Putsches, revolts and army (right wing) Flashcards
Threats from the EXTREME RIGHT
When was the Kapp Putsch?
13 March 1920
Who organised the Kapp Putsch?
- General Lutwittz (Freikorps Chief)
- Wolfgang Kapp
- Herman Erhadt
Why did the Freikorps take over Berlin?
They were unhappy with the terms of the Treaty of Versailles as it meant that they would be disbanded and therefore left unemployed. These soldiers longed for war and didn’t want a life without it.
What did the government do?
They fled to Stuttgart. They asked for help from the army but General von Seekt refused.
Why did General von Seekt refuse to help?
von Seekt believed in the idea that TROOPS DO NOT SHOOT TROOPS
This meant that he had to disregard the Ebert-Groner pact as he would not willingly order his troops to fire on other soldiers.
Therefore, there was no opposition to the takeover of Berlin by the Freikorps.
Why did the Kapp Putsch fail?
It failed because of a general strike being called.
This meant that the workers of Berlin refused to cooperate with the Freikorps and therefore the Freikorps lost any kind of support/backing.
The government came back to Berlin and arrested the individuals responsible.
What happened to the perpetrators?
Kapp - died in Prison awaiting trial (natural death)
Luttwitz- given early retirement
Scarce punishments compared to the harsh killings of the Left-Wing socialists
How many were found guilty?
1 out of 750 was found guilty
They were given a 5 year sentence
What happened to von Seekt?
He got promoted because the government needed someone to put down the Red Army of the Ruhr which was a left-wing uprising.
When was the Munich Beer Hall Putsch?
8 November 1923
Who led the Munich putsch?
Adolf Hitler and followers of his party, the NSDAP (Nazi Party), which included Rudolf Hess, Herman Goring, Heincrich Himmler and even General Ludendorff. The Nazi Party were an extreme far right-wing racist political party in Germany with strong anti-semetic beliefs.
What were Hitler’s political aims?
Hitler wanted to unify Germany by creating a Greater Germany which later become the Third Reich. He wanted to bring together all german speaking people, regardless of their country, together. He was infuriated with the Treaty of Versailles and how Germany was being bullied around by the western powers.
What was Hitler looking to achieve with the putsch?
He was worried that the ultra-conservative leader of Bavaria, Gustav von Kahr, was trying to create an independant Bavaria. Hitler was hoping to do a ‘march on Berlin’ (similar to Mussolini’s march on Rome) and therefore needed the support of Bavaria. He could not afford to lose Bavaria…
What happened during the Pustch?
Hitler and his SA (Nazi stormtroopers) stormed a beer hall in Munich where von Kahr was present. Hitler used his persuasive skills to try to convice von Kahr to stay and not seek independance. von Kahr agreed however this was just to delay time as he knew help was on the way.
Why did the Munich putsch ‘fail’?
The government sent in the Reichswehr and the Bavarian police to shut down the putsch. An armed fight preceded and Hitler was injured. Many Nazis were killed. Hitler was taken prisoner. Ludendorff fled…
