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Threats to the Weimar Republic: Left vs Right

Explore the challenges faced by the Weimar Republic from both communist-inspired disorder on the Left and extreme right-wing threats on the Right, including key events like the Kapp Putsch.

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Threats to the Weimar Republic: Left vs Right

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  1. Challenges to the Republic Which was more threatening the Left or the Right?

  2. KPD • Communist inspired disorder continued throughout 1919 • The risings were put down by the Freikorps • The soviet Republic of Bavaria was crushed by the Freikorps. • Further risings in the Ruhr 1920, Saxony 1923 and Hamburg 1923 failed

  3. Support? • Support came from working class discontent, and soldiers returning to starving families. • Rallies and demonstrations attracted large numbers • They had the backing of Lenin’s Russia • But they had very little popular support only 12.6% of the vote • They were poorly led • Employers undermined protests by granting concessions

  4. Threat from the Right • More serious threat • Deeper roots in society • Lots of extreme right wing parties eg DNVP and NSDAP • Paramilitary organisations like the Freikorps and the Stahlehelm 400,000 ex service men who were the private army of the DNVP

  5. Support? • Supporters of the right held key positions in German society. • The army’s attitude was of “ contemptuous loyalty” • Judiciary, police, university lecturers, teachers, civil service all hostile to the republic.

  6. Kapp Putsch • Order to Freikorps to disband. • Luttwitz commander of Berlin garrison and Wolfgang Kapp founder of the Fatherland Party led a putsch to overthrow the government. • Marinebrigade Ehrhardt marched on the Brandenburg gate to be greeted by Ludendorff • Ebert and government fled • Seeckt commander in chief of the army refused to act saying: • “The army does not fire on the army”

  7. Response • A general strike paralysed the city. • The Putsch collapsed • Despite widespread criticism of the army little was done to discipline them. • A protest against the putsch sparked a red rising in the Ruhr. • Army and the Freikorps were sent in • A grateful government drew a veil over their involvement. • Kapp died while awaiting trial • Luttwitz retired and Ehrhardt wasn’t arrested • Crispien USPD leader said” a year after November 1918 when the powers of the past were overthrown, the old forces are again the power of the present.”

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