The unrest of 1918-23 Flashcards
In general, what were the challenges faced by the Weimar Government between 1918 and 1923?
- The country was ruined by war.
- A revolutionary mood in the country.
- Weak constitution.
- Treaty of Versailles had devastating effects.
- Left + right wing uprisings.
- Political murders.
What was the mood of left wing extremists?
The communists wanted worker-owned business and shared profits.
In 1918, there was revolution in the air; workers were beginning to set up council.
The prospect of a communist revolution loomed over the Weimar government. The communist revolution in Russia in 1917 had spread ideas of revolution to Germany.
What happened in the Spartacist Uprising?
The Spartacists were a communist group, led by Karl Liebnecht and Rosa Luxemburg.
In 1919, 50,000 Spartacists attempted to overthrow the Weimar government. They managed to capture the government newspaper.
Ebert had to use the army and right-wing Freikorps to put down the rebellion. Liebnicht and Luxembourg were murdered, to serve as a message that this kind of resistance would not be tolerated.
What was the mood of right wing extremists?
Nationalists wanted a military dictatorship. They despised the WR for bringing shame to Germany by signing the ToV.
What was the cause of the Kapp Putsch?
In 1920, Ebert tried to reduce the size of the army and disband the Friekorps. There was uproar.
What happened in the right wing Kapp Putsch?
In 1920, after Ebert tried to disband the Friekorps, Wolfgang Kapp (politician and leader of the Friekorps) used the army to take over government buildings, declaring a military, right-wing government.
The Weimar government fled, ordering the army to stop the Putsch, but they refused to. Ebert called on the workers of Berlin to strike; they agreed and the Putsch failed.
Give an example of a left wing uprising, other than the Spartacist one.
In 1920, a week after the Kapp Putsch, the communist group “Red Army” rebelled in the Ruhr. They were put down by the army.
How many political murders were there between 1919 and 1922?
376.
There were 376 political murders between which years?
1919 and 1923.
Give 2 examples of political murders which occurred between 1918 and 1923.
- Matthias Erzberger, a politician and “November Criminal” who signed the ToV, was killed in 1921.
- In 1922, Walther Rathenau, the foreign minister, was murdered.
