Political challenges to Weimar Republic

Question 1

What is the KPD?

Answer 1

German Communist Party, established Dec 1918

Question 2

How did politics change within Weimar Germany from 1919-1923?

Answer 2

Moderate parties decrease from 80% to 45% of seats in the assembly due to opposition of the Treaty of Versailles.
Extremist parties growing in popularity
Extreme right wing (20%)
Extreme left wing (20%)

Question 3

What was the Spartacist league?

Answer 3

Group of extreme socialists led by Rosa luxembourg and Karl Liebknecht (from USPD, independent socialist party based in Berlin)

Question 4

Why did the Spartacists revolt?

Answer 4

4th Jan 1919: Ebert sacks Emil Eichorn (police chief in Berlin) who was popular with workers

Question 5

What were the main events of the Spartacist revolt?

Answer 5

5th Jan 1919: thousands of workers protest aiming to undermine government
6th jan 1919: over 100,000 workers march, seize govs newspaper/telegraph offices.
Freikorps ordered to stop them.
- 16th Jan 1919 Luxembourg + Liebknecht arrested and killed, suppressing the communist rebellion.

Question 6

Rise of extremism as a result of Great Depression

Answer 6

By 1932, 52% of seats in Reichstag held by parties committed to destruction of Weimar constitution.
Many workers turned to communism. KPD’s paramilitary group (communist red fighting league) clashed with police and SA frequently.

Question 7

What was the political failure as a result of the Great Depression?

Answer 7

March 1930 Müller (Chancellor) resigns following refusal from Hindenburg to provide Müller’s gov with emergency powers available under article 48. Replaced by Brüning, ineffective policies.
July 1930 Brüning cut gov expenditure of wages, unemployment rise. Reichstag disagree with Brüning’s choices
-> Hindenburg used Article 48, undermining democracy, weakens Reichstag
Ready for Hitler to try to gain power.