opposition to Weimar Flashcards
what did many Germans think politicians were for signing the TOV?
traitors, November criminals
why was there such anger and resentment regarding TOV?
misinformation, people didnt know how badly war going, believed Germany could win war
what did reparations allow to continue?
resentment towards the treaty
why was the government opposed by extremist groups on the left and right?
involvement in TOV, liberalism and democratic principles, failure to produce strong, decisive gov + leader, failure to unite Germany
who did the most significant left-wing opposition come from?
communists
what happened after the gov dismissed USPD police chief in Berlin?
gov into open conflict with workers councils
Spartacists, USPD members and union officials united to overthrow gov
Freikorps smashed rebellion and executed leaders
who did the gov have to rely on to crush the Spartacist uprising?
the Freikorps
left wing opposition tried to take over individual german states and establish communist governments, which states did they attempt this in?
Bavaria, Saxony and Thuringia
what type of opposition was the army far less willing to surpress?
right wing opposition
who did right wing opposition come from?
wealthy landowners, army, industrialists, people in conservative groups,
what two attempts at overthrowing the gov were right wing?
Kapp putsch and Munich putsch
when was the Kapp putsch?
March 1920
when was the Munich putsch?
Nov 1923
who took part in the Kapp putsch?
Wolfgang Kapp, Freikorps, supported by Ludendorff
when did they take over Berlin during the Kapp putsch?
12th March 1920
what did the army do towards the Kapp putsch?
didnt join putsch but would not fight the rebels
what cause the Kapp putsch to fail?
trade unions called a general strike, demanded new gov with SPD in control, Kapp gov fell after 4 days
when did Hitler surround the beer hall and declare that the gov of Bavaria and national gov was gone and that he and Ludendorff would form new gov?
8th Nov 1923
why did the Munich putsch fail?
Ludendorff allowed gov leaders to make phone calls, they made gov aware of putsch, putsch stopped
why was the Munich putsch actually a success for Hitler?
allowed him to give speeches about his beliefs, increased his fame, wrote Mein Kampf, knew he had to gain power by legal means
when was the Kiel Mutiny?
Nov 1918
what happened at the Kiel Mutiny?
German sailors angry at Kaiser and army leaders, took control of base and demanded end to monarchy
what did the Kiel mutiny lead to?
a wave of strikes and rebellions across Hamburg, Frankfurt, Berlin
who were the leaders of the Spartacist uprising?
Luxemburg and Liebknecht
when was a Soviet Republic declared in Bavaria?
March 1919
what did Germans associate the new democracy with?
defeat and humiliation
what is dolchloss?
belief that German politicians had stabbed Germany in the back
what did Versailles make Germany lose?
land/territory, empire+colonies, money through reparations, army reduced to 100,000 men
why did white people think colonisation was acceptable?
they believed they had a right/duty to civilise the world
what was an immediate cause of the Kapp putsch?
disarmament and demilitarisation
when was the Ruhr uprising?
March 1920
who did the Ruhr uprising?
communists formed army of approx 50,000 workers
who did the gov have to rely on to put down the Ruhr uprising?
army backed by Freikorps
why was Walter Rathenau killed?
foreign minister, Jewish and involved in TOV negotiations
what happened at the May 1924 elections that showed signs of opposition?
increased vote for extremist parties including KPD, moderate parties lost seats
what were big businesses opposing in 1928?
oppose gov’s right to arbitrate in industrial disputes
who was Hugenberg, why was he good for the Nazis?
influential nationalist, had powerful media empire helped Nazis become more well known across Germany
what did SA membership total in 1933?
500,000
how did Nazi support change from 1930 to 1932?
1930 - 18.25% of vote
1932- 37.27% of vote
why was proportional representation bad for Weimar?
meant lots of small parties, extremist parties had power, no majority, coalitions
how did Article 48 undermine democracy?
presidential powers, bypass government, powers of Reichstag not used
what did the DNVP and conservative elites have power over?
press, judiciary, army, civil service
