the song praises the deeds of the free corps that became an essential part of germany’s national identity in the 19th century due to its famous members. besides körner, “turnvater” friedrich ludwig jahn, the famous poet joseph von eichendorff, the inventor of the kindergarten friedrich fröbel, and eleonore prochaska, a woman who had dressed as a man in order to join the fight against the french, served in the corps.