Political Unrest 1920s

Created by

Sam

Cards (17)

Left-wing ideas 
Political belief that promotes equality, high taxation of the rich and the redistribution of wealth.
Right-Wing ideas 
Promote individuals, tradition and the chance to get rich or protect what you have. There should be a strong government run by the elite or a single ruler.
Causes of unrest
The Weimar government was seen as ineffective and unable to deal with Germany's problems. Right wing groups wanted a stronger government run by the elite. Communists wanted government by the workers.
Wolfgang Kapp 
Right-wing politician who was unhappy about the Weimar government and wanted to introduce a stronger government run by the elite.
The Kapp Putsch
In March 1920, Kapp, gathered 5600 men, mainly police and ex-soldiers - Freikorps and took over Berlin.
Kapp's Aims 
To take over the whole of Germany and take back the land Germany had lost in the Treaty of Versailles
Government Action 
Ebert and the government fled. They had no army to put down the Putsch.
Strikes
The workers did not support the Putsch so went on strike. With no gas, electricity or trains Kapp could not run the country.
Outcomes
Kapp fled abroad and the government returned to Berlin
The Red Rising 
After the Kapp Putsch, left-wing workers in the industrial Ruhr region stayed on strike
Workers' Demands 
They wanted to improve their working conditions and wages. Some also wanted a communist government.
Worker's Council 
They workers took over several towns setting up councils to run the town
Violence 
The government sent soldiers and some Freikorps units to suppress the uprising. Over 1,000 workers were killed before they eventually gave in
1919 and 1922 
Saw over 350 political murders in Germany. Most were carried out by right-wing extremists.
Revenge 
They murderers wanted to punish those that had signed the Treaty of Versailles
Matthias Erzberger 
The man who signed the Armistice in November 1918 was shot dead by a right-wing group
Foreign Minister
Walter Rathenau was killed