Eastern Front Prelude #0.3 The Reichswehr

Last time we spoke about the Russian Civil War. In the aftermath of the Russian Revolution and World War I, the Russian Civil War ignited, leading to a struggle for independence among various nations within the former empire. As the Bolsheviks seized control, they faced opposition from the White Movement and various nationalist groups. Ukraine, for instance, saw bloodshed between the Red Army and the White forces, compounded by external influences from Germany and Poland. Similar turmoil unfolded in Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, each grappling with their sovereign destinies amidst Russian turmoil. Throughout these conflicts, the Red Army emerged as a formidable force, gradually professionalizing through strategic leadership and collaboration with Germany. Ultimately, the Soviet government established a new order, although its grip on the territories remained contested and fraught with violence. The civil war's sweeping changes resulted in millions of casualties and the birth of new nations vying for their identities against the backdrop of a collapsing empire.

This episode is Prelude #3 The Reichswehr

Well hello there, welcome to the Easter Front week by week podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800’s until the end of the Pacific War in 1945. 

Hello again and welcome to the third prelude episode where we will be looking at the development of the Reichswehr during the Weimar Republic. 

In the autumn of 1918, Germany was a nation in turmoil. The Great War had taken a horrific toll, leaving millions dead and the landscape of Europe altered forever. As the war dragged on, the German populace grew weary and disillusioned. The country faced food shortages, economic deprivation, and increasing unrest. Battles raged at the front, and the whispers of revolution began to echo through the streets of cities like Berlin and Munich. In late October 1918, the German Navy, facing certain defeat, mutinied against their commanders in Kiel. It began with a group of sailors refusing to set sail for a final engagement with the British fleet. This act of defiance sparked protests and unrest, quickly spreading to various sectors of society. Workers and soldiers united, demanding an end to the war and a change in government. 

On November 9, 1918, amid the upheaval, Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated. The announcement sent waves of excitement and relief through the streets of Berlin, as crowds celebrated the end of the monarchy. However, this was only the beginning of a more complex struggle. Two main factions emerged in the revolutionary landscape: the Social Democrats “SPD”, who aimed for a parliamentary democracy, and the more radical Spartacist League, led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht, who advocated for a socialist revolution. As the new government took shape, the SPD formed a coalition with moderate left-wing groups. They declared a new republic, known as the Weimar Republic, on November 9, 1918, with Friedrich Ebert as the Chancellor. Ebert’s government faced immediate challenges, including the need to maintain order and appease the demands of workers and soldiers who sought significant reforms. Strikes and protests became commonplace. Workers' councils, or “soviets,” were established across the country, asserting their influence over the social and political landscape. In response, the SPD sought to suppress the more radical movements. The Spartacists, unsatisfied with the pace of reform, initiated their own uprising in January 1919, believing that a true revolution was necessary to secure a socialist future.

The Spartacist uprising, however, was met with violent resistance. The government decided to quell the insurrection by enlisting the help of the Freikorps, paramilitary groups made up of former soldiers. We will get into them more in a bit. Over the course of the uprising, brutal clashes ensued in the streets of Berlin. The Freikorps, driven by a mix of anti-communism and nationalist fervor, clashed with the Spartacists, resulting in significant bloodshed. On January 15, 1919, Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg were captured and murdered by the Freikorps. Their deaths sparked national outrage and further polarized the political landscape. The radical left realized the urgency of their cause, but with their leaders gone, t