Political Instability and Extremism

• Give one reason why it was difficult to form a stable Weimar coalition. 

  -No party would ever have a majority due to the number of parties in the Reichstag and proportional representation 

  -Fragmentation of political parties became more pronounced as German society became more divided 

  -Burden placed on Moderate Parties, as they were blamed for problems 
• How many coalitions and chancellors were there February 1919 – November 1923? 

  10 coalition cabinets and 8 chancellors 
• Name 3 chancellors during this turbulent time and if possible, an issue they faced.  

  Scheidemann – Treaty of Versailles 

  Bauer – Kapp Putch 

  Muller – Poor election Results 

  Fehrenbach – Reparation payment fault 

  Wirth – More uprisings 

  Cuno – Economic Crisis 

  Stressemann – SPD left his coalition 
• When were the Spartacist Uprisings? 

  January – March 1919 
• What were the aims of the Spartacist Uprisings? 

  To establish a communist regime. 
• What risk did continued working class rebellion have for the Republic? 

  There was a fear of a ‘Red Revolution’ that frightened the law abiding middle class and led them to support the right wing. 
• When was the Kapp Putsch? 

  February 1920. 
• What was the cause of the Kapp Putsch? 

  Under the Treaty of Versailles, the army had to be reduced and Germany was supposed to get rid of the Freikorps groups. 
• How did the Republic handle the Kapp Putsch? 

  Failed to gain civilian support as Ebert’s government called for a general strike.  
• How many assassinations were there in 1919-23? 

  Nearly 400.  
• How many assassinations did the left and right commit as a fraction? 

  Left – Just 1/17 

  Right – 16/17 
• How were left wing and right-wing assassins punished differently? 

  Judges lenient to the right but harsh to left. 

   
• When was the Beer Hall Putsch? 

  November 1923 
• What was the plan for the Beer Putsch Hall? Explain. 

  SA march into Beer Hall to hold Kahr & Lossow at gunpoint to persuade them to agree to a march into Berlin to install Ludendorff as Commander-in-Chief 
• Why did the Putsch fail? 

  Support of Kahr and Lossow lost overnight and SA unable to gain control over Munich army barracks. 
• How long did Hitler serve in prison? 

  Sentenced to 5 years but only served 9 months!