Opposition, 1918-23

Question 1

When was the Spartacist Uprising?

Answer 1

January 1919

Question 2

Why did the Spartacist Uprising happen? (long term)

Answer 2

It was the result of a power struggle between the KPD and SPD. The KPD wanted a workers’ revolution and the only way to achieve this was to rise up against the new government.

Question 3

What triggered the Spartacist Uprising?

Answer 3

The dismissal of police chief, Emil Eichorn, in Berlin, who was a radical USPD member. This brought the government into open conflict with the workers’ councils and unions, and triggered the Spartacist Uprising.

Question 4

How did the government deal with the Spartacist Uprising?

Answer 4

They used the Freikorps to put down the rebellion. They quickly reconquered the blocked streets and buildings and many of the rebels surrendered.

Question 5

What happened to the leaders of the Spartacist Uprising?

Answer 5

Rosa Luxembourg and Karl Liebknecht were found and executed.

Question 6

When did the Kapp Putsch take place?

Answer 6

March 1920

Question 7

Why did Wolfgang Kapp and Freikorp leaders wish to oppose the Weimar government?

Answer 7

They aimed to restore the empire and overturn the ToV, returning to the old imperial system.

Question 8

What did Kapp and the Freikorp leaders do?

Answer 8

They took over Berlin causing the Weimar government to flee and proclaimed themselves the new government. They took control for 4 days.

Question 9

What had Ebert signed in 1918 which granted the support of the trade unions?

Answer 9

The Stinnes-Legien Agreement

Question 10

Why did Kapp’s opposition fail?

Answer 10

The trade unions called a general strike which brought Berlin to a standstill and the Kapp government fell.

Question 11

Where and when were communist governments set up during Weimar rule?

Answer 11

Bavaria in 1919, the Ruhr in 1920, Saxony in 1921 and Thuringia in 1922.

Question 12

What had Ebert signed in 1918 which granted the support of the army?

Answer 12

The Ebert-Groener Pact

Question 13

Why did communist government fail?

Answer 13

They did not have enough popular support and were put down by the Reichswehr using a system of Reichsexekution.

Question 14

How many political assassinations were there between 1919-22?

Answer 14

376

Question 15

How many political assassinations were carried out by right-wing extremist organisations?

Answer 15

354 - including the marauder of Walter Rathenau.

Question 16

What is an example of a right-wing extremist group who carried out assassinations?

Answer 16

The Organisation Consul - formed by members of a Freikorps unit.

Question 17

How many of the 354 right wing murders went unpunished?

Answer 17

326

Question 18

How many of the 22 left wing murders went unpunished?

Answer 18

Only 4

Question 19

How were the punishments different depending on if the assassination was right or left wing?

Answer 19

A total of 90 years imprisonment was handed out to right wingers, whereas 250 years given to left wingers.

Question 20

When was the Munich Putsch?

Answer 20

November 1923

Question 21

What did the NSDAP take advantage of?

Answer 21

The rising unpopularity of the Weimar government

Question 22

What did Hitler attempt?

Answer 22

To launch a takeover of Germany

Question 23

Why did the Munich Putsch fail?

Answer 23

Hitter’s political prisoners escaped and organised resistance to the Putsch. The Nazis were defeated and captured by the police as they marched through Munich.

Question 24

What was the outcome of the Munich Putsch?

Answer 24

Hitler was trialled for treason and received a sentence of 5 years imprisonment. The NSDAP was disbanded until 1925. Hitler was released 9 months later.

Question 25

What did the people of Saxony do in 1923?

Answer 25

They welcomed the removal of a communist government which had not been elected but had imposed itself on the region.