What were the Threats to democracy 1919 – 23?

When the Kaiser fled a new Provisional Government was formed led by Ebert, leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD). Riots in Berlin forced the new government to meet in the small town of Weimar to draw up a constitution. Ebert believed the Allies would treat Germany better if they had a democratic government. The new constitution gave Germans many new rights.

There were extremist groups in Germany who wanted to seize power by force. On the extreme right there were those who claimed the new government had betrayed Germany. On the left communists thought the time was right for revolution in Germany. Democracy had a difficult start in Germany and although it survived it did not fully recover from the early setbacks.

In January 1919 communists in Berlin calling themselves Spartacists tried to overthrow the government. Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg led them.

Spartacist took over the main streets and public buildings in Berlin. Ebert was taken prisoner but was released when he promised to meet their demands.

Ebert called on the army to put down the rebellion but they refused. Many officers were opposed to the new government.

Ebert was forced to ask the leaders of the Freikorps for help. These were bands of ex-soldiers who held on to their weapons and continued to follow their officers.

From Jan 6-13 bloody street battles raged in Berlin. The well-armed Freikorps units killed thousands of communists and executed their leaders. The revolt was over.

The Spartacist uprising of January 1919 was only one example of political problems faced by the Weimar Republic. The Spartacists had been defeated with the help of the Freikorps, but this group itself caused the government great difficulties. Among its members were a group of extreme nationalists who opposed democracy and believed that the only way to prevent the spread of communism was through strong leadership and a strong army.

When Ebert tried to disband the Freikorps because of the Treaty of Versailles limiting the army to 100,000 they rebelled. This is known as the Kapp Putsch.

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The Freikorps marched on Berlin in March 1920 and proclaimed Dr Wolfgang Kapp Germany’s new leader. The army refused to fire on the Freikorps, many of whom had fought alongside them in the war. The government fled Berlin.

Ebert appealed to the ordinary people of Berlin for help. They went on strike to show their opposition to Kapp. Berlin’s roads, railways, power, water and sewage were all brought to a standstill. Kapp gave up and fled the country.

Task 1: Complete the summary diagram.

Key issues What have I learned?

What was the Spartacist Revolt of January 1919?

How did Ebert’s government deal with the Spartacist Revolt?

What was the Kapp putsch of March 1920?

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Why did the Kapp putsch fail?

Task Two: What were the aims of the different groups between 1918 – 1922?

Place the aims below in the Venn diagram.

Disliked Eberts Plans for a Democratic constitution

Prepared to seize power through force

Wanted to create a democractic constitution

Wanted greater equality in society

Wanted a Wanted Anger at the Wanted to

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Kapp and the Freikorps

Spartacists

Social Democrats

communist revolution

Germany to expand its territory and have an empire

Treaty of Versailles

stop the spread of communism

Wanted Germany to try to meet the demands of the Treaty.

Wanted Germany to be run by the army

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PRACTICE QUESTION : The boxes below show two events. Choose one and explain the importance of that event to the new Weimar republic in the years 1919-1923

The Spartacist Revolt, 1919 The Kapp Putsch, 1920

Link to focus of the question eg what was X

Supporting detail (2/3 distinctive points)What was the impact , why was it important?

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