1920: The Kapp Putsch (& Ongoing Political Violence) | GCSE History Revision | Weimar & Nazi Germany

Summary

In 1920, Germany faced intense political turmoil as the government, led by Chancellor Ebert, struggled to control a growing crisis. Former soldiers, frustrated by unemployment after the Treaty of Versailles, formed the dangerous right-wing paramilitary group, the Freikorps, and attempted a coup in Berlin. Despite Ebert's efforts, the revolt led to widespread strikes and the temporary collapse of the government. This chaos was compounded by ongoing political violence, with several key politicians assassinated between 1919 and 1922. Amidst this instability, private paramilitary groups gained power, further escalating tensions within the country.

Takeaways

• 😀 The German government under Chancellor Ebert struggled to control political violence and uprisings in 1920.
• 😀 The Kapp Putsch was a significant right-wing rebellion in March 1920, where 5,000 armed men marched on Berlin.
• 😀 Ebert's government was already weakened by opposition from both the left and right, and facing the aftermath of the Spartacus Revolt.
• 😀 The Kapp Putsch occurred partly due to the fear of unemployment among former soldiers, as the Treaty of Versailles had restricted the German army size.
• 😀 Ebert called on German generals to suppress the Kapp Putsch, but they failed to act against the rebels.
• 😀 In response to the political crisis, the German government urged passive resistance, leading to strikes and disruptions of essential services.
• 😀 The Kapp Putsch ultimately failed when its leader, Kapp, fled and was later captured and imprisoned.
• 😀 The aftermath of the Kapp Putsch led to a return of the Weimar government, but political violence continued with a series of assassinations of key figures.
• 😀 Between 1919 and 1922, there were 376 political murders in Germany, most of them left-wing politicians, with judges often siding with right-wing criminals.
• 😀 Political parties formed paramilitary groups, such as the KPD's Red Front Fighters and the SPD's Spanish Sports Court, often leading to violent clashes.

Q & A

What was the Kapp Putsch and why did it occur?

The Kapp Putsch was an attempted coup in March 1920, led by right-wing paramilitary forces known as the Freikorps. It occurred because these groups feared unemployment after the Weimar government ordered the disbandment of the Freikorps, which had been formed during World War I. The Freikorps marched on Berlin, hoping to overthrow the republic and establish a new government.

Why did the German military, led by General Erich von der March, refuse to intervene against the Kapp Putsch?

The German military refused to intervene because many of its members, including General Erich von der March, were former soldiers themselves and had a strong affinity with the Freikorps. Fearing for their own safety, they chose not to engage in the conflict, leaving the Weimar government powerless in dealing with the uprising.

How did the Weimar government respond to the Kapp Putsch?

The Weimar government, unable to rely on the military, resorted to urging passive resistance. They called for a general strike, which paralyzed essential services in Berlin, such as electricity, water, and transport. This non-violent resistance eventually forced the Kapp forces to give up after four days.

What role did the Freikorps play in earlier events in Germany?

The Freikorps had previously played a significant role in suppressing the Spartacus Uprising in 1919, which was a communist revolt against the Weimar government. Their military experience made them a valuable resource for the government, but they later became a threat to the stability of the republic due to their political leanings.

What was the impact of the Kapp Putsch on the Weimar Republic?

While the Kapp Putsch ultimately failed, it exposed the Weimar Republic's weakness, as it demonstrated that the government could not rely on the military to protect it. The event also highlighted the growing influence of right-wing paramilitary groups and the general instability of the political environment in Germany at the time.

What was the significance of the Kapp Putsch's failure?

The failure of the Kapp Putsch marked the collapse of the immediate rebellion, but it did not solve Germany's political problems. The government's reliance on passive resistance was a temporary solution, and the failure of the Putsch showed the inability of the Weimar government to fully control the country, leaving the republic vulnerable to future uprisings and political violence.

What were the broader consequences of political violence in the early Weimar Republic?

The early Weimar Republic was marked by intense political violence, with 376 political murders occurring between 1919 and 1922, many of them targeting left-wing politicians. Right-wing extremists, however, often escaped justice, leading to further unrest and the rise of paramilitary groups on both sides of the political spectrum, escalating the instability in Germany.

How did political assassinations affect the Weimar government?

Political assassinations severely undermined the legitimacy of the Weimar government. Many of the victims were prominent left-wing politicians, and the lack of legal action against right-wing murderers eroded public confidence in the government. This allowed extremist factions to grow in strength and further destabilize the political landscape.

Why did different political factions form their own private armies?

As political violence escalated and the government failed to protect them, various political factions, including the KPD (Communists), SPD (Social Democrats), and DNVP (German National People's Party), formed their own private armies. These paramilitary groups were meant to protect their meetings and supporters from violence, but they often contributed to further clashes and bloodshed.

What was the fate of Kapp after the failure of the Putsch?

After the failure of the Kapp Putsch, its leader, Kapp, attempted to flee but was caught and imprisoned. He later died in prison. His capture and subsequent death marked the end of the rebellion, but the instability it created continued to affect the Weimar Republic.