The Kapp Putsch, 1920

What was the Kapp Putsch?

The Kapp Putsch was a right-wing uprising against the Weimar Republic.

When was the Kapp Putsch?

The Kapp Putsch happened in March 1920.

Where was the Kapp Putsch?

The Kapp Putsch happened in Berlin.

Who was involved in the Kapp Putsch?

It was organised by the Freikorps (ex-soldiers) and led by Dr Wolfgang Kapp.

Why did the Kapp Putsch occur?

There are 4 key reasons why the Kapp Putsch took place:

• ❖ A group of anti-communist ex-soldiers called the Freikorps had grown by 1920 and President Ebert could not control them. In March 1920, the Weimar government announced the Freikorps would be disbanded.
• ❖ The leaders of the putsch wanted to take over the country, make the army strong again and then recover the lands Germany had lost in the Treaty of Versailles. They wanted their empire once again.
• ❖ They deeply resented the Treaty of Versailles for their crippled economy.
• ❖ Some wanted the kaiser to return from exile.

What were the key events of the Kapp Putsch?

There were 4 key events:

• ❖ The Freikorps reacted to the government's disbanding of the group by marching into Berlin with around 5,000 men.
• ❖ Members of the army refused to fire on them as they were ex-soldiers.
• ❖ The rebels took control of Berlin and they looked to be successful. However, the government was saved by the industrial workers of Berlin who went on strike - as a result the capital came to a halt.
• ❖ With no power, water or resources, it became clear to Dr Kapp that they could not succeed. He fled the country and later died before coming to trial.

How did the Weimar Republic react to the Kapp Putsch?

The Weimar Republic took 4 key actions:

• ❖ The government fled to Dresden as Berlin was under the control of the rebels.
• ❖ They asked the public to go on strike which stopped gas, electricity, water and transport services.
• ❖ The rebels fled after realising they could not govern the country.
• ❖ Kapp was captured in April 1922 when he returned to Germany from Sweden, but died while waiting to be put on trial.

Why was the Kapp Putsch important to the Weimar Republic?

The Kapp Putsch was important because it showed how unpopular the Weimar Republic was with right-wing parties, and that the army would not support it if the extreme right launched an attack.