Weak Government and Political Violence

Why was the Weimar government politically weak?

• Proportional representation - Made it difficult for one aprty to gain a majority, governemnts ahd to rely on unstable coalitions

• There were 20 different coalition governments between 1919 and 1933

• Frequent changes in government weaked public confidence in parliamentary democracy

What was the Spartacist Uprising of 1919?

A failed communist uprising led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknechtm who wanted Germany to follow the example of the Russian Revolution. Eberts government used the right-wing Freikorps to crush it, Rosa and Karl were killed.

What was the Kapp Putsch of 1920?

A failed right wing attempt led by Wolfgang Kapp to overthrow the Weimar Republic. The army refusd to defend the government, but the putsch collapsed after workers organised a general strike.

What was the Beer Hall Putsch of 1923?

Hitler and the Nazi Party attempted to overthrow the Bavarian government and eventually take control of Germany. The putsch failed, police opened fire on the Nazis, killing 16 Nazis and 4 police officers. Hitler was arrested, sentenced to five years. He only served 9 months due to having connections and sympathisers among the guards, during these 9 months he wrote Mein Kampf.

What did political violence reveal about the Weimar Republic?

Uprisings from both the political left and right showed that many Germans rejected parliamentary democracy. The repeated violence made the republic appear weak and politically unstable.