Right-wing and Left-wing

LEFTSpartacists (communist)Berlin 1919Bavaria 1919^(uprisings) (Led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht)Trade unions, workers

MIDDLE(Ebert)GENERAL STRIKE

RIGHTFreikorpsExtreme nationalistsKapp Putsch (1920)DR Wolfgang Kapp

THREATS FROM THE LEFT-Spartacists were led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg-Argued against Ebert's wish for Germany to be democratic-Wanted Germany ruled by worker's councils or soviets-In 1919, rebel soldiers and sailers teamed up with Spartacists to set up soviets in many towns-Some communist ex-soldiers formed a group called Freikorps-Two groups and Ebert decided to put down rebellion-Following this, Freikorps and spartacists began to fight and the Freikorps won-Liebknecht and Luxemburg were murdered and the revolution failed-However, another one followed-Emerged in Bavaria - South of Germany-Bavaria was led by Kurt Eisner - Ebert's ally-February 1919 - he was murdered by political opponents-Freikorps moved in to crush revolt in May 1919. Around 600 communists were killed-1920 - more communist agitation in Ruhr industrial area-Again, police, army and Freikorps clashed with communists. 2000 casualties.-Lasting bitterness between Freikorps and them due to Ebert's ruthless measures-Before war, Germany had no real democracy. Kaiser was virtually a dictator.-Weimar Constitution, on the other hand, attempted to set up probably the most democratic system in world, where no individual could gain too much power-All Germans over 20 could vote-There was system of proportional representation - if party gained 20 percent of votes, they gained 20 percent of seats in Reichstag-Chancellor was responsible for day-to-day government, but he needed support of half the Reichstag-Head of state was president. President stayed out of day-to-day government. In crisis, he could rule country directly through Article 48 of constitution. This gave him emergency powers, which meant he didn't have to consult Reichstag.

THREAT FROM THE RIGHT-Ebert's government faced violent opposition from right-Right-wing had mainly grown up in successful days of Kaiser's Germany-Liked Germany having strong army-Wanted Germany to have empire-March 1920 - Dr Wolfgang Kapp led 5000 Freikorps into Berlin in rebellion known as Kapp Putsch (Putsch means rebellion)-Ebert's government was saved by Germans - especially industrial workers of Berlin-Declared general strike - brought capital to halt with no transport; no power and no water-Few days later, Kapp realised he wouldn't succeed so he left the country-So he was hunted down but died while awaiting trial-So Weimar now had support and power after all-Ebert's government - Summer 1922 - lost their minister Walter Rathenau, he was murdered by extremists.-November 1923 - Adolf Hitler led attempted rebellion in Munich - Munich Putsch.-Hitler + Rathenau's murders faced short prison sentences-It seemed that Weimar's right-wing opponents had friends in high places as Hitler was let off lightly.

MAKE GERMANY PAY-January 1919 - they returned to palace-Lloyd George - Britain-George Clemeneux - France-Lloyd George fought for German interests of Versailles-Communist leaders were lined up and some were brutally murdered-Rhineland occupied by Allies until 1925-Scapa flow - Germany scuttled-French had to pay for damage