Opposition to the Weimar Republic

Question 1

Name the treaty that led to political discontent and opposition?

Answer 1

Treaty of Versailles

Question 2

Why was the Weimar government always going to have trouble controlling opposition?

Answer 2

• It had come to power through a revolution and it was trying to set up a new liberal democracy
• Right wing groups wanted a strong government
• Left wing groups felt the WR was not radical enough
• Democracy meant people were free to criticise the government

Question 3

Give examples of left wing uprisings?

Answer 3

Spartacists, communist uprising in Saxony, Bavaria and Thuringia

Question 4

What did the government use to put down left wing uprisings?

Answer 4

The army and/or Freikorps

Question 5

Name the term used to explain a takeover by the Federal government and the army until the Weimar government could be put back in place?

Answer 5

Reichsexekution. This was how the government dealt with attempst to establish communist governments in Saxony and Thuringia

Question 6

Why did the Spartacists want to overthrow the government in 1919?

Answer 6

The government had dismissed the police chief of Berlin who was a radical USPD member (communist). The Spartacists were a left wing group.

Question 7

What did the Spartacists do and what happened to their revolt?

Answer 7

Armed workers took over key buildings like newspaper offices in Berlin. The Freikorps crushed the rebellion and executed the leaders. The government found it easy to put down left wing rebellions.

Question 8

Give examples of other early communist rebellions?

Answer 8

Communist takeovers were attempted in Bavaria in 1919 and Saxony and Thuringia in 1923.

Question 9

Name two right wing uprisings?

Answer 9

• Kapp Putsch 1920

- Munich Putsch 1923

Question 10

Describe the events of the Kapp Putsch?

Answer 10

• Wolfgang Kapp and Freikorps leaders wanted to overthrow the government.
• They were a right wing group.
• They were supported by Ludendorff.
• They took over Berlin on 12 March 1920.
• The leaders proclaimed a new government.
• The trade Unions did not support the putsch and carried out a general strike.
• Four days after the strike the Kapp government fell

Question 11

When did Hitler carry out the Munich Putsch?

Answer 11

November 1923.

Question 12

Who supported the Munich Putsch?

Answer 12

The Nazis and Ludendorff.

Question 13

Although seemingly a failure, how could the Putsch be seen as a success for Hitler?

Answer 13

• It gave him publicity at his trial
• He wrote Mein Kampf in prison.
• Hitler realised he should attempt power by legal means.

Question 14

Who was the Ebert-Groener pact (1918) between and what did it say?

Answer 14

It was a pact between Ebert and the leader of the army. It said that the army would support the government as long as the government opposed left wing parties in the Reichstag

Question 15

What Agreement was made between Ebert and the trade Unions in 1918?

Answer 15

The Stinnes-Legien Agreement. For their support, Ebert would pass laws on working hours and union representation.

Question 16

What do both these agreements show?

Answer 16

That Ebert was willing to make half-hearted alliances with both sides.

Question 17

Which rebellions were easiest to for the WR to put down?

Answer 17

Left wing rebellions because the army or Freikorps was used.

Question 18

How many political assassinations were there between 1919 and 1922 and what does this suggest?

Answer 18

376 political assassinations. 326 went unpunished. Suggests lack of support for democracy.

Question 19

How many governments were there between 1923-29?

Answer 19

7. Some governments did not have a majority in the Reichstag making it very difficult to pass laws.