbindung) in Berlin, Germany, founded on February 9, 2009 with roots dating back to December 2, 1859. It is one of 162 German Student Corps in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Latvia and Hungary today. The Corps is a member of the Weinheimer Senioren-Convent (WSC), the second oldest federation of classical European fraternal corporations, with roots dating back to the 15th century and fraternities founded in several European countries.
The Corps Franconia Darmstadt is a fraternity founded on November 16, 1889, in Darmstadt. It is one of the 59 German Student Corps within the Weinheimer Senioren-Convent (WSC), the second oldest federation of classical European fraternal corporations, with roots dating back to the 15th century and fraternities founded in several European countries.
The Japanese student fraternity Akademische Vereinigung Edo Rhenania zu Tokio is the oldest Studentenverbindung in Asia. It is an associated member of the Union of Catholic German Student Fraternities (Cartellverband) and is officially acknowledged as a befriended fraternity by the Union of Catholic Austrian Student Fraternities. Until the foundation of KÖStV Golania zu Arné in Syria in 1994, it was the only Studentenverbindung in all of Asia, and until the foundation of AFV Sino-Germania zu Peking et Shanghai in China in 2014, the only one in East Asia. AV Edo-Rhenania continues to be the only member fraternity of the Cartellverband in Asia.
Leonensia is a male student fraternity (Studentenverbindung) in Heidelberg. Unlike most German fraternities, members wear no couleur and are not obliged to engage in academic fencing. It was founded in 1871 and ranks among Central Europe's oldest non-couleur-wearing fraternities. In 1919, Leonensia and five other fraternities founded the umbrella organization Miltenberger Ring.
The German Burschenschaft (DB) is an association of Burschenschaften ; a co-operation of student associations of a certain form in Germany and Austria. It was created in 1881 as a General Deputies Convent (ADC) and received its current name in 1902. It goes back to the ideas associated with the founding of the native fraternetie in Jena in the year 1815. The ideal goals are outlined in the motto "Honor - Freedom - Fatherland".
Zirkel of Corps Hubertia Freiburg in Freiburg, Germany
Zirkel of Corps Germania München in Munich, Germany
Zirkel of Corps Altsachsen in Dresden, Germany
Zirkel of Corps Gothia Innsbruck in Innsbruck, Austria
Zirkel of Sängerschaft zu St. Pauli Jena in Jena, Germany
Zirkel of Burschenschaft Ascania zu Köln in Cologne, Germany
Zirkel of Frankfurt-Leipziger Burschenschaft Arminia in Leipzig, Germany
Zirkel of Landsmannschaft Schottland in Tübingen, Germany
Zirkel of Sängerschaft Hohentübingen in Tübingen, Germany
