Weimar Germany 1919-1929

1917-1918:

• Germany tried to break through the Allied lines (Ludendorff Offensive), which failed so winning the war seemed very unlikely
• The arrival of American troops made Germany's situation worse
• Germans were suffering from hardship and starvation
• Strikes and demostrations took place - influencing Communist ideas
• November 1918, sailors and soldiers took over a naval base in Kiel, within weeks workers councils had taken over Berlin.
• Kaiser abdicated and fled to the Netherlands, new Government formed under President Ebert.
• 11th November 1918 Armistice signed - end of WW1
• Politicans who agreed to the armistice were known as the November Criminals, many people had turned away
• Treaty of Versailles caused anger to increase - Germany took all the blame, they were forced to pay reperations and they couldn't join the League of Nations

1919:

• Communists (Spartacists) attempted a putsch in Berlin - they believed revolution could go further than just removing the Kaiser entirely.
• They wanted to overthrow the President, and take control of Berlin
• Ebert sent the Freikorps to put down the revolt.
• 13th January the revolt ended - Rosa Luxemberg and Karl Liebknecht were killed

1920:

• Right wing extremists and the Freikorps tried to take over Berlin (Kapp Putsch)
• Lead by Dr Wolfgang Putsch who hated the Treaty of Versailles
• Ebert called the army - they refused
• General Strike across Berlin - Kapp fled to Sweden

1923:

• German government…