Political instability and extremism

Question 1

What were the problems with coalitions

Answer 1

• no one party ever able to form a majority gov -> all Govs were coalitions.
• many parties were dedicated to overthrow Rep (e.g. KPD, DNVP (right)) -> harder to create stability.
• in times of crisis, society was more polarised -> support for moderate parties decreased -> more extreme parties gained support.
• 1919 - Nov 1923 -> a total of 10 coalitions.
  -> extreme parties benefitted from instability.
  E.g.
  -> Konstantin Fehrenbach cabinet fell as it couldn’t agree if they should accept terms of reparations in June 1920.
  -> Phillip Scheidemann couldn’t agree to T of V in Feb 1919.

Question 2

Explain the key challenges from the left

Answer 2

• 5 Jan 1919, Spartacists led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemberg.
  -> armed uprising in Berlin to overthrow Ebert’s government and set up revolutionary communist regime.
• poorly prepared / supported -> not secured majority of working class in Berlin.
• Ebert relied on Army -> Groener turned to Freikorps (paramilitary group).
• Freikorps -> General Grüner encouraged former officers to recruit volunteers -> included NCOs (corporals and sergeants), students and drifters -> displayed full expression of ‘aggression and revenge’.
  -> shows more genuine support for right wing than left wing, which had little support.
  -> 13 Jan, rising was crushed -> leaders executed.
• Ebert’s reliance on the army deepened divisions on the left.
• Left wing was not a threat -> was damaged by fear of red revolution which scared middle class into supporting right-wing parties / groups.

Question 3

Give the key features of the Kapp Putsch (challenge from the right)

Answer 3

• General Luttwitz refused to disband one of his Freikorps units in response to the need to reduce the army -> gov order his arrest.
• Luttwitz marches troops to Berlin in protest and other officers gave support.
  -> supported by right-wing politician Wolfganna Kapp
• General Ludendorgg and Seeckt noncommittal but sympathetic.
• Ebert’s gov fled to Dresden -> when calling regular army to resist, Seeckt said ‘troops do not fire on troops’.
  -> this was a dangerous situation but they were faced with civilian hostility.
• Civil servants and bankers displayed hostility and Putsch was unable to gather support, even from the right.
• trade unions encouraged by gov to hold a general strike.
  -> Putsch collapsed within 4 days.

Question 4

What was the impact of the Munich Putsch

Answer 4

• showed the army was not fully loyal, showed that without Army support, government was weak.
• Right-wing judges show leniancy to participants of the Putsch.

Question 5

What were Patriotic Leagues

Answer 5

• acted as anti-rep paramilitaries -> quite powerful and were covertly supported by the army.
  -> committed to supporting the ‘November Criminal’.
• the organisation-consul: group formed by ex-Freikorps after failed Putsch, ultra-nationalist.

Question 6

How was Matthias Erzberger assassinated

Answer 6

• Aug 1921, assassinated in the Black Forest by the Organisation Consul.
• He led delegation for signing the armistice and signed T of V.
  -> also representative on the reparations committee.
  -> former finance minister.

Question 7

How was Walter Rathenau

Answer 7

• 24 June 1922 -> organisation Consul.
• Foreign minister.
• ‘crimes’: was a Jew and a leading minister in the Republic.
• Participant in the T of V and negotiated to try to improve the terms.
• Value of the mark fell after his assassination.

Question 8

How many assassinations were there

Answer 8

• total of 376 assassinations 1919-1923: 22 left-wings, 354 right-ring.

Question 9

How did the Republic respond to the assassinations

Answer 9

• July 1922 -> Reich passes the law for ‘protection of the Rep’ -> harsh penalties and banned extreme groups.
• an ineffective law -> judges were right-wing sympathisers.
  -> Rathenau’s killers received an avg of only 4 years each in prison.
• 26 right-wing people were unpunished -> whereas 10 left-wings were given the death penalty.
• arrogance of nationalists increased -> could get away with murder.
• Gov worried about left-wing -> undermine the threat of the right and were afraid to upset the left.
  -> didn’t want increased right-wing support due to fear of Red Rising -> so focused on the left threats.

Question 10

Explain how the impact of the Ruhr invasion was a factor in motivating the Beer Hall Putsch

Answer 10

• Many blamed the gov -> middle class support damaged.
• occupation of Ruhr and hyperinflation fuelled motives of Bavarian-based party the Nazis.
• Sep 1923 -> Stresemann calls off passive resistance -> seen as betrayal.
• In the Bavarian capital, Munich, there was a growing desire for a ‘march on Berlin’ to establish a dictatorship.

Question 11

Give the features of the Beer Hall Putsch

Answer 11

• Nov 1923 -> Hitler secured support of Ludendorff.
• Burst into Munich Hall where both were addressing a meeting of 2000 -> surrounded by SA.
  -> announced the start of the revolution.
• Gustav von Lahr and Otto von Lasso were coerced to agree with the plan to have a revolution and install Ludendorff as commander in chief.
• however support evaporated.
• SA unable to occupy army barracks.
• resulted in a battle with police.

Impact:
- showed the importance of the army for the survival of he republic.
- Hitler was imprisoned and the Nazis were banned.
- given only a 5 year sentence and furthermore, only served 9 months.