1. Which of the following posed the greater threat to the stability of the
Weimar Republic in the period from 1919 to 1923?
(i) Communist revolts
(ii) The Kapp Putsch
Whilst both communist revolts and the Kapp putsch posed a threat to the
stability of the Weimar republic in the period from 1919-1923 the Kapp putsch
had more significantly highlighted the lack of support for Weimar and therefore
played a bigger role in the instability of Weimar republic.
The communist revolts such as the Spartacist uprising in 1919 led by Rosa
Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht showed the instability of Weimar as there was a
mass group trying to overthrow the government. By 5 th of January 100,000
people went on strikes and occupied public buildings in Berlin which proved to
challenge Weimar and its authority. However, the Freikorps, ex-army soldiers, put
an end to this demonstration after 3 days of savage fighting and 100 workers
killed including the leaders this became known as “bloody week”. With the
backing of the Freikorps there was no real threat posed to Weimar however it
was clear that a section of society especially the workers and lower middle-class
people resented Weimar and wanted to see an end to the republic and replace it
with a soviet style regime. Other communist revolts such as Red Bavaria and the
German October were all able to be crushed by the Freikorps using white terror
therefore it is clear that the communist revolts seemed to initially pose as a
threat to Weimar but because of their bad co-ordination and the Freikorps
strength it wasn’t a great threat.
The Kapp putsch which took place on 13 th March 1920 was a right-wing coup with
the aims to overthrow Weimar. Due to the terms of the treaty of Versailles the
government began to disband the Freikorps which was seen as an opportunity for
the troop of 12,000 to march into Berlin and declare Wolfgang Kapp as
chancellor. Whilst the army didn’t support the Putsch, they didn’t put it down
either which was not only a humiliation to Weimar but also highlighted the idea
that the republic couldn’t fully rely upon by the army who was clearly more
sympathetic towards the right-wing nationalists. The threat to Weimar was saved
by the backing of the people as the Kapp was only defeated due to trade unions
calling a general strike which cut off water, electricity, and gas. Whilst the
backing of the people was seen as a success for Weimar the army’s resistance to
support the legitimate government was a huge weakness for Weimar and
highlighted the underlying weaknesses in Weimar’s military protection therefore
it was much greater threat than the communist revolt which was single handedly
put down by the Freikorps.
Weimar Republic in the period from 1919 to 1923?
(i) Communist revolts
(ii) The Kapp Putsch
Whilst both communist revolts and the Kapp putsch posed a threat to the
stability of the Weimar republic in the period from 1919-1923 the Kapp putsch
had more significantly highlighted the lack of support for Weimar and therefore
played a bigger role in the instability of Weimar republic.
The communist revolts such as the Spartacist uprising in 1919 led by Rosa
Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht showed the instability of Weimar as there was a
mass group trying to overthrow the government. By 5 th of January 100,000
people went on strikes and occupied public buildings in Berlin which proved to
challenge Weimar and its authority. However, the Freikorps, ex-army soldiers, put
an end to this demonstration after 3 days of savage fighting and 100 workers
killed including the leaders this became known as “bloody week”. With the
backing of the Freikorps there was no real threat posed to Weimar however it
was clear that a section of society especially the workers and lower middle-class
people resented Weimar and wanted to see an end to the republic and replace it
with a soviet style regime. Other communist revolts such as Red Bavaria and the
German October were all able to be crushed by the Freikorps using white terror
therefore it is clear that the communist revolts seemed to initially pose as a
threat to Weimar but because of their bad co-ordination and the Freikorps
strength it wasn’t a great threat.
The Kapp putsch which took place on 13 th March 1920 was a right-wing coup with
the aims to overthrow Weimar. Due to the terms of the treaty of Versailles the
government began to disband the Freikorps which was seen as an opportunity for
the troop of 12,000 to march into Berlin and declare Wolfgang Kapp as
chancellor. Whilst the army didn’t support the Putsch, they didn’t put it down
either which was not only a humiliation to Weimar but also highlighted the idea
that the republic couldn’t fully rely upon by the army who was clearly more
sympathetic towards the right-wing nationalists. The threat to Weimar was saved
by the backing of the people as the Kapp was only defeated due to trade unions
calling a general strike which cut off water, electricity, and gas. Whilst the
backing of the people was seen as a success for Weimar the army’s resistance to
support the legitimate government was a huge weakness for Weimar and
highlighted the underlying weaknesses in Weimar’s military protection therefore
it was much greater threat than the communist revolt which was single handedly
put down by the Freikorps.
