What is "landsmannschaft"

A Landsmannschaft (Latin natio, plural nationes) is a German fraternity of several fraternity forms called Studentenverbindung.

The older forms of Landsmannschaften were part of corporations and are closely aligned with the beginnings of universities in medieval times of the 12th and 13th centuries.

The newer forms of Landsmannschaften are a kind of reform corps and most Landsmannschaften are members of the Coburger Convent.