Challenges to the Republic: Ongoing Violence

• How many political assassinations occurred in Germany between 1919 and 1922?

  376
• Who was Matthias Erzberger and when was he killed?


  He signed the Armistice and was killed in August 1921
• Who was Walther Rathenau and when was he killed?


  He was the Weimar Foreign Minister, killed in June 1922
• How did the actions of judges sympathetic to the right wing affect the Weimar Republic?

  They did not convict and execute any right-wing murderers, undermining the Republic
• What was the impact of political parties hiring armed men on German society during this period?

  It led to increased violence during political meetings
• What were the armed men hired by the KPD called?

  Red Front Fighters
• Between 1919-1922 there were 376 political assassinations (mostly of left-wing or moderate politicians). This included Matthias Erzberger (who signed the Armistice, killed in August 1921), and Walther Rathenau (Weimar Foreign Minister, killed in June 1922).
• Judges, sympathetic to the right wing, did not convict and execute any right-wing murderers. This undermined the Weimar Republic.
• Each political party hired armed men (mostly ex-soldiers) to protect their meetings, which led to violence. The KPD armed men were called the Red Front Fighters.