The Main Threat to the Stability of the Weimar Republic in the Period 1919-23 Came from Political Violence from the Extreme Right. How Far Do You Agree with This Judgment? (30 Marks)

The main threat to the stability of the Weimar Republic in the period 1919-23 came from political violence from the extreme right. How far do you agree with this judgment? (30 marks)

In the period 1919-23 there were threats to the stability of the Weimar Republic, some coming from Kapp Putsch and the extreme right, others coming from the left, reparations and the Ruhr Crisis. The threats came because of opposition to the new Weimar Republic and the way it was to be run.
Kapp Putsch was the first major crisis from the extreme right which occurred in March 1920. After a little order had been restored towards the end of 1919, the Socialist-led government had less need for the Freikorps. It was also aiming to reduce the army to conform to the Treaty of Versailles. Because of this, in February 1920 the defense minister ordered two freicorps brigades to disband. One of their leaders, General Walther von Lüttwitz, refused along with other army officers and Wolfgang Kapp, who planned to overthrow the government. On 12th March, 12,000 Freicorps marched twelve miles to Berlin, where the army refused to support the government. The government had no other choice but to flee Berlin. A new government was formed where Kapp was the leader however it failed to gain widespread support. In a few places, the army supported the putsch; in most areas, it was neutral. Whilst they had tried to take over Berlin they had used force and violence causing a threat to the government and the Weimar Republic. It was a serious threat as the government could no longer enforce its authority and could not put down a challenge to its authority.
Another threat to the stability of the Weimar Republic from the right was the assassination of Walther Rathenau. Rathenau was head of a massive AEG electrical firm and developed imaginative views about industrial organizations and the co-operation of workers and employers. He participated in arranging the armistice and attempts to improve the Treaty of...