Kapp Putsch Flashcards
When was the gvt obliged to put into effect the terms of the ToV?
Jan 1920
What did the gvt need to do?
Reduce the size of the army and disband some Freikorps units.
What happened in Feb 1920?
The defence minister, Gustav Noske, ordered two Freikorps , which consisted of 12,000 men, to disband. The units were stationed 12 miles from Berlin.
Who was arrested after his refusal of the disbandment of the Freikorps?
General Walther von Luttwitz. He decided to march his troops to Berlin in protest and was offered support by the RW civil servant and politician Wolfgang Kapp, who was intent on organising a putsch
What was Ebert forced to do?
He was forced to withdraw to Dresden.
What did Ebert do to combat the putsch?
Along with the chancellor, Gustav Bauer, he called on the army to crush the uprising. But General Seeckt told Ebert that ‘troops do not fire on troops’.
What was the situation like?
It was dangerous but showed tension between the military and civilian elements of the putsch.
What did Kapp fail to do?
To gain support as civil servants and bankers remained hostile.
How were trade unions involved?
They were encouraged by the socialists of Eberts gvts and called a general strike.
How long did the putsch last?
It lasted 4 days until it collapsed and Kapp and Luttwitz were forced to flee.
What were the consequences of this putsch?
1) the army was not to be trusted
2) civil servants could be disloyal
3) the weimar gvt was weak w/o army’s support
4) behaviour of RW judges sent a message that the gvt was not in control
5) leniency shown by RW judges towards those brought to trial contrasted with the harsh treatments of the LW.
