Left Wing Rebellions Flashcards

1
Q

Why did the new system of government become known as the Weimar Republic?

A

After WWI, Berlin was too dangerous to establish a government. So the town of Weimar was used instead.

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2
Q

Who was the leader of the new German Republic?

A

Freidrich Ebert, a Social Democrat

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3
Q

Apart from the Kaiser’s abdication, what did the Allies demand Germany do politically?

A

Become more democratic. Replace the old, autocratic system of government (one with a single, all-powerful leader), with a more democratic system….

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4
Q

How was the new ‘democratic’ Germany greeted?

A

Unenthusiastically, particularly by those on the right-wing (conservative, traditional people) and those on the left (usually workers)

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5
Q

Which groups made up the right-wing of German society?

A
  • The army - The civil service - The judiciary (judges) - Industry bosses (e.g. big business)
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6
Q

What did the right-wing of Germany society want to see?

A

The Kaiser restored to power. (Generally, right-wing people do not like change.)

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7
Q

What did the left-wing groups want?

A

Left-wing groups - mostly Communists - believed it was time for a revolution in Germany (like in Russia in 1917)

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8
Q

What was the most famous left-wing group?

A

The Spartacists (SPART-A-CISTS)

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9
Q

Who led the Spartacists?

A

Karl Liebknecht (LIEB-KNECHT) and Rosa Luxemburg

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10
Q

When did the Spartacists attempt their uprising?

A

January 1919

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11
Q

Who crushed the Spartacist Uprising?

A

The Freikorps

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12
Q

Who were the Freikorps

A

Ex-soldiers who had formed paramilitary groups (i.e. armed groups not controlled by the government) around Germany

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13
Q

Which groups did the Freikorps hate?

A

The Communists

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14
Q

How many Spartacists were killed in the uprising?

A

100

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15
Q

How many Freikorps died in the crushing of the Spartacist uprising?

A

13 (unlucky for some)

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16
Q

What happened to Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknect and why was this important?

A

They were executed - depriving the Communists of leadership

17
Q

What happened in Bavaria shortly after the Spartacist Uprising?

A

The leader, Kurt Eisner, was murdered. Communists in Bavaria - at the time, independent from Germany - seized power and declared it a soviet republic.

18
Q

How did Ebert deal with the declaration of a ‘socialist republic’ in Bavaria?

A

He again used the Freikorps, who crushed the revolt in May 1919. Around 600 Communists were killed.

19
Q

What happened in the Ruhr in 1920?

A

Communists protested against the government.

20
Q

How did Ebert deal with the protests in the Ruhr in 1920?

A

The police, army and Freikorps were used to deal with the Communists

21
Q

Overall, how successful was Ebert during this period?

A

Pros: - He avoided a civil war/revolution (as had happened in Russia) Cons: - He looked weak because he had had to rely on the Friekorps - He lost the support of many working class people, who thought Ebert had acted ruthlessly