Weimar German Civil Wars

[CountofDooku]

Road to the National German People’s Reich 1 - Hitler Coup in Bavaria

When the Right-conservative Bavarian Government formed by the Kampfbund (Battle League) around Hitler, Pernet, Weber, Frick, Kriebel, Ludendorff, Hitler, Bruckner, Ernst Röhm, and Robert Wagner it was but a coup attempt in Munich to most on the 8/9th.11.1923, but the Battle of the Feldherrenhalle and the defeat o th Bavarian Police and Reichswehr with their inferior numbers, some said were not fully behind the German Weimar Republic, or against Hitler, sealed the fate of not only Munich and Bavaria, but all of Germany. The support of prominent conservative and catholic figures in Bavarian politic and military circles further legitimized and justified Hitler’s coup and the Kampfbund made up by the Nazi Party (NSDAP), Sutmrabteilung (SA), Stoßtrupp Hitler (Shock-Troop-Hitler, S-H), Bund Reichskriegsflagge (Imperial War Flag Society, BR) and the Freikorps Oberland (Highlands Free Corps) together managed to secure Munich and with it much of Bavaria quickly fell in line. The main obstacle for what the democratic republic government in Berlin clearly would view as treason was now the 115,000 soldiers counting Reichswehr, as well as the Reichsbanner Schwar-Rot-Gold (Black, Red and Gold Banner of the Reich) which had been created by the Social Democratic Party, the German Centre Part and the German Democratic Party to defend the parliamentarian republic of Weimar Germany. With Bavarian Prime Minister Eugen Ritter von Knilling arrested and later killed and Bavarian state commissioner Gustav Ritter von Kahr and General Otto von Lossow, who had planned their own Reichswehr General Otto von Lossow and Bavarian Police Commander Colonel Hans Ritter von Seisser and General Otto von Lossow being arrested and later quickly falling the Coup of the Munich Putch to safe themselves from a similar fate, the Free State of Bavaria fell in line. Together with his closest circle Adolf Hitler (wounded during the coup), Erich Ludendorff, Ernst Röhm, Rudolf Hess, Ernst Pöhner, Scheubner-Richter (wounded during the coup), Robert Wagner, Herman Goring (wounded during the coup) and Heinrich Himmler formed the new National German Government in Munich Bavaria.

Together they proclaimed not only their new provisional government for a National German People’s Reich/ Nation State and explained the Berlin government was full of traitors, socialists, communists and Jews working against the German People and the German Nation alike on behalf of foreign interests and powers. Still the coup was not as solid as later history books made it out to be read and Ernst Röhm who wished for his 40,000 strong SA to not integrate into the Bavarian Police and Reichswehr, but the other way had a heated conversation with Hitler, who feared that might turn the Bavarian Reichswehr quickly against them and end their coup right then and there. In the End a compromise was found, but still the Hitler Coup as it was soon be known nearly was still halted and failing in Bavaria, as the majority of German Railroad Workers and Conductors, themselves rather left-leaning opposed transporting Hitler and his forces out of Munich to officially take over other parts of the Bavarian Free State more directly. But after the SA shot a few of them as traitors to Hitler and the German People to inspire the rest of them to do as they were told, Hitler and his forcs soon occupied Nuremberg, Fürth, Bayreuth and the rest of Bavaria, before celebrating in their new Reichsparteitag in Munich as Hitler was convinced the German National Revolution as the Nazi’s called their coup had just ebgun and that soon the rest of Germany would rise up against the traitors in Berlin as well and form a German National People’s State around him, Hitler himself as their savior figure. It therefore came as a shock to Hitler, as well as his allies and supporters, that the German States of Sachsen (Saxony) and Thüringen (Thuringia) both formed a Social Democratic Party (SPD) – Communist Party of Germany (KPD) coalition government, very clearly aimed against his coup and loosely aligned to Berlin, even if some inside of this left-wing German coalition very clearly dreamed and aimed to topple Berlin themselves, to create a true German Republic, a German People’s Republic led by the German People themselves and not some capitalist or militarist politician elite that were remnants of the old Imperial German ruling class still in politics.

German Civil War - Controlled Areas Map

Gray - Weimar Germany, Brown - Hitler Coup, Rhineland - Entente occupation, other lighter areas, local uprisings, strike, or unrests

 

[CountofDooku]

Road to the German People’s Republic 1 - SPD-KPD Coalition Governments

In a coalition by the Socialist German Party (SPD), Independent Social Democratic Party (USPD) and Communist Party of Germany (KPD) clearly aiming against the Hitler Coup in Bavaria and it’s National German People’s Republic, the left-wing opposition in Dresden and Erfurht began to oppose the right-wing coup to the south, while officially still playing close allies and loyal to Weimar Germany and the Berlin Government. Still they mainly relied on local Saxony and Thuringia police and reichswehr forces should Hitler follow his Italian Fascist Idol Benito Mussolini for a March on Berlin as he had called for, which was why they quickly called for not only the Reichsbanner Schwarz Rot Gold, but even more so the Communist KPD Roter Frontkämpferbung (Red Front Fighters Alliance/ League), Antifaschistische Junge Garde (Young Antifascist Guard), Kampfbund gegen den Faschismus (Fighting League against Fascism), Antifaschistische Aktion, as well as later the Rote Ruhrarmee (Ruhr Red Army) and the Rote Scharen (Red Band), which together would soon merge to the Rote Eiserne Front (Red Iron Front, created against Hitlers National German Front alliance with Stahlhelm, Schwarze Reichswehr/ Black Reich Defense and other center-right movements). Many in this new coalition inside of Saxony and Thuringia dreamed, yes hoped they would be able to deal with Hitler and his Coupist themselves, as then their march south could not only oppose Hitler, but revive the original Bavarian Soviet Republic/ Munich Soviet Republic/ Bavarian Council Republic, which fell to the paramilitary Freikorps and the German Army after the Great War. Then their coalition government could form a new power base in Southeast Germany around the Saxony Soviet Republic, the Thuringia Soviet Republic and the liberated Bavarian Soviet Republic to form a united German Soviet Republic, German Socialist Republic, German Communist Republic, or German People’s Republic in opposition to not only Hitler, Bavaria and Munich, but Berlin and Weimar as well.

