How Useful Is It as Evidence for an Historian Studying the Outbreak of the Kapp Putsch of 1920?

(a) Study Source 1. How useful is it as evidence for an historian studying the outbreak of the Kapp Putsch of 1920? [13]
This is a primary source so it can be a useful piece of evidence for a historian studying the outbreak of the Kapp putsch. This is a primary source because it is an extract from the proclamation, (The Cabinet issued this proclamation calling on Germany's workers to defeat the putsch by means of a general strike.) This was written for public consumption and the author's reputation in Germany is a right wing opponent of the Weimar republic therefore it's clear to see that it is fairly oblique, as they were trying to get their point/ argument across. This is a useful source of evidence as we can see the leaders view as he had first hand experience living in this troubled time in Germany. The date is precisely useful as it is written at the time of the event, which shows the hype' of the situation. The use of the literacy devices for example superlatives is throughout this extract; "grave, terrible, complete, dimly, ruthlessly" there is also a hyperbole device used a lot in speech's to exaggerate the speech and make things sound more hyped and it takes the attention of the words that follow. Which is good as the proclamation, in my opinion is diagonal and one-sided to the right wing opponents, this will gain supporters and as this was, Meant for public consumption people will listen to it.
As this is an original extract, therefore we do not need to check the accuracy of the statements made, as we know it is accurate. To an historian studying the outbreak of the Kapp Putsch this is a useful factor to take into consideration; this source shows us the troubles of Germany, about the factors, which lead people to have an uprising. It is understandable when reading an extract that they had to act out, as they were feeling betrayed and angry at Germany. We can see that they the nation was feeling this way, as in the extract it is quoted that, "The Reich and the nation are in grave danger." Moreover, "people are only dimly aware of the approaching disaster. Prices are rising unchecked. Hardship is growing. Starvation threatens."
I know that Because of the demobilisation of the armed forces, there were nearly 200 paramilitary units around Germany by 1919. In 1920, about 12,000 members of the Freikorps marched on Berlin and seized the main buildings of the capital virtually unopposed, where they installed a new government. The German army did not provide any resistance to this Putsch. In spite of requests from Ebert to put down the rebellious forces, the army was not prepared to become involved with either side.
We can see that the people lost faith in the government as ". With terrible speed, we are approaching the complete collapse of the state and of law and order. "And" The present government is incapable of overcoming the danger. "This was the pushing point which made the people get involved, they now know without their input Germany as they know it will only get worse. However, in this new government, strikes were banned but the people carried on as their beliefs and motives suppressed the rules, and they exceeded all law and order, "The hour of the salvation of Germany is at hand and the opportunity must be grasped. There is no other way but a government of action, the new government will ruthlessly suppress strikes and sabotage." Moreover " striking is treason to the nation and the Fatherland. " back up these points I have made. It is useful to know that even though the prices were raising that "Everyone should go peacefully about his work. Everyone willing to work is assured of our firm protection "people stood up for what they believed in and strike regardless of this point.
Overall, I believe this is a very useful source for a historian studying the outbreak of the Kapp Putsch of 1920, due to the use of literacy devices used it shows the way in which the German politicians presented their ideas and how they shared their opinions on this topic.
(b) Using all the sources, and your own knowledge, assess to what extent the Kapp Putsch and other political uprisings represented the greatest threat to the Weimar Republic in the period 1919–1923. [35]

Taking all of the sources into consideration, it is useful as we get a left wing response, a right wing response and an impartial response with the benefit of hindsight, therefore we can get a moderate opinion of the situation.
From my own knowledge in the early years of the Weimar Republic, there were many political threats from left and right towards the new Government. The Spartacists had extreme left wing political views (Communist) this group split from the SPD in frustration and anger at the SPD's role within the Government. The leaders of this Communist Party were Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg. On January 1st 1919, the members of the Spartacists movement rose up in an attempted revolution. The group's leaders initially made this move. the new Government acted promptly and were certainly not stymied with their actions to bring this revolution to an end, As the two main leaders were killed whilst in police custody, The frei-corps (a paramilitary group consisting of former Servicemen) broke down this "revolution" with force. This issue is acknowledged in source c - "The Weimar Republic faced its first threat, the communist-inspired Spartacists rising." Another well known historian to back my points up is Bracher who states; - "Contends that the occasion fear of revolution from the left by the early Weimar government, led to their overlooking the much more likely threat posed by the right.

We can se that the Kapp putsch was the first attempt from the right wing extremists, to take control of the constitutional government. (They did this because they favoured the restoration of some somewhat authoritarian, dictatorial regime). The Kapp Putsch was led by Wolfgang Kapp The right wing extremists wanted the army to regain its numbers of men in a dictatorial regime. This was not possible because in the signed treaty of Versailles there was an agreement that the army must be cut and no more people could join the army.

