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Weimar Problems, 1919–23

     

1. The Weimar Republic faced severe challenges:

2. 'Weakness within': Constitution gave excessive power to the President, states, & army; proportional voting → divided, weak Reichstag.

3. Extremists threatened govt: Spartacist Revolt (Left) & Kapp Putsch (Right). 1923 = worst crisis: French invaded to enforce reparations → hyperinflation + rebellions (inc. Munich Putsch).

   

Germany 1919–1923

1919

    •  Spartacist Revolt (Jan) + Communist rebellions.

    •  Soviet Republic in Bavaria.

1920

    •  Kapp Putsch (Mar).

    •  'Red Army' rebellion (Ruhr).

1921

    •  Assassination of Matthias Erzberger.

1922

    •  Assassination of Walter Rathenau.

1923

    •  France invades Ruhr (Jan).

    •  General strike → hyperinflation.

    •  Black Reichswehr rebellion (Oct).

    •  Rhineland declares independence + Communist uprisings in Saxony/Thuringia (Oct).

    •  Hitler’s Munich Putsch (Nov).

   

Problems Facing Weimar Govt 1919–23 [ILRIM]

1. Ineffective Constitution

    •  : President ruled in 'emergencies' (often used).

    •  Proportional voting: 28 parties → unstable coalitions; 20 govts (1919–33), longest = 2 yrs.

    •  States: Too much power, often ignored federal govt.

    •  Army: Right-wing, led by von , ≠ loyal to govt (eg, Kapp Putsch, 1923 crisis).

    •  Judges: Biased; lenient w. right-wing offenders (eg, 1 Kapp rebel jailed; Hitler = 9 months).

2. Left-wing Rebellions

    •  Communists (KPD) opposed govt:

         •  Jan 1919: 50k rebelled (Berlin), led by Luxemburg & Leibknecht.

         •  Apr 1919: Workers' Councils seized power; a Räterepublik ('') briefly ruled Bavaria.

         •  Mar 1920: Ruhr uprising by '' after Kapp Putsch failed.

3. Right-wing Terrorism

    •  Right-wingers hated govt for signing Versailles Treaty (1919):

         •   Putsch (Mar 1920): tried restoring Kaiser; seized Berlin (led by Dr. Kapp).

         •  Political murders: 356 assassinated – eg, 1921: Matthias (signed the Armistice); 1922: Walter , SPD foreign minister).

4. Invasion-Inflation Crisis (1923)

    •  Reparations: Govt printed money to pay → inflation.

    •  France invaded (Jan 1923):

         •  Govt ordered strike; printed more money → .

    •  Rebellions:

         •   (Oct, Berlin).

         •  Rhineland independence (21–22 Oct).

         •  Communist uprisings in Saxony & Thuringia (Oct).

5. Munich Putsch

    •  Nov 8–9, 1923: Hitler’s Nazis attempted to seize control in Bavaria.