Together with large Socialist and Communist strongholds in Hanover, the Ruhrgebiet (Ruhr Area) and the Socialist-Communist dominated center of Germany the SPD-KPD- Coalition government already saw itself spearheading their very own socialist-communist German People’s Revolution/ Second German Revolution after the initial one in 1918 had failed. While in Hitler’s Bavaria the Nazi’s heavily attacked all Jews and non-Germans the left-wing paramilitary in Saxony and Thuringia targeted capitalists, monarchists and other suspect individuals, with some being beaten up, some arrested and some killed, just like it happened under the Nazi’s down south with different groups. For this very reason of the actions of the more radical left-wing members of the coalition government and movement, any attempted alliances, loyalty and ties to the government in Berlin the Weimar Republic and the regular German people soon faded away in Saxony and Thuringia as well and the Berlin Government of the Weimar Republic soon viewed Saxony and Thuringia the same as Bavaria states in open rebellion, uprising and coup attempts against the democratic republic and the Berlin government. As a result the Reichswehr was mobilized against these coups and uprising rebel forces, in parts because the previous coup attempt in Berlin by parts of the Schwarze Reichswehr (Black Reichswehr) had shown the Berlin government that the more extreme and anti-democratic, anti-republican elements of the German Army and military themselves would not stand idle by for much longer and look how a series of weak coalition governments maneuvered the German Weimar Republic further into economic and political downfall and instability. A strong show of force was therefore needed feared Berlin and maybe, just maybe a strict, swift and quick strike against Socialists, Communsit, Fascists, Conservative and Nationalist coups in Bavaria, Saxony and Thruingia to the South could be the strike that Weimar needed to show it was a strong willed, capable and defensive democracy and could stand it’s ground against internal and foreign dangers, challenges and threats, thereby convincing the majority of the German People that they could stay safely behind the German Weimar Republic, while it stood protective before them. At least so the government in Berlin hoped.

 

[CountofDooku]

As the titles might indicate this will be a anthology, a small and short series of many smaller German Civil Wars in the Weimar Republic all starting similar, but with around 4 to five different outcomes for each side entirely, meaning all with the same title start will be one connected version inside of this.

 

[CountofDooku]

Road to the German Military Dictatorship 1 – President and Chancellor Hindenburg

With the creation of the Rhine Republic by Rhine Separatists backed by the France and Communist uprising in Hamburg, the majority of German Peoples had lost trust in the stability and security of the Weimar Government, while the 50,000 – 80,000 partisan strong Rurh Red Army fourth the Rhine Republic and Weimar Government on behalf of the SPD-KPD Coalition Government of the German People’s Republic, the Deutche Volkspartei (German people’s Party) and Zentrum (Centre Party) supported a stronger coalition and union government in Berlin to retake back control of the situation. With parts of the Schwarze Reichswehr Paul von Hindenburg as a non partisan center President of Germany following former weak President Friedrich Ebert and a series of short-lived candidates. The German Hanoverian Party (DHP) government to the North and German National People’s Party (DNVP) provincial governments to the East would remain of questionable loyalty to the new German Central Coalition Government of the newly sworn in Great War veteran and hero Hindenburg in Berlin, who quickly would appoints a series of new Chancellor to support and back him in the difficult task to win this German Civil War and bring the coup opposition governments and loyal separatist provinces back in line again. Over the next months more and more old comrades and veterans from the Great War, either still active in the Reichswehr, or retired would rejoin the cabinet and coalition of President Hindenburg, who grew increasingly tired of cautious and weak willed political individuals around him and ultimately would also unite the position of President and Chancellor in his own person at the same time when the continued appointment of disappointing new German Chancellors grew tiresome for Hindenburg. As a result the Weimar Republic under him in this German civil war grew more and more into a military dictatorship that aimed to not only reintegrate the Separatist states/ provinces back into the German Republic itself, but also intended to heavily punish their treasonous leaders, with Hindenburg being quick to calling for public death penalty and executions for those who had committed treason against the German Weimar Republic and the German people alike.

Needless to say Hindenburg did not recognize the National German Republic, the German People’s Republic, the Rhine Republic or any other coup and separatist opposition government, movement, group or claimed nation state territory and instead referred to these states/ provinces on radio only as rebellious provinces that would soon be put back securely under Berlin and German Republic rule. His increasingly authoritarian and tyrannic dictatorship would ultimately last till his death in 1934, when his son Oskar would take over and inherit his ranks and position within the German Reich, creating the Hindenburg Family dictatorship, or Hindenburg Clan/ Hindenburg Clique rule over the German Republic and the Germans, that some outside forces compared to the Dictator and Warlord Era in