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- Year 11
- AQA
The putsches of 1919-23
I can describe the political threats to the early Weimar Republic that emerged from both the left and right.
- Year 11
- AQA
The putsches of 1919-23
I can describe the political threats to the early Weimar Republic that emerged from both the left and right.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- The Weimar Republic faced violent threats from both sides of the political spectrum.
- In January 1919, the Spartacist Uprising rebelled in Berlin but was crushed by the Freikorps.
- When the Freikorps were ordered to disband, they launched a failed attempt to take over Berlin: the Kapp Putsch.
- The army refused to attack and it was only defeated by a workers' strike in Berlin.
- Other rebellions took place during the 1923, most notably an attempted putsch in Munich by a group called the Nazis
Keywords
Nationalism - devotion and loyalty or showing strong support to one's own country or nation
Authoritarian - demanding total obedience to those in positions of authority
Freikorps - meaning 'free corps'; a private army formed by ex-soldiers from the First World War
Paramilitary - a group which is organised like an army, but is not official
Common misconception
The Weimar Republic’s reliance on the Freikorps might suggest that the government supported right-wing ideologies.
The Weimar Government used the Freikorps out of desperation to suppress left-wing uprisings, but this reliance highlighted its inability to maintain order independently, rather than an alignment with right-wing ideologies.
To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: The putsches of 1919-23, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: The putsches of 1919-23, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
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Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the Germany 1890–1945, Democracy and dictatorship unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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