Threats from the right

• • Opposition to the new republic from the right.
  • Traditional conservative groups such as the army, industrialists and the freikorps.
• Kapp Putsch, March 1920

  • There was an attempt to control the freikorps' power the government announced the abolition of two of the army's bridges in February 1920.
  • One of their leaders, General Walther von luddwitz refused to obey.
  • Arranged a coup d'etat against weimar with other discontented leaders E.G Wolfgang Kapp.
• The kapp rebellion

  • 12 march - two army brigades and 12,000 freikorps members marched to Berlin.
  • The government fled from the captial, a new government was announced with app as head but it didn't win widespread support.
  • General strike was arranged in Berlin by left wing groups.
  • Reichsbank refused to give financial support.
  • It only lasted four days - Ebert's government returned.
• • Between 1919 - 1925 - Weimar politicians feared there was consistent attempts by extreme right wing groups to kill them.
  • It was clear that weimar faced clear opposition from left and right wing sides.
  • Weimber could not just rely on the reichswehr.
• Murder of Walther Rathenau

  • He was a jew - and a prominent member of the weimar government.
  • Was killed by the freikorps from the consul movement while driving to his office in an open car.
  • 700,000 people were on the streets protesting - political killings declined after 1923.
• Independent armies.

  • The stahlhelm - Army of ex-soldiers established by Franz sled and Theodor Duesterberg.
  • Reichsbanner - former soldiers who supported the SPD but unharmed.
  • Rotfrontkampferbund - KPD army.