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Kapp Putsch by Sian Hatcher
Kapp Putsch
 Kapp putsch took place in Weimar Germany in March 1920.
Wolfgang Kapp was a right wing journalist who opposed all that he believed Friedrich Ebert stood for after what he believed in the humiliation of the Treaty of Versailles.
Kapp putsch was a huge threat to the Weimar’s government.
Kapp was assisted by General Luttwitz who led a group of freikorps men. On March 13th 1920 Luttwitz seized Berlin and proclaimed that a new nationalist government was being made and that Wolfgang Kapp would be chancellor.
Ebert called for a general strike to paralyse the movement of those who supported Kapp and Luttwitz. Kapp received support from one of Germany’s foremost military officer’s general Erich Ludendorff.
The main officers did not follow Ludendorff lead. Ebert did not want to be seen as anti – military, the military did nothing to stop the putsch and give active support to Ebert. The general strike that Ebert made ensured that those who supported Kapp could not move around and such paralysis doomed the putsch to failure Kapp and Luttwitz fled to Berlin in March 17th.
The five days that the Kapp putsch was running showed importance because; the government had no force even with its own capital, only the mass power of the general strike could re – established Ebert’s authority, However, the success of this strike does indicate that the people of Berlin were willing to support Ebert’s government rather than a right-wing government lead by Kapp.
Those who fought for Kapp and Luttwitz were obvious future supporters of the fledgling Nazi Party. Ironically, the Erhardt Brigade, one of Luttwitz main fighting force, put a sign on their helmets to identify who they were: the swastika.
Kapp Putsch by jane!
The Kapp Putsch took place in Weimar Germany in March 1920. It was led by Dr. Wolfgang Kapp. It took over Berlin and tried to bring back the Kaiser. Wolfgang Kapp was a right-wing journalist who was opposed against Friedrich Ebert, a socialist. He was also against the Treaty of Versailles and thought it humiliated Germany. It was an attempt to overthrow the Weimar Republic based on opposition of the Treaty of Versailles.
The Kapp Putsch was a direct threat to Weimar’s new government. Kapp was assisted by General Luttwitz who led a group of Freikorps men (ex-soldiers). On March 13th 1920, Luttwitz seized Berlin and announced that a new right of centre nationalist government was being established with Kapp as chancellor.
Ebert had no immediate response to this in the sense that he could not impose his will on the situation. For the second time he had to leave his capital - once again undermining his status and to some, emphasising his weak position within Germany. The government go back together in Dresden and the only card Ebert could play was to call for a general strike to paralyse the movement of those who supported Kapp and Luttwitz.
Kapp received support from one of Germany’s leading military officers – General Erich Ludendorff. But the main officer corps of the German Army failed to follow Ludendorff’s lead. It is possible that they felt some form of support for a president who had given them a free hand in dealing with the Communists/Spartacists in 1919. Ebert could not have been seen as being anti-military. However, the military did nothing to stop the putsch and give active support for Ebert.
The general strike called for by Ebert ensured that those who supported Kapp could not move around and such paralysis doomed the putsch to failure. Kapp and Luttwitz fled Berlin on March 17th.
The five days of the Kapp Putsch are of importance as they showed that the government could not enforce its authority, even in its own capital. The government could not put down a challenge to its authority; only the mass power of a general strike could re-establish Ebert’s authority.
However, the success of this strike does indicate that the people of Berlin were willing to support Ebert’s government rather than a right-wing government lead by Kapp. In this sense, it can be argued that Ebert had the support of Berliners. A counter-argument to this is that Ebert was irrelevant to the Berliners thinking – they simply wanted no more trouble in their capital after experiencing the Spartacists/Communist rebellion in 1919. Peace was more important than political beliefs.
Those who fought for Kapp and Luttwitz were obvious future supporters of the fledging Nazi Party. Ironically, the Erhardt Brigade, one of Luttwitz’s main fighting forces, put a sign on their helmets to identify who they were: the swastika.
Kapp Putsch by Hannah & Matt (Stu asked us to add his name... stupidly we gave in.)
 Welcome to our first history based blog. Hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed writing it.
 What caused the Kapp Putsch?
The Kapp Putsch was a right wing party that was a direct threat to Weimar's government. It was a result of Kapp's resistance to the Treaty of Versailles. Luttwitz did not like the restrictions on the military that were imposed, therefore he wanted to stop troop reductions.
Who were Kapp and Luttwitz?
Wolfgang Kapp was a right-wing journalist who opposed all that he believed Friedrich Ebert stood for especially after what he believed was the humiliation of the Treaty of Versailles.
 Smilo Freiherr von Lüttwitz was a German general who had an alligence to the Weimar Republic.
Describe the Key Events of the Putsch.
Ebert down sized the Free Corps (Freikorps) as part of Treaty of Versailles
Dr Wolfgang Kapp (Right Wing Politician) persuaded part of the Free Corps to refuse
Captain Erhardf`s brigade marched into Berlin and declared a new Government
Kapp almost lead Germany to:
Make the German army stronger
Restore nation pride
Reclaim the land given to Poland
Ebert asked army for help they refused saying it was a political matter
Ebert and his Government fled Berlin
Ebert asked the workers to go on strike and they did
The city ground to a halt , no gas or electricity, the Putsch had failed and Kapp fled to Sweden
Ebert and Government returned
 What caused the kapp putsch?
The government at the time asked its workers to call a general strike. This had a great support and adventualy crushed the putsch by means of paralysing the country. The Weimar Republic had great support within the working classes.
What was the aftermath of the Putsch?
The Weimar republic did survive largely thanks to its following within the working classes. Kapp and Luttwitz fled to Sweden.
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