Weimar Opposition Flashcards
Nov 1918
Kiel naval base mutiny
Jan 1919 - Spartakist uprising
50,000 workers in Berlin. Crushed by Freikorps.
March 1919 - Bavarian Socialist Uprising
Defended by Battalions of Red Guards. Crushed by Freikorps in May 1919
March 1920 -Kapp Putsch
12,000 members of right wing group took over Berlin and declare new government. Freikorps and army didn’t want to fight them as they were right wing too. Solved non-violently by everyone going on strike.
March 1920 - Ruhr Uprising
Ruhr controlled for several weeks by 50,000 workers joined communist army. Crushed by army and Freikorps, 1000 worker deaths.
Stab in the back myth
Many Germans believed they had been betrayed by socialists, communists, jews and politicians, and that the military hadn’t lost the war.
November 1923 - Munich Beer Hall Putsch
Hitler and 600 stormtroopers took over a meeting at the hall. Police killed 16 Nazis on 9th December. Hitler arrested 2 days later.
SA were led by
Ernest Rohm
SA had ….. members at their peak
500,000
Groups that supported the Weimar
German workers (until 1930) Working class backed them in Kapp Putsch Women as given right to vote
Groups that opposed Weimar
Middle class due to lack of political unity (didn't have 1 party) and fear of SPD turning it into a worker's country. Blamed republic for loss of savings due to HI crisis and WSC so supported NSDAP
Ebert-Groener Pact - Nov 1918
Army agreed to support the republic if they deal firmly with extreme left
Right wing extremism unpunished
1919-1922 they committed over 350 murders, of which 326 went unpunished.
Hitler only given 8 months for Munich Putsch despite treason and death of 4 policemen. Others involved went free.
Banning of extremist groups
Red Fighting League banned in 1929.
SA and SS banned in April 1932 by Bruning, ban lifted in June 1932 by Von Papen.
Bruning tried to ban uniforms in Dec 1930.
Banning of NSDAP
Nazis banned in 1922 in many states
