Political crisis to the government 1918-1923 (CH1) Flashcards
Name the two main political crisis’
Spartacist and kapp putsch
Describe the political spectrum
Far Left - Dictatorship (appeals to workers)
Centre Left - Democratic (appeals to workers)
Centre - Democratic (appeals to everyone)
Centre Right - Democratic (appeals to rich or nationalists)
Far Right - Dictatorship (appeals to rich or nationalists)]
Who led the Spartacist uprising?
They were communists led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht
What were the aims of the Spartacists? and who supported them?
They wanted a Germany led by Workers’ councils or soviets. Wanted Germany to be a communist country
Supported by Rebel soldiers/sailors and working class
What did the Spartacists try to do?
- In January 1919 they began a revolt in Berlin
- Took control of the Government’s Newspaper headquarters and the telegraph bureau, but they failed to capture anything else
How were the Spartacists defeated?
- The Weimar government used the Freikorps to defeat them
- They murdered the leaders
Who led the Kapp Putsch?
Wolfgang Kapp
Consisted of ex-military soldiers (Freikorps)
What were the aims of the Spartacists? and Who supported them?
They resented the new Germany and hated the humiliation of the TOV. They wanted a strong leader and hated communism.
Supported by the middle/upper class, unemployed, ex-soldiers and people who feared the communists
What did the Freikorps try to do? (Kapp Putsch)
They attempted to overthrow the Weimar Republic. They marched into Berlin and took over the Reichstag and other key political buildings. they swiftly occupied government buildings and met no opposition
How was the Freikorps defeated?
Ebert had to leave Berlin but ordered the army to stop the Freikorps but they turned on him. He had no support from his army, so he turned to the ordinary people and called for a General strike so services came to a halt.
Why did the Spartacists not succeed?
They were no match for the army and the Freikorps as they did not have anything planned out
They did not have the support from other Left groups
Why did the Kapp Putsch not succeed?
The original people obeyed the Ebert government. The Freikorps wouldn’t be able to defeat 12 million workers
They realised the people of Berlin were going to side with Ebert and no support the new right wing government
When did the Spartacist happen?
January 1919
When did the Kapp Putsch happen?
March 1920
