Left Wing Rebellions Flashcards
Why did the new system of government become known as the Weimar Republic?
After WWI, Berlin was too dangerous to establish a government. So the town of Weimar was used instead.
Who was the leader of the new German Republic?
Freidrich Ebert, a Social Democrat
Apart from the Kaiser’s abdication, what did the Allies demand Germany do politically?
Become more democratic. Replace the old, autocratic system of government (one with a single, all-powerful leader), with a more democratic system….
How was the new ‘democratic’ Germany greeted?
Unenthusiastically, particularly by those on the right-wing (conservative, traditional people) and those on the left (usually workers)
Which groups made up the right-wing of German society?
- The army - The civil service - The judiciary (judges) - Industry bosses (e.g. big business)
What did the right-wing of Germany society want to see?
The Kaiser restored to power. (Generally, right-wing people do not like change.)
What did the left-wing groups want?
Left-wing groups - mostly Communists - believed it was time for a revolution in Germany (like in Russia in 1917)
What was the most famous left-wing group?
The Spartacists (SPART-A-CISTS)
Who led the Spartacists?
Karl Liebknecht (LIEB-KNECHT) and Rosa Luxemburg
When did the Spartacists attempt their uprising?
January 1919
Who crushed the Spartacist Uprising?
The Freikorps
Who were the Freikorps
Ex-soldiers who had formed paramilitary groups (i.e. armed groups not controlled by the government) around Germany
Which groups did the Freikorps hate?
The Communists
How many Spartacists were killed in the uprising?
100
How many Freikorps died in the crushing of the Spartacist uprising?
13 (unlucky for some)
What happened to Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknect and why was this important?
They were executed - depriving the Communists of leadership
What happened in Bavaria shortly after the Spartacist Uprising?
The leader, Kurt Eisner, was murdered. Communists in Bavaria - at the time, independent from Germany - seized power and declared it a soviet republic.
How did Ebert deal with the declaration of a ‘socialist republic’ in Bavaria?
He again used the Freikorps, who crushed the revolt in May 1919. Around 600 Communists were killed.
What happened in the Ruhr in 1920?
Communists protested against the government.
How did Ebert deal with the protests in the Ruhr in 1920?
The police, army and Freikorps were used to deal with the Communists
Overall, how successful was Ebert during this period?
Pros: - He avoided a civil war/revolution (as had happened in Russia) Cons: - He looked weak because he had had to rely on the Friekorps - He lost the support of many working class people, who thought Ebert had acted ruthlessly
