Opposition control and consent - Weimar Germany Flashcards
How did the ToV affect German politics?
- Weimar government who signed the armistice was viewed as traitors as many Germans thought the war could be won ; “stab in the back” myth
- Germans thought they could have won the war
- Huge reparations and war guilt clause
Why was the government opposed by extremist parties?
- ToV
- Dislike of democracy
- Weak government
- Low national unity
When was the Spartacist uprising?
6th January 1919
What happened in the Spartacist uprising?
Thousands of armed workers took over key buildings such as the newspaper offices. Freikorps crushed the rebellion and executed its leaders
What did some left wing parties in Germany attempt to do?
Attempted to takeover individual German states and establish communist governments.
Give an example of this?
Bavaria in March 1919
Why did they fail?
Not enough popular support and were easily suppressed by the army.
Where did right wing opposition come from?
The army, industrialists and wealthy landowners and people in conservative groups eg uni and school teachers
When was the Kapp Putsch?
12th March 1920
What happened in the Kapp Putsch?
Attempt to overthrow the government by Wolfgang Kapp and Freikorps leaders Luttwitz and Ehrhardt. Had support of Ludendorff.
Took over Berlin and government fled. Most of the army didn’t join in but did not fight. Leaders proclaimed themselves the new government, dissolved the National Assembly and said the Weimar Constitution was no longer in force.
How did the Kapp Putsch end?
Trade unions called a general strike, demanding an end to the putsch and a new SPD government. Kapp government fell. Weimar government returned to Berlin 4 days after strike started.
Kapp died in prison, other ringleaders were given short prison sentences
When was the Munich Putsch?
8th November 1923
What happened in the Munich Putsch?
Hitler, inspired by the March on Rome in Italy wanted to do a similar takeover starting from Munich, where he thought he could gain support of local politicians and citizens.
SA surrounded beer cellar in Munich where von Kahr and other officials were in a meeting. Hitler crashed hall and announced that government of Bavaria and national government were deposed and that he and Ludendorff were to form a new government. He locked them in and Ludendorff spoke to crowd.
How did the Munich Putsch end?
One by one, prisoners escaped and organised resistance. When Nazis attempted to start their March, they were taken prisoner after short battle with the police
What opposition occured during the last few years of the Weimar government?
July 1929- National opposition to the Young Plan, An attempt led by Hugenberg to pass a ‘freedom bill’ in the Reichstag in favour of reversing Versailles, dropping the young plan and US aid and against involvement with Europe and the USA.
July 1929 onwards- right wing members of government and Hindenburg increasingly relied on ruling by Article 48. This is suspected of being a way to rule in a more authoritarian manner.
