Аннотация: Walther von Lüttwitz and the bathing suit of the President Ebert. The Historical essay
Walther von Lüttwitz and the bathing suit of the President Ebert. The Historical essay
Content
1. The Kapp-Lüttwitz Putsch. Victory, defeat and lessons.
2. Three information columns.
2.1. Photo of President Ebert in a bathing suit.
2. The concept of "Backstab."
3. The fall of the Social Democrats (1920-1930)
3.1. The first split of the democratic strata (1920)
3.2. The Second Split of Democratic Layers (1930). Hitler"s decision to go to power through legal procedures.
3.3. 3. The NSDAP "instead of" the SPD.
4. "Results" of Lüttwitz.
1. The Kapp-Lüttwitz Putsch. Victory, defeat and lessons.
One of the turning points in German history is the Kapp-Lüttwitz Putsch (March 10-17, 1920).
This coup, although often called only by the name of Kapp, has as its central figure General Lüttwitz, commander in chief of the Reichswehr in Berlin.
By itself, this coup, as an organizational event, was successful. The President (Social Democrat) Friedrich Ebert and the Social Democratic Government, under the leadership of Chancellor Bauer, did not have a noticeable support among the Reichswehr or other armed structures.
The putschists, without of anyone resistance, occupied the government buildings in Berlin and announced the formation of a government led by Wolfgang Kapp.
However, broad sections, layers of German society at that time showed a high degree of consolidation.
The bureaucratic elite apparently understood the risks of a new war with the victorious countries and did not want the occupation of Germany.
The population, may be, had a hopes for a better future, associated with the Social Democrats.
The general strike, the general passive resistance led to the defeat of the putsch.
The putsch showed opponents of the Weimar Republic that among their main political goals
(A) to achieve the split in democratic segments of the population and
(B) to discredit the Social Democrats.
2. Three information columns
2.1. Photo of President Ebert in a bathing suit
Three "information columns" started the attack on the Social Democrats:
1) communist (the "rich", capitalists are "to blame" for the difficulties),
2) "philistine" (general discrediting of the Social Democrats in the style of the yellow press),
3) militaristic-nationalist (the "traitors" are to blame for the difficulties - the "theory" of stab in the back).
There is probably no need to characterize the communist "information column". The so-called "contradiction between labor and capital" quite often became the focus of propaganda efforts. The thesis is widespread by propaganda.
The Yellow Press is also a well-known phenomenon. One of the main slogans that was used in the information war against the Social Democrats was a photograph (July 16, 1919), in which President of Germany Ebert and a number of other politicians are depicted while bathing near a coast line in a bathing suits, unusual for that time.
Despite the democratic nature (after 1918) of the citizens of the Germany, they nevertheless got used to see in photographs an images of respectable people. The significance of people was emphasized by their poses and clothes (military and civil uniforms and orders, awards).
It is acceptable to assume that the democratic nature of the majority of the German population was manifested in a commitment to a constitutional monarchy.
An unusual bathing suit powerfully played against President Ebert and became one of the main information battering ram directed against him.
This photograph and this bathing suit "transformed" the energetic President Ebert into an unreliable, miserable political figure, not worthy of the trust of the German population.
A curious example of an information campaign, when the attention of the media is directed to some nonsense. Is achieved - as a result - a significant effect.
2. The concept of a "stab in the back"
The concept of "stab in the back" took shape during the testimonies of Hindenburg and Ludendorff before the Reichstag parliamentary commission in 1919. This concept was used and developed in the National Socialist "doctrine".
In addition, the myth of "stab in the back" was used to publicly accuse (1924) of President Friedrich Ebert. Allegedly, Ebert contributed to the defeat of Germany by his behavior before and after the war. Ebert"s attempt to defend his reputation in court turned into his political defeat. President Ebert died on February 28, 1925.
Objective difficulties (foreign policy, economic) added to the advocacy efforts.
3. The fall of the Social Democrats
The President of the Weimar Republic from 1919 to 1925 was Friedrich Ebert, a Social Democrat.
The first three chancellors were also the Social Democrats - Philip Scheidemann, Gustav Bauer, Hermann Müller.
3.1. The first split of the democratic strata (1920)
In the parliamentary elections in June 1920, the NSDG (the "Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany" - conditionally pro-communist party) received 17.9% of the vote, won 84 seats and became the second largest (after the SPD) faction in the Reichstag. The votes of the Social Democrats passed to the NSDG. The share of SPD decreased to 21.3% (from 37.9%).
On June 8, 1920, the representative of the Center Party, Konstantin Ferenbach, came to the post of chancellor.
The powers of Friedrich Ebert as President of the Reich were extended by the Reichstag from October 24, 1922 to June 25, 1925.
With the advent in 1925, on the post of President of Germany Paul von Hindenburg, the power of the Social Democrats ended.
The short-term return under President Hindenburg in 1928-1930 to the post of Chancellor Hermann Müller (Social Democrat) did not have a significant positive impact on the political situation.
3.2. The Second Split of Democratic Layers (1930)
In the 1930 parliamentary elections, the NSDAP "suddenly" received 19.3 percent of the vote. Hitler decided to go to power in a "legal" way - through the usage of elections and legal institutions. Radical members of Storm Detachments, striving for some kind of "revolution", began to become an obstacle. The Night of Long Knives was drawing near.
3.3. NSDAP "instead of" the SPD.
Since the election to the Reichstag on July 31, 1932, the anti-people parties of the NSDAP and the German National People's Party have had a mathematical majority in the Reichstag.
The era of the Social Democrats in the Weimar Republic in 1932 ended completely.
4. "Results" of Lüttwitz
Lüttwitz set up an experiment. The experiment was unsuccessful.
Successful (for opponents of the Social Democrats) President Ebert"s bathing suit, the offensive by three "information columns", objective foreign policy and economic difficulties - all this led to the removal of the Social Democrats from power and the transfer of power to other political forces.
When Lüttwitz proposed resignation on March 18, 1920 (the coup failed), Vice Chancellor Eugen Schiffer agreed - guaranteeing him full pension rights. Schiffer also invited Lüttwitz to leave the country until the National Assembly resolved the issue of amnesty and Schiffer even offered him a fake passport and money.
After the collapse of the putsch, Lüttwitz first went to Saxony, and only then left for Hungary. He used a passport provided by supporters in the police department of Berlin. Lüttwitz returned to Germany after an amnesty in 1924. He returned to Silesia and supported the DNPP, but was not politically active. In 1931, he called for the creation of the Harzburger Front, and in 1933 he congratulated Wilhelm Frick on the successful Machtergreifung (seizure of power) of the NSDAP. Lüttwitz"s book Im Kampf gegen die November-Republik was published in 1934.
Lüttwitz died on September 20, 1942 in Breslau.
September 3, 2019 09:18
Translation from Russian into English: September 3, 2019 22:41.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский "Вальтер фон Лютвиц и купальный костюм президента Эберта. Историческое эссе".