The+Threats+to+Weimar+Packet+Notes

The Threats to Weimar Packet Notes:

· Threat from extreme left o KPD rejected, wanted revolution to proceed on Marxist lines o Extreme left committed to a very different version of German politics and society o Moderate left was one of the pillars of Weimar democracy o KPD- continuous revolutionary disturbances gave impression Germany was facing o Bolshevik inspired “Red Threat” o Left posed less of a threat, never likely to seize political power · Why left never seize power: o Incapable of unified attack on Weimar o Poor leadership o Concession o Repression by authorities

· Threat from extreme right o DNVP (Nationalist) o Freikorps – 200 paramilitary units o “White Terror” contrast to Red

· Extreme Right Uprising o Encouraged 12,000 troops to march on Berlin and seize building o Didn’t provide any resistance

· Aftermath of Putsch o Weakness of Weimar Republic o Government failed to confront problem o A state within a state

· Munich Beer Hall Putsch o Crucial part of rise of Hitler and Nazi’s o November 8 Hitler and Nazis stormed into and took control of rally o Next day, failed attempt to take Munich

· Weimar Democracy: Republic without Republicans o Combined support for main democratic parties declines o Support for extreme left and right increase

Works Cited: Layton, Geoff. __Weimar and the Rise of Nazi Germany.__ 3rd Edition. London. Hodder, 2005.