Murders and Uprisings 1920-1924

Question 1

When was the Kapp Putsch?

Answer 1

March 1920.

Question 2

Those in the Kapp Putsch had right or left-wing beliefs?

Answer 2

Right-wing.

Question 3

Who led the Kapp Putsch?

Answer 3

Wolfgang Kapp.

Question 4

How many men did Kapp gather for the Kapp Putsch?

Answer 4

Around 5000.

Question 5

What is another name for the men led by Wolfgang Kapp in the Kapp Putsch?

Answer 5

The Free Corps.

Question 6

What city did the Free Corps take over?

Answer 6

The capital city, Berlin.

Question 7

Give 4 left-wing beliefs:

Answer 7

-There should be equality
-Workers should have power and rule the country as a collection of workers’ councils
-Change is welcome
-Anti-right-wing

Question 8

Give 4 right-wing beliefs:

Answer 8

-Strong rulers should rule over the people
-There should be major differences between people
-Change is not welcome
-Anti-left-wing

Question 9

What is an example of a political party with ‘left-wing’ beliefs?

Answer 9

The Communist Party.

Question 10

What is an example of a political party with ‘right-wing’ beliefs?

Answer 10

The Nazis.

Question 11

What were Wolfgang Kapp’s 3 aims for the Kapp Putsch?

Answer 11

-Eventually take over the whole country
-Make the army strong again
-Recover the lands that Germany had lost during the Treaty of Versailles

Question 12

Who did not support Kapp during the Kapp Putsch?

What did this means?

Answer 12

Workers didn’t support him and they all went on strike, resulting in no gas, water, electricity or trains.

Question 13

How long was Wolfgang Kapp the leader of Germany before he gave in and fled abroad?

Answer 13

100 hours.

Question 14

When was the Red Rising?

Answer 14

1920.

Question 15

What was the Red Rising?

Answer 15

As soon as Kapp fled abroad, left-wing workers in the industrial area of the Ruhr stayed on strike, rose up and took over several towns.

Question 16

Why was the Red Rising given the name it was?

Answer 16

Red is the traditional colour of communism and left-wing supports.

Question 17

Who did the government send to deal with the Red Rising rebellion?

Answer 17

Soldiers and some Free corps.

Question 18

How many workers were killed in the Red Rising?

Answer 18

Over 1000.

Question 19

What kind of tactics did some groups use against the government to eliminate those who accepted the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 19

Terror tactics.

Question 20

How many political murders were there between 1919 and 1922?

Who were these mostly carried out by?

Answer 20

Over 350, mostly carried out by right-wing extremists.

Question 21

Who was Matthias Erzberger?

Answer 21

The man who signed the armistice in 1918.

Question 22

What year was Matthias Erzberger shot dead?

Answer 22

1921.

Question 23

Who shot Matthias Erzberger?

Answer 23

A right-wing group.

Question 24

What important politician in the Weimar government had acid thrown on him?

Answer 24

Philipp Scheidemann.

Question 25

Why did Hitler hate the politicians who ended the war?

Answer 25

He was an ex-soldier, and hated the politicians who ended the war which Germany had not lost on the battlefield.

Question 26

When did Hitler first discover the German Workers’ Party?

Answer 26

May 1919.

Question 27

What did Hitler do when he joined the German Workers’ Party?

Answer 27

He immediately began attracting new members: He put advertisements in newspapers and held public meetings all over Germany.

Question 28

What skill did Hitler have which helped fascinate audiences?

Answer 28

He was a brilliant public speaker.

Question 29

How was the Nazi Party born?

Answer 29

Hitler, as the leader of the German Workers’ Party, made some changes to the party including changing its name to the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP). This was known as the Nazi party for short.

Question 30

Who were Hitler’s stormtroopers?

Answer 30

A private army of thugs to beat up anyone who disagreed with him.

Question 31

How many Nazi Party members were there in 1920 to 1921?

Answer 31

There were 3000 members in 1920 and 5000 in 1921.

Question 32

When was the Munich Putsch?

Answer 32

8 November 1923.

Question 33

What did Hitler interrupt at the Munich Putsch?

Answer 33

Gustav Von kahr, the head of the Bavarian government, speaking in a beer hall in Munich.

Question 34

What did Hitler do at the Munich Putsch?

Answer 34

He fired a bullet into the ceiling and announced that he was taking over Bavaria, and then he would march to Berlin and take over the whole country. He locked Kahr and his companion in a small room

Question 35

What did Hitler’s Stormtroopers do around Munich after the Munich Putsch?

Answer 35

They took control of government buildings and arrested officials.

Question 36

Who walked into the Munich Putsch and said he supported Hitler?

Answer 36

General Ludendorff.

Question 37

What happened on the morning after the Munich Putsch?

Answer 37

Kahr promised to help Hitler and was released, but he went back on his word and contacted the police. when Hitler and about 2000 supporters began their march through Munich’s streets, they were met by armed police.

Question 38

Who died in the short gun battle between armed police and Hitler with his supporters when marching in Munich?

Answer 38

3 policemen and 16 Nazis.

Question 39

What was Hitler put on trial for after the Munich Putsch?

Answer 39

Treason.

Question 40

How long did Hitler’s trial last after the Munich Putsch?

Answer 40

24 days.

Question 41

How could you describe the popularity of Hitler’s trial?

Answer 41

It was a media sensation, reported in newspapers all over Germany.

Question 42

How did Hitler take advantage of his trial?

Answer 42

As it was the largest audience he ever had, he used every chance to criticise the government and put across his political views.

Question 43

After impressing the judges, how long had Hitler been sentenced to prison and what happened to Ludendorff?

Answer 43

Ludendorff was set free and Hitler sentenced for 5 years in prison (he could’ve been executed for such a serious crime).

Question 44

What was ‘Mein Kampf’?

Answer 44

A book Hitler wrote in prison which became a bestseller. It described his life story and political views.

Question 45

How long had Hitler been in prison before being released?

Answer 45

Just 9 months.

Question 46

What was the impact of the Munich Putsch on Hitler?

Answer 46

He realised he had to change his strategy, and the Nazis would have to stand in elections and win votes like any other political party. He knew they would have to win power democratically instead of forcefully.