Tension 1918-23 Flashcards
What agreement did Ebert make with the Army leader Groener?
The army would support them against revolution in return for supplies.
This made Weimar dependent on the army - they looked weak.
What events lead to the Spartacist uprising ?
In December 1918 the Spartacist League held demonstrations in the streets leading to the Reichswehr putting them down. 16 died, and this led to the formation of the Communist Party (KPD) in Dec 1918.
Who led the Spartacists?
Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg.
What happened at the uprising?
The uprising happened on January 6th 1919, and involved the Spartacist League attempting to take over Ebert and the Weimar Republic.
Ebert and Noske the defense minister set the Reichswehr on the fighters and within days the protest was over and the ringleaders killed.
This led to further unrest as in March 1000 were killed in another Communist uprising in Berlin and in April a Munich uprising was crushed.
Describe the key features of the Kapp Putsch.
Who? Wolfgang Kapp and Ehrhardt, the leader of the Freikorps.
What? A putsch in Berlin to take over. The government moved to Dresden and then Stuttgart, but the public including trade unionists and civil servants held a strike to starve the putschers out. The Reichswehr was commanded by General Luttwitz and supported the uprising.
When? 13 March 1920.
Where? Berlin.
Why? Announcements to reduce the army size and disband Freikorps.
What were the implications of the Kapp Putsch?
A communist uprising in the Ruhr was brutally put down by the army and hundreds were killed a week later.
More than 400 Reichswehr soldiers were involved but few punished.
Violence continued over the next two years between the left and ring with 376 murders, 354 committed by the right, and ten left wingers sentenced to death.
Why was a revolution feared?
The Germans had suffered from British naval blockades causing food shortages, inflation, and a threat of a communist revolution.
Many Germans were inspired by the communists who took part in the Bolshevik Revolution. This saw Lenin and Trotsky take over the Provisional Government. In October 1918 the sailors, soldiers and workers set up councils, (Soviets).
