Workbook: Opposition , control and consent Flashcards
From the booklet
Name the treaty that led to political discontent and opposition
Treaty of Versailles
Why was the Weimar government always going to have trouble controlling opposition?
- It had come to power through a revolution and it was trying to set up a new liberal democracy
- Right wing groups wanted a strong government
- Left wing groups felt the WR was not radical enough
- Democracy meant people were free to criticise the gov
Give examples of left wing uprisings
Spartacists, communist uprisings in Saxony, Bavaria and Thuringia
What did the gov use to put down left wing uprisings?
The army and or Friekorps
Name the term used to explain a takeover by the Federal gov and the army until the Weimar gov could be put back into place
Reichsexekution. The government dealt with attempts to establish communist gov in Saxony and Thuringia
Why did the Sparticists do and what happened to their revolt?
Armed workers took over key buildings like newspaper offices in Berlin. The Freikorps crushed the rebellion and executed the leaders. The government found it easy to take down left wing rebellions.
Give examples of other early communist rebellions
Communist takeovers were attempted in Bavaria in 1919 and Saxony and Thuringia in 1923
Name two right wing uprises
- Kapp Putsch 1920
- Munich Putsch 1923
Describe the events of the Kapp Putsch
- Wolfgang Kapp and the Freikorps leaders wanted to overthrow the gov
- Right wing group
- Supported by Ludendorff
- Took over Berlin on 12 March 1920
- Leaders of Kapp putsch proclaimed a new gov
- Trade Unions did not support the putsch and carried out general strike
- 4 days after the strike, putsch fell
When did Hitler carry out the Munich Putsch?
November 1923
Although seemingly a failure, how could the Putsch be seen as a success for Hitler?
- Gave him publicity at his trial
- Wrote Mein Kampf in prison
- Realised that he should attempt to take powers through legal means
Who supported the Munich Putsch?
The Nazis and Ludendorff
Who was the Ebert-Groener pact (1918) between and what did it say?
Pact between Ebert and the leader of the army. It said that the army would support the gov as long as the gov opposed left wing parties in the Reichstag
What was the agreement made between Ebert and the trade unions in 1918?
The Stinnes-Legien agreement. For their support, Ebert would pass laws on working hours and union representation.
What do the agreements (1918) show?
Ebert was willing to make half-hearted alliances with both sides
Which rebellions were the easiest for the WR to put down?
Left wing because the Freikorps were used
How many political assassinations were there between 1919 and 1922 and what does this suggest?
376 political assassinations. 326 went unpunished. Suggests the lack of support for democracy
How many governments were there between 1923-29?
- Some governments did not have a majority in the Reichstag making it very difficult to pass laws
What political parties supported the WR?
The SPD, Centre Party, DDP and DVP to varying degrees. SPD showed the most support
What percentage of people supported pro-Weimar parties in 1919, 1924, and 28?
1919 - 80%
1924 - 49%
1928 - 76% This shows support for democracy when Germany was stable
What percentage of people supported the Nazis in 1928?
2.6%. This shows lack of support for the extreme right wing parties
Give 3 other examples to show that people supported democracy
- People in Saxony were happy when the communist government was removed in 1923
- Between 1924 and 1929 there was no attempts at Putsch’s or political assassinations
- The grand coalition of 1928 commanded a secure majority in the Reichstag (60%)
Who upheld the constitution despite his authoritarian past?
President Hindenburg
What evidence is there that support for extremists still existed between 1923-29?
A quarter of people voted for parties that wished to see Weimar Democracy end:
