Politcal Threats To WR 1919-23 Flashcards
Aims of the Spartacus Uprising
Against Weimar Republic and parliamentary democracy (not participate in elections)
- wanted to improve workers conditions
- not support demo elected parliaments. Want workers’ councils (soviets) to run G
Leaders of the Sprtacist Uprising
Led by USPD and Spartacus league. Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxembourg
What happened during the Spartacist Uprising (6)
- 5 Jan 1919 Spartacist launch armed uprising 1000 strong in Berlin to try overthrow Eberts provisional govt
- occupied public buildings, called for general strike and formed revolutionary committee
- 3 days savage street fighting
- govt brutally put down uprising w help of Freikorps
- Gustav Noske (SPD defence minister) ordered army to put down rising
- 1000s killed incl Liebknecht and Luxembourg
Why did the Spartacist uprising fail
- leaders badly divided over aims
- no real strategy
Layton says leaders “detached from political realities”
Impact of the Spartacist Uprising (5)
- use of freikorps, who despised repub, showed weakness of govt and caused bitter recriminations within the left
- govt had to relocate in Weimar Saxony
- Spartacists (later KPD) never forgave govt and relations between SPD and KPD remained poisoned for years to come. Left wing divided
- KPD kept challenging govt, secured 10-15% vote 1919-23
- put military elite in a v good position as needed by govt
Why did the Bavarian Soviet Republic formed?
Inspired and modelled on communist govt in Russia, 18mts after Bolshevik revolution
How was the Bavarian Soviet Republic formed?
- Bavarian monarchy collapsed and taken over by USPD leader Eisner on 7 Nov 1918
- Soviet republic proclaimed March
- made own Red Army and workers councils by Levine
- lasted several weeks until 1 May 1919 when govt troops and Freikorps suppressed it
How many died in the suppression of the Bavarian Soviet Republic?
Over 600 killed by Freikorps and over 1000 govt volunteers killed
Impact of the Bavarian Soviet Republic
Spartacist uprising and this proved G in split between extreme LW and RW.
Moderates and govt had lil power unless side w RW and Army
Why did the Red Ruhr Rising happen?
Hoped to exploit fact that helped govt put down Kapp Putsch 2 days before. Hoped to force govt concessions
What happened in the Red Ruhr rising?
A ‘Red Army’ formed by 50 000 socialist workers
Ironically, rising suppressed by Freikorps
How many deaths occurred from the Red Ruhr rising?
Over 1000 workers and 250 policeman and soldiers killed
Impact of Red Ruhr Rising
Showed firm action if govt against LW via immediate action, brutality and numerous on the spot executions
Weak govt as still rely on Freikorps
What was the German October of 1923?
A wave of communist uprisings in Saxony, Thuringia and Hamburg
Why did the German October happen?
- happened against a background of financial instability provoked by reparations crisis
- Comintern (Russian revolutionary org to spread communism) wanted to org German October inspired by Bolshevik revolution of October 1917
What happened in the German October? (6)
- SPD and KPD formed coalition in Saxony and communists pledged to use ‘Proletarian hundreds’ (paramilitary units)
- Reich troops overthrew govt and suppressed strikers
- Saxony and Thuringia uprising s crushed before off ground
- Hamburg, army used to suppress uprising.
- Saxony’s SPD prime minister Zeigner resisted and art 48 used to remove govt
- All SPD govt then put in Saxony
Why did German October fail?
- missed opportunity for communists
- KPD’s approach hesitant and foolish
Impact of German October (1)
Further proof for communists that the social democrats couldn’t be trusted
Overall left wing threat? (7)
- workers strike but uncoordinated, leaders not tap into support and isolated, no strong leadership (as Communists had in Russia), not exploit fragility WR.
- govt had backing of army’s troops and Freikorps
- by summer best chance for Commies to take govt gone
- Left wing divisions between SPD and KPD. Moderates lil power unless sided w RW
- Threats easily dealt with by govt
- KPD continued to challenge govt w 10-15% vote in 1919-23 elections
- engendered fear of communism amongst middle class drove many to RW
Who was Matthias Erzberger
Germany’s representative on the Allied Reparations Commission so responsible for carrying out terms of TOV
Catholic and ZP member
When and how was Matthias Erzberger murdered
Murdered by RW extremists January 1921
WHO was Hugo Hasse and when killed?
