Was the army key in the survival of crises in 1919-23?

• Introduction

  • Context and Background: Outline the instability of the Weimar Republic due to the Treaty of Versailles, the legacies of WWI, and societal and economic unrest.
  • Key Threats: Highlight the Republic’s challenges, including:
  • Political threats from the far left and far right.
  • Economic difficulties, especially hyperinflation.
  • Central Argument: Establish the essay’s main contention — while the army was pivotal in suppressing some threats, a combination of other factors (political skills of leaders, public support) was essential to the Republic’s survival.
• Paragraph 1: Threat from the Left

  • Overview of Left-Wing Threats: Explain the far left’s attempts to overthrow the Weimar government and establish a communist regime. Main events include:
  • Spartacist Uprising (1919): Led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg, the uprising aimed to create a socialist republic.
  • Government Response: Suppressed by the Freikorps with the army’s support.
  • Impact: Left-wing threat diminished due to lack of coordination and support, but reliance on the army deepened divisions within the left.
• Para 1 p.t2 : Threat from the left

  • Bavarian Soviet Republic (1919): Radical socialist regime established in Bavaria; government used the Freikorps and army support to crush the rebellion.
  • Ruhr Strikes (1920): Initially a reaction to the Kapp Putsch, strikes escalated into demands for social reforms.
  • Response: Army and Freikorps restored order, with concessions made to workers to pacify unrest.
  • Analysis: While the army was vital in suppressing these left-wing threats, the lack of widespread support for these movements also helped in limiting their effectiveness.
• Paragraph 2 : Threat from the Right

  • Overview of Right-Wing Threats: The far-right posed a more persistent threat to the Republic due to opposition from elites, former military leaders, and nationalist groups.
  • Kapp Putsch (1920): Led by General Lüttwitz and Wolfgang Kapp, the putsch was an attempt to overthrow the Republic in response to military downsizing.
  • Government Response: The army, under General Hans von Seeckt, refused to act against the rebels.
  • Outcome: A general strike called by leftist groups forced the putsch to collapse, highlighting the army’s reluctance to defend the Republic.
• Para 2 p.t 2:

  • Munich Putsch (1923): Hitler’s failed attempt to emulate Mussolini’s March on Rome.
  • Government Response: The putsch was foiled by the Bavarian police and army, resulting in Hitler’s arrest.
  • Right-Wing Political Violence: Numerous assassinations (e.g., Walther Rathenau) by nationalist groups, with judiciary leniency indicating institutional support for the right.
  • Analysis: The far-right posed a sustained and dangerous threat; while the army was useful in suppressing the Munich Putsch, its neutrality in the Kapp Putsch showed that military support was not always reliable.
• Paragraph 3: Economic Threat

  • Economic Challenges: Highlight the economic turmoil from 1919 to 1923, including:
  • Reparations Payments: Burdened the economy and caused severe inflation.
  • Occupation of the Ruhr (1923): Triggered by reparations default, leading to strikes and a government response of printing more money.
  • Hyperinflation: By late 1923, the currency collapsed, devastating savings and livelihoods.
• Para 3 p.t 2:

  • Role of Stresemann: Focus on his leadership during the economic crisis.
  • Ending Passive Resistance: In the Ruhr, he ceased passive resistance and introduced the Rentenmark to stabilize the currency.
  • Dawes Plan: In 1924, the plan restructured reparations and provided foreign loans, easing economic pressures on Germany.
  • Analysis: While the army played a minimal role here, Stresemann’s economic strategies and diplomatic skills were key to stabilizing the Republic and gaining public confidence.
• Conclusion

  • Evaluate the Army’s Role: Summarize the army’s contribution, especially in suppressing left-wing revolts and the Munich Putsch. Highlight its unreliability during the Kapp Putsch, demonstrating that the Republic could not always depend on military support.
  • Alternative Factors: Discuss other factors critical to the Republic’s survival:
  • Political Leadership: Stresemann’s economic reforms and diplomacy were crucial in weathering the worst of the economic crisis.
• Conclusion pt.2 :

  • Public Support and Strikes: The working class’s role, particularly in the general strike against the Kapp Putsch, demonstrated the power of civil resistance in defending democracy.
  • Final Judgment: Conclude that the army’s role was important but not sufficient alone; the combination of political skill, economic measures, and public support were all crucial in ensuring the Republic’s survival during this unstable period.