uprisings

• 1919 - The Spartacist Uprising:

  • Why? Communist group wanted to overthrow the government
  • Who? Karl Leibknecht, Rosa Luxemburg, and the Communist Party
  • What? In January 1919, Communists started a revolution against the government, but the army reacted quickly, arresting and killing those involved. Luxemburg and Liebknecht were killed in police custody
• 1920 - The Kapp Putsch:

  • Why? Discontent with the new government and the Treaty of Versailles
  • Who? Wolfgang Kapp, General Luttwitz, and a group of Freikorps (ex-soldiers)
  • What? In March 1920, they stormed Berlin, declared a new government with Kapp as Chancellor. Workers in Berlin went on strike, forcing Kapp to step down
• 1923 - Munich Putsch:

  • Why? Anger at the Treaty of Versailles and the decision to start paying reparations
  • Who? Hitler and 600 stormtroopers
  • What? In November 1923, interrupted a meeting of the Bavarian Prime Minister in Munich, declaring he was taking over. The army and police intervened, arresting Hitler and foiling his plan
• By 1923, Germany faced instability due to constant threats to the Weimar Government, which had also caused economic issues
• To pay the reparations as agreed by the Treaty of Versailles, the government resorted to printing more money, leading to hyperinflation
• The hyperinflation resulted in money losing its value, causing many people to lose their savings