challenges to the Weimar republic

• In the years 1919-22 there were 376 political murders: 22 by the left and 354 by the right. The most notorious being called the 'consul organisation' for example Walther Rathenau was killed because he was Jewish and committed to democracy.
• The Kapp Putsch

  In March 1920 Wolfgang Kapp and General Luttwitz led 12,000 troops to march on Berlin and seize the main buildings. Most were Friekorps who were ex-right wing soldiers. The German army provided no resistance to this. The SPD called for a general strike and the capital collapsed causing the revolt to disband.
• The aftermath of the Kapp Putsch

  During the first 6 days the crisis remained the backing of the people showing government authority however by the army refusing to help it shows resentment and opposition. Seeckt became army chancellor and introduced strict rules which would reduce power of the Friekorps and increase government control. Kapp died awaiting trial, Luttwitz was granted early retirement and only 1/705 were found guilty and they faced 5 years in prison.
• In March 1920 the Ruhr army was created with 50,000 workers to oppose the Kapp Putsch however was crushed by the German army and Friekorps
• The red army

  A Bavarian Soviet republic with a 'red army' of workers set up by Eugen Levine proposed radical politics. However the Friekorps crushed them with 1000 deaths in May and became known as the white terror.
• The Spartacist revolt?

  The revolt lasted from the 5th-12th January 1919. Workers, trade unions and social democrats supported the rising. Led By Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht who were both executed, including 156 others. They attempted to overthrow Berlin and control newspaper buildings. The government had the backing of the army and 5000 members of the Friekorps.
• Munich Putsch timeline

  1. 8th November meeting with 2000 right wing supporters in Munich beer hall

  2. Hitler and the stormtroopers burst in and declare national revolution, members of the Bavarian government seized by the stormtroopers

  3. 9th November Ebert declares state of emergency

  4. Ludendorff persuades Hitler not to give up and march into Munich

  5. At noon 2000 armed Nazi's marched into military base in Munich who are met by armed police and Bavarian soldiers

  6. 14 Nazi's are killed, Ludendorff continues to march and is arrested

  7. 11th November Hitler is arrested and writes Mein Kampf while in prison for 9 months
• Why did the Munich Putsch fail?

  1. army supported the government 2. Hitler was chaotic and the Nazi's were unorganised and not planned out manoeuvre's
• How the failure helped the Nazis


  • Gave the Nazis publicity
  • Made Hitler realise he had to be a political party and not revolutionary
  • He performed a brilliant speech gaining him support as he came of brave and honourable
  • Hitler wrote Mein Kampf which sold 5.2 million copies
  • The trial was publicised all across the world
• red rising in the Ruhr: communists groups wanted to create their own government and villages which opposed Weimar