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Challenges to the Republic

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

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Challenges to the Republic

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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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