Pictured here the Freikorps "von Kleist". While most associate this term with the post WW1 veteran and paramilitary forces of Weimar Germany the origin of such formations lays in the 18th century. Here Prussia (and other german states) tried to augment their "rigid" line infantry and cavalry formation with lighter and more flexible troops. The main task of such Freikorps was the small war - i. e. raiding, skirmishing and reconnaissance. In Prussia the main factor for the creation of such forces were the experiences gained against the austrian pandurs (light infantry) and croats (light cavalry) employed during the Silesian Wars. After 1756 many such formations were raised.
Von Kleist distinguished himself in the first year of the Seven Years War during a series of battles that ended with the prussian army retaking the city of Erfurt from a Franco-Austrian force. In 1760 he became the colonel of a Freikorps consisting of Hussars, Dragoons, Light Infantry and Jägers. Due to the noticable green color of their uniforms, he became known as the Green Kleist. During the Battle of Liegnitz his force was instrumental in driving the austrian cavalry off the field. LLater on Kleist raided the area around Erfurt again and in 1762/63 he went on a successful raids against the rich imperial cities of southern Germany - raids which filled the prussian war chest and demonstrated Austrias inability to defend its allies.