Germany Democracy and Dictatorship - GCSE AQA History Higher Revision Notes
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Course
History
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GCSE
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aHistory Revision: 1919-1929 Germany Democracy and Dictatorship 2
• In the years of 1919-1929 there was a large amount of political unrest including the
Spartacist uprisings, the Kapp Putsch and the Munich Putsch.
• After which the Stresemann era occurred {1924-1929} which included economic
developments and a new currency. The Dawes and the Young Plan helped Germany
to get back on its feet.
• We also learn about the impact of international agreements on the recovery and the
Weimar culture.
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution:
Strengths: Weaknesses:
- Promised freedom of speech, - People were used to autocratic style of
worship and better working government however; Weimar
conditions government was a democracy.
- By 1918 it was the most democratic - Kaiser’s former advisors remained in
system in the world – no one person their positions
could gain total control- - Impossible for one party in Reichstag
- President could rule with Article 48 to gain 51%. They could only form
- All Germans over the age of 20 government with coalitions
could vote - Article 48 gave powers to the president
- Proportional representation to pass laws without approval
Problems facing Weimar Government in 1919-1923
• Communist party {Spartacists}, wanted a revolution and many pushed for an
immediate uprising against the Weimar government while it was weak.
• Militarist RW lead by Kapp, they hated the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and
terms it imposed upon the army. Blamed government for agreeing with the allies/
Kapp lead the Freikorp troops to Berlin to declare a new government.
, The Communist Uprisings in 1919-1923:
Spartacist Uprising 1919-
• In January 1919, the Spartacist’s launched their bid for power. Joined by rebellious
soldiers they set up Soviets in many towns.
• They captured the Governments newspaper and telegraph buildings but that’s as far
as they got.
• They had no support from other groups and Ebert {Weimar president} made a deal
with the Freikorps to put down the rebellion.
• The timing of the uprising was off and they were easily crushed by the Freikorps and
the army who managed to kill 100 Sparticists including Rosa Luxemburg and Karl
Liebknecht.
Communist Uprising in Bavaria-
• Bavaria was still an independent socialist state, led by Kurt Eisner, Ebert’s ally. In
Feb 1919 he was murdered by political opponents.
• The communists seized Bavaria and Ebert used same tactics and sent in the Freikorps
led by Kapp.
• Freikorps crushed revolt in May 1919 and around 600 communists killed.
Communist agitation in the Ruhr 1920-
• The police, army and Freikorps clashed with the communist again resulting in over
2,000 casualties.
• Ebert’s ruthless measures against communist party created bitterness with the leftist
Socialists.
• Ebert was worrying they Germany may go the same way as Russia, this is why he
employed such brutal means to irradiate the communist uprisings and many
Germans shared his fear.
In all of these uprisings Ebert employed the Freikorps. This showed the Weimar
governments weaknesses as it portrayed their reliance on the Freikorps to keep control
against radicalism’s like the communists.
Furthermore, it made Weimar government difficult to govern Germany as the more
Communist’s they killed, the more radical and frequent the uprising.
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