The Weimar Republic

1919-1923
Political disorder, 1919–23
Political Challenges
- threats from the left and the right
- economic crises and hyper-inflation
- the occupation of the Ruhr
Threats from the Left and Right
 (Left) Spartacist Uprising - Jan 1919
Leaders: Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg
Objective: Overthrow Ebert’s moderate government & establish a communist-style government
Methods: Seized some newspaper offices, organised a general strike, armed street fighting against
opponents and erected barricades
Gov Response: force by the army & Freikorps (anti-communist ex-soldier vigilante group), seizure
of the Spartacist HQ, murdered the leaders
Reason for failure: Spartacists were divided between delayed or immediate violent seizure of
power; Loyalty of the army & ruthless methods of the Freikorps
 Spartacist Uprising - Jan 1919
Significance:

• Showed the weakness of the new government as it had to rely upon the services of an
independent group, the Freikorps, over which it had little control.
• Led to a number of further communist rebellions (Bavaria - April 1919, Ruhr - 1920) which
were also crushed by the Freikorps
• Communism remained a significant influence in German politics throughout the 1920s and
early 1930s.
 (Right) Kapp Putsch - March 1920
Leader: Dr Wolfgang Kapp
Objective: Overthrow the Weimar & replace it with a Nationalist government (one person in
charge)
Methods: Freikorps (armed, well-equipped & formed by Ebert to fight against the Spartacists)
marched on Berlin
Government Response: fled to Dresden, as the army did not help; appealed for assistance from the
Berlin workers (who supported the Weimar)
Reasons for failure: a general strike in Berlin stopped the capital - transport, public utilities, civil
service, etc
 Kapp Putsch - March 1920
Significance:
Government was not able to restore order on its own
The army did not support the Weimar Republic (although it did not actively participate either)

FYI: The allies regarded the Freikorps as a part of the ToV 100,000 limitation, so they requested the
German government to disband them. When the government attempted this, they revolted.
 Hyperinflation
A very rapid rise in prices, wages and salaries
Political impact

• The hyperinflation crisis eroded public trust in the Weimar Republic's ability to govern
and undermined its credibility.

• Increase public support for radical movements. Right-wing nationalist groups, such
as the Nazis, exploited the economic crisis s by linking it to the TOV to gain support
and promote their extremist ideologies. Left-wing factions, including the Communist
Party, criticized the government's handling of the crisis and advocated for a radical
restructuring of society.
 Ruhr Crisis - Jan 1923
In 1922, the German gov failed to pay the 2nd installment of the reparations
France thought Germany was trying to avoid the Treaty. Together with Belgium, they occupied the
Ruhr
Objectives: To get the reparation installment through seizing coal
Government Response: authorised passive resistance by refusing to work in the mines or listen to
orders of the French
Consequence: Serious economic and financial crisis. Chaos - amid violence and shootings, the
French responded by expelling approx 100,000 Germans from the Ruhr
 Ruhr Crisis - Jan 1923
Further Consequences: revenue of the Government fell, as the Ruhr was one of the main
wealth-producing areas in Germany. They needed money to support the Germans still living there,
and to rehouse the dislocated Germans.

Therefore: The government decided to print money to meet the gap between income and
expenditure.

Which Caused: hyperinflation in the latter half of 1923, collapsing the German currency
Worksheet

• In the worksheet, describe the events and explain how these

events posed a challenge to the Weimar Republic.