Political instability in early Weimar 1918-23 Flashcards
How many seats in the Reichstag did the SPD lose between 1919-20?
60 (163 to 103)
Did anti-Weimar parties (e.g. DNVP) make big gains in Reichstag elections 1919-20?
Yes
Were all Weimar governments coalitions?
Yes
How many coalition governments were there 1918-23?
Nine
Who led the Spartacist uprising against Ebert’s government in 1919?
Liebknecht and Luxemburg
Who helped the army crush the uprising?
Freikorps
What left wing party was created in January 1919?
KPD (Communist Party)
Where were there further left wing attempts at risings March-April 1919?
Halle, Ruhr& Saxony
Were left-wing risings ever a serious threat to Weimar?
Debatable. Without support of Reichswehr…probably not
Did right-wing extremists pose a serious threat to Weimar?
Yes - arguably they had support of Reichswehr
The spark for the Kapp Putsch was the attempted disbandment of Freikorps in January 1920. Who ordered the disbandment?
Gustav Noske
Who refused to disband the Freikorp?
General von Luttwitz - in charge of the army around Berlin
Who was Wolfgang Kapp?
Right wing civil servant and politician
Who told his troops not to oppose the Kapp Putsch?
General von Seeckt, head of the Reichwehr
What prevented the Kapp Putsch from succeeding in March 1920?
A General Strike called by unions and socialists
What groups acted as right wing paramilitaries after the Freikorp were disbanded?
‘Patriotic Leagues’
Which left wing USPD leader was assassinated in October 1919 (died of wounds Nov)?
Hugo Haase
Which group assassinated Matthias Erzberger who signed Versailles?
Organisation Consul
When was Weimar minister Walter Rathenau assassinated by right wing extremists?
June 1922
How many political assassinations were there 1919-23?
376 (22 by left, 354 by right)
What law did Weimar pass to try to prevent extremist violence?
Law for ‘protection of the Republic’
Why was the Law for the protection of the Republic ineffective?
Judges did not enforce it
How many right wing assassins were not punished?
326
Who was the right wing ‘Minister-President’ of Bavaria 1919-20 and State-Commissioner General in Bavaria in 1923?
Gustav von Kahr
