HIS109Y1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 44: Kurt Eisner, Kapp Putsch, Trade Union
Document Summary
Collapse of the reich and army came quickly (cid:1) Ruling elite had no ability to deal with defeat. Kurt eisner seized munich and declared bavaria socialist republic. Offericer corps monarchists refused to obey republican civilians. F. ebert: probably republican, devoted to german people, pragmatic. Soldier revolts in ne: tried to control and co-opt. Nov 1918 ebert declared creation of german republic in front of rioting crowd. Ebert wanted representation and future for german people. Bolsheviks working to establish communist republic: spartacists, germany = russia. Friekorps: army depleated, gov and army relied on bands of ex soldiers fanatically devoted to officers, impose some sort of military order, bitter about defeat, loathed communists, saw socialist as weaker bolsheviks, freikor vs spartacists. Spartacists attempt coup: attack berlin, freikorps respond, put down revolt, barbarous aftermath, slaughter communists. Freikorps only force holding germany together: grow, expand beyond towns, creating essentially civil war, second attempt at revolution. 1500 communists killed: freikorps march on munich and bavaria.
