As a historian with a focus on the early 20th century European political landscape, I can provide you with a detailed account of the Kapp Putsch. The Kapp Putsch was a significant event in German history that took place in the aftermath of World War I, which had profound implications for the Weimar Republic and the political stability of the time.
The Kapp Putsch,
also known as the Kapp-Lüttwitz Putsch after its leaders
Wolfgang Kapp and
Walther von Lüttwitz, was an attempted coup that occurred on
13 March 1920. The coup was a direct response to the political and social unrest that followed the end of World War I and the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The leaders of the Putsch sought to
undo the German Revolution of 1918-1919, which had led to the abdication of the German Emperor, the end of the German Empire, and the establishment of the Weimar Republic—a democratic parliamentary republic.
The Putsch aimed to
overthrow the Weimar Republic and replace it with a right-wing autocratic government. The leaders believed that the Weimar Republic was weak and that a strong, authoritarian regime was necessary to restore order and stability to Germany.
Wolfgang Kapp, a civil servant and politician, was the public face of the coup. He was a member of the far-right German National People's Party (DNVP) and had no military experience. Despite this, he was chosen to lead the putsch due to his uncompromising stance against the Weimar Republic and his connections within the conservative and nationalist circles.
Walther von Lüttwitz, on the other hand, was a military commander and a key figure in the Putsch. He was a general in the Imperial German Army and was known for his monarchist and nationalist views. After the war, he became involved in various right-wing and anti-republican activities, which eventually led him to join forces with Kapp in the Putsch.
The Kapp Putsch was ultimately unsuccessful. It faced significant opposition from various quarters, including the German government, the military, and the general public. The government called for a general strike, which was widely observed and effectively paralyzed the country. The military, which was divided in its loyalties, did not provide the support that Kapp and Lüttwitz had hoped for. The putschists were unable to secure the capital, Berlin, and their efforts to establish a new government quickly crumbled.
The failure of the Kapp Putsch had several important consequences. It demonstrated the resilience of the Weimar Republic in the face of right-wing opposition and helped to legitimize the new government in the eyes of the German people. However, it also exposed the deep divisions within the German society and the military, and it further weakened the Weimar Republic by revealing its vulnerability to such attempts.
In conclusion, the Kapp Putsch was a critical moment in German history that highlighted the fragility of the Weimar Republic and the intense political struggles that characterized the period. The leaders of the Putsch,
Wolfgang Kapp and
Walther von Lüttwitz, sought to establish an authoritarian regime but were ultimately defeated by a combination of government resistance, a general strike, and a lack of military support.
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