The events occurred as followed :In 1920 about 12,000 members of the Frei-corps (in support of the Kapp putsch) marched to Berlin this is where they seized the main buildings of the capital with ease and no force was set up against them in these buildings was where they installed a new government. The German army did not provide any resistance/response to this putsch. Even after Ebert requested it he told the German army to put down the rebellious forces, the army was not prepared to become involved with either side. This is also due to the support it had from the army as many significant officers chose to support it the army-followed suit (General Luddwitz and General Ludendorff). Luddwitz had major involvement and he orchestrated an uprising in Berlin on March 13th. Army troops were sympathetic to the uprising, they took control of Berlin, and Luddwitz proclaimed right wing government. The putsch soon ended because SPD members of the government had called for a general strike, which soon paralysed the capital and quickly spread to the rest of the country. (The morale within Germany is strong here as they stuck together to end what was wrong "Kapp Putsch") The rebels had little support in Berlin and in Germany elsewhere. It soon became clear that the Army couldn’t of been taken for granted, there was no universal support for the Weimar government also the government had limited means of dealings with uprisings of this nature and politicians were not necessarily safe in Berlin this shows a near end to the Kapp Putsch. After four days of this political uprising and after putting Berlin on a stand still, with no/little support it was clear that Wolfgang Kapp and his government gained no real authority and they fled the city. There is evidence of this in sources b and c : "A military putsch has started. The mercenaries, who were afraid that their Freikorps regiments would be disbanded, have attempted to overthrow the Republic and establish a dictatorial government with Kapp and General von Lüttwitz at its head." And ", in 1920, came a second attempt to overthrow the Republic, this time by the right wing Kapp Putsch." It is stated in source C that ". A brief period of relative calm followed, only to be disrupted in 1923 by hyperinflation that threatened economic chaos and undermined the government’s reputation. The Communists were overcautious during the mass protests of 1923 and acted too late in the “German October” of 1923" this is a big threat to Germany both politically and economically as well as destroying even more of the remaining morale. The hyperinflation crisis increased support for the more extremist parties such as the Nazis would use the hyperinflation crisis to portray their beliefs on how a country should be run. This was very threatening towards the Weimar republic/government propaganda against the government damaged it and lost supporters.
The next political uprising to occur was the Munich putsch, which took place from 8–9 November1923. As the economy floundered and the government struggled to cope with the turmoil, a group of Right Wing politicians in Bavaria planned to take this opportunity to overthrow the government. This event is iconic as it was the first event that Hitler is introduced. However, The Nazis were far too weak on their own to stage any kind of political takeover. It was the need for allies, which led Hitler into negotiations with the right wing Government leaders Kahr, Seisser and Lossow who had planned this uprising to commence.

The Munich Putsch took place from 8–9 November 1923. Reasons behind their rebellious behaviour were the developing crisis in Germany in 1923. Due to the Franco-Belgian occupation of the Ruhr as they took payment in kind, passive resistance, hyperinflation and “The German October,” Kahr and Lossow blamed most of Germany’s problems on the national government in Berlin and wanted to destroy the republican regime with a “March on Berlin” from Munich. They lacked faith in this political stunt/ uprising and therefore, they decided to abandon the plan but Hitler wanted to proceed with the Nazis they took control of a large rally, which Kahr was addressing in one of Munich’s beer halls and declared a “national revolution.”

Under pressure from the Nazis and Hitler Kahr and Lossow appeared to co-operate, but General Seeckt, the chief of the Army Command who was suspicious of Hitler, used his powers to command the armed forces to resist the putsch. The police were notified and the police and a gun battle followed informed the army about this uprising on the day of the putsch the Nazis marched on but were met. In this putsch 16In this putsch 16 Nazi supporters were killed and the uprising was easily suppressed. Most of the Nazi leadership were arrested and then put on trial for treason; leading sympathisers including General Ludendorff was also arrested.

The consequences of the Munich putsch were probably of the more significance than the uprising it's self. At Hitler's trial, he was given special treatment as was allowed to make long speeches to explain his reasons. Hitler is well known for many terrible things but I believe the most dangerous is his talking skill; Hitler has an orator characteristic therefore, he can easily convince people. This skill transformed him from a little known politician into a champion of the right wing. This is mentioned in source c. "Finally, in November 1923, came another right-wing assault, the Munich Putsch led by Adolf Hitler. The Weimar Republic survived because the extremist forces of both Left and Right failed to attract much support and were both divided and disorganised. "

Using all the sources, and my own knowledge, I have assessed to what extent the Kapp Putsch and other political uprisings represented the greatest threat to the Weimar Republic in the period 1919–1923, it is clear to see that this was not the best time for the Weimar Republic as they faced a lot of opposition from the angered and betrayed Germans