A USPD member who was shot in front of the Reichstag Oct 1919, dying a month later
WHO was Walther Rathenau
Foreign minister, leading republic govt member, who signed armistice and negotiated w Allies to try improve TOV. Jewish 😬
WHO killed Walther Rathenau and in what year
1922 killed by RW army officers from the ‘Consul Organisation’
How many attended Walther Rathenau’s funeral? What prison sent did his assassins get?
700 000, he was a popular demo politician. Even so assassins only got 4yrs in prison
How many political assassinations were there in Germany 1919-22
376
How many political assassinations did the RW commit from 1919-22 vs the LW? And punishments?
RW committed 354 murders, all unpunished (legal system sympathetic to RW)
LW committed 22, 10 of which sent to death
Impact of Political Assassinations
Democracy weakened and destabilized, govt not want lose RW support as fear of communism and not want another putsch
When was the Munich Putsch?
8-9 November 1923
What situations in Germany encouraged the Munich Putsch to happen?
- 1923 hyperinflation
- Franco-Belgian occupation of the Ruhr
- passive resistance
- German October 1923
What was Hitler’s inspiration for the Munich Putsch?
Successful Mussolini march on Rome 1922
Why did Hitler think von Kahr would support the Munich Putsch?
The Bavarian govt, led by von Kahr, blamed G’s problems on the Berlin govt
Von Kahr was ultra conservative and want destroy regime
What happened during the Munich Putsch?
- 8 Nov 1923 Hitler and SA surround Munich Beer Hall where meeting being held by Bavarian leaders von Kahr and von Lossow
- Hitler, w support respected Ludendorff, announced he was taking over Bavarian govt
- Kahr and Lossow forced to support but escape
- next day, w pressure Weimar govt and von Seeckt, Kahr orders Bavarian police to shoot on Hitler
- 16 Nazis died and Hitler easily crushed
Aftermaths of the Munich Putsch?
- Hitler lenient sentence of 5yrs and only serves 9mts
- Ludendorff acquitted (there ‘by accident’)
- Hitler forbidden speaking in 6 German states until 1927
- Nazi party temporarily banned until 1925
How did Hitler exploit the Munich Putsch?
- Used Jan ‘24 trial as a publicity stunt. Went from a regional to a National figure. Trial got blanket News coverage and got blanket news coverage and 24 days was front page news
- Presented himself as a German patriot, unlike the Weimar govt.
- wrote Mein Kampf in prison
- changed tactics to focus on voting. Now want majority vote to destroy Weimar Republic from within…
When was the Kapp Putsch?
March 1920
Why did the Kapp Putsch happen?
- Feb 1920 Allied Diaramament Commission demanded reduction of troops according to TOV
- proposed to disband 2 Freikorps units comprised of 12 000 men
- General von Luttwitz, general commander, refused so the govt ordered his arrest
WHO were the leaders of the Kapp Putsch
General von Luttwitz and the monarchist journalist Wolfgang Kapp
What happened during the Kapp Putsch?
- marched on Berlin 1 March 1920
- seized main buildings and installed new govt w virtually no opposition
- General von Seeckt refuse to mobilize troops ‘troops do not fire on troops’ despite Ebert-Groener deal!
- SPD govt members called for a general strike
Over 12 million workers went on strike
Capital paralyzed and spread rest country - after 4 days, Kapp govt exert no real authority and flee city. Kapp to Sweden
- people not support and view as illegitimate
Punishments from the Kapp Putsch
Of 705 prosecuted, only 1 punished. Govt still strong fear communism and not want lose RW support. Weak
Impact of the Kapp Putsch
- bolstered arrogance of antirepub Nats. Proved could get away w murder
- democracy hit! After 1920 Kapp Putsch, only 48% vote for main 3 demo parties compared w 76% 1919 elections
To what extent was the RW opposition a serious threat? (5)
- no 1 ideology. Mixed collection of opponents and overall too divided
- govt not able to punish properly due to fear communism, undermining demo
- political assassinations, politicians lived in fear
- Kapp Putsch significant. Unique as briefly did seize power. Showed weakness of WR and the importance of the army to political survival of regime.
- ## powerful conservative forces against republic significant. Persistence of old attitudes in major traditional institutions.
Overall extent of political threats to regime 1919-23 (5)
- growth of political extremism. Moderates have lil power unless sided w army or conservative forces. Political violence became the norm
- ‘a Republic without Republicans’ shown by elections
- govt did have means to defuse and did put down all threats
- long term issues more dangerous, acted like solvent in corroding support for democracy from the middle ground.
- Ebert overestimated the LW threat and underestimated the RW threat as seen by his harsh LW punishments and lenient RW ones eg. Political assassinations.
