German free of network (4)
I believe the answer is:
grid
'network' is the definition.
(grid is a kind of network)
'german free' is the wordplay.
'german' becomes 'g' (abbreviation).
'free' becomes 'rid' (to be free of something is to be rid of it).
'g'+'rid'='GRID'
'of' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for grid that I've seen before include "Map reference system" , "Network of horizontal andvertical lines" , "Network of crossing parallel lines" , "Crossword pattern" , "F1 starting point" .)