Threats to the Weimar government Flashcards
The Spartacist Uprising
1) During 5-12 January, 50,000 members of the German communist body called the Spartacists rebelled in Berlin, led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht
2) The poorly equipped and led Spartacists seized control of communication centers in Berlin and government buildings as well as the government printing office
3) Freiderick Ebert’s government left Berlin and set up in Weimar and called upon the Reichswehr and Freikorps to quash the rebellion
4) Bands of ex-soldiers called the Freikorps defeated the rebels. Thousands were killed during street fights in Berlin.
What happened as a result of the Spartacist uprising
Communist workers councils seized power all over Germany and the communist people’s government took control of Bavaria.
What happened to Luxemburg and Liebknecht?
They were killed by members of the Freikorps and dumped into a canal
The Kapp Putsch
The Treaty of Versailles stated that the Freikorps must be disbanded. As a reaction to this, the right-wing nationalist, Dr. Wolfgang Kapp led a Freikorps takeover in Berlin. The army refused to fight against the Freikorps and the only way it was stopped was when workers in Berlin went on strike, refusing to cooperate with him.
Other violence
Nationalist terrorists assassinator 350 government politicians including Walter Rathenau (foreign minister) and many others.
Consequences for the Weimar government
They had overcome a major threat from the communist left but at the same time the government lost considerable support from moderate socialists for the Freikorps, who had slaughtered so many communists
