Kapp Putsch Flashcards
Closer look (15 cards)
What was the Kapp Putsch?
A right-wing coup attempt to overthrow the Weimar government in March 1920.
Who led the Kapp Putsch?
Wolfgang Kapp, a right-wing journalist and politician.
Who supported Kapp in the Putsch?
General Walther von Lüttwitz and Freikorps units.
What was Walther von Lüttwitz’s role in the Kapp Putsch?
He led the Freikorps troops that marched on Berlin and supported the coup.
What was the role of the Freikorps in the Putsch?
Armed ex-soldiers who wanted to restore authoritarian rule; helped seize Berlin.
How did the German army respond to the Kapp Putsch?
The Reichswehr refused to fire on the Freikorps, claiming ‘the army does not fire on the army.’
What happened to the Weimar government during the Putsch?
They fled Berlin to avoid arrest or violence.
What did Wolfgang Kapp declare after seizing Berlin?
He formed a new government and declared the Weimar Republic dissolved.
How did the German public respond to the Kapp Putsch?
Workers went on a general strike, paralysing transport and services.
Why did the Kapp Putsch fail?
The general strike made the country ungovernable; Kapp fled after 4 days.
When did the Kapp Putsch take place?
13–17 March 1920.
What happened to Kapp after the failed coup?
He fled to Sweden, was later arrested, and died awaiting trial.
What was the political aim of the Kapp Putsch?
To reverse the Treaty of Versailles and restore the Kaiser or a similar authoritarian regime.
What did the Kapp Putsch reveal about the Weimar Republic?
It showed the weakness of the government and lack of support from the army.
What happened to the Freikorps after the Putsch?
Many were disbanded, but some later joined the Nazi movement.
