31.1.2.2 Challenges to the Republic from Left and Right.

Question 1

^{Challenges to the Republic from Left and Right}

What did the Weimar governments’ unpopularity cause it to face?

Answer 1

Violent uprisings from both side of the political spectrum - left wing (communists) and right (nationalists).

Question 2

^{Challenges to the Republic from Left and Right}

In what order, including the dates and leaders, did the Kapp Putsch and Sparticists Rising occur?

Answer 2

1. Sparticists Rising: (6 January 1919): Rosa Luxemburg & Karl Liebnecht.
2. Kapp Putsch: (13 March 1920): Friekorps & Wolfgang Kapp.

Question 3

^{Challenges to the Republic from Left and Right}

What events occurred in the Spartacists Rising? (4)

Answer 3

1. 6 January 1919: Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebnecht lead a revolt (50,000 Sparticists members), attempting to overthrow Ebert and the German government to create a communist state.
2. Ebert and Noske, his defence minister, sent the Reichswehr (regular army) and the Freikorps (demobilised soldiers) to put down the revolt.
3. Within days, the rising was over, as it could not overpower the Freikorps,
4. As a result, the violence of the uprising led the new Assembly to move to Weimar; Luxemburg and Liebnecht were executed.

Question 4

^{Challenges to the Republic from Left and Right}

What events occurred in the Kapp Putsch? (6)

Answer 4

1. March 1920: The Weimar government announced measures to reduce the size of the army and to disband the Friekorps (despite their help in stopping the Kapp Putsch), causing an uproar in Berlin.
2. The general of the Berlin Friekorps, Hermann Ehrhardt, refused to comply.
3. Alongside Berlin politician, Wolfgang Kapp, they planned to seize Berlin and form a new right-wing government with Kapp as the Chancellor; the General of the Reichswehr supported them.
4. 13 March 1920: They successfully took over Berlin; the Weimar government move to Dresden, and then to Stuttgart.
5. Ebert and Reichemann urged the people of Berlin to oppose the rebellion by striking, as the Reichswehr refused to put down the putsch.
6. Civil servants and trade unionists supported the government; Berlin workers went on strike, and due to a lack of support and cooperation, the Putsch collapsed.