Outline the role of the Reichswehr during the early Weimar Republic, 1919-1924.

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Outline the role of the Reichswehr during the early Weimar Republic, 1919-1924.

The Reichswehr played a major role during the early years of the Weimar republic. It had the power to support and be there in times of help when needed by the government. The Reichswehr are highlighted during the time of the birth of the Weimar republic, Kapp Putsch, the Weimar constitution, Munich Putsch.

The revolution and the birth of the Weimar republic was addressed when Philip Scheidemann, a well-known majority Socialist, overheard a Spartacist Leader was about to call for Russian style Soviet republic. Stepping up to the Reichstag balcony, Scheidemann declared a new republic, with Ebert as Chancellor, stating that the army had settled to abide by their agreement. The position of the army was crucial. On the evening of 9th November, Ebert received a call from General Groener (source 4) at Army headquarters. In return for Ebert's support for the office corps, the army offered its armed forces to oppose left-wing radicalism. Ebert approved pledging the republics support for the continuation of the Prussian militaristic tradition and placing its future in the hands of the army.
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In 1920 a right-wing representative Gustav Kapp, attempted to seize power in an incident that showed the lack of authority in the Weimar republic. Kapp approached different army leaders to acquire their support, though most refused him. As a final point he was supported by the Freikorps, which was made up of ex-soldiers. The government turned to the Reichswehr, to defend it against the Putsch and the Freikorps, but received a reply from the Army Commander Von Seekt, that "Reichswehr does not fire on Reichswehr", thus the army stayed neutral. The republic could not rely on the army's ...

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