Kapp Putch Flashcards
(7 cards)
When was the Kapp Putch
March 1920
What triggered the Kapp Putch
The government removed von Luttwitz from several posts for urging defiance of the Versailles Treaty
What did his removal from government cause von Luttwitz to do?
He connected a 6,000 strong Freikorps unit
What happened on March 15th (Kapp Putch)
The Ehrhardt brigade took up critical points around Berlin
How did von Luttwitz try to disguise the putch
To disguise the military nature of the putch, von Luttwitz recruited Wolfgang Kapp who issued a public statement legitimising the putch, caliming the Germany was in danger of a communist invasion
Why did the Kapp Putch fail
The Reichswehr (army) were divided. They defied government orders to move against the rebelious Freikorps in Berlin, but also ignored Kapp’s call to arms against the government
What did the Kapp Putch expose
The critical weakness of the Weimar government and highlighted the Reichswehr and Freikorps as forces of considerable political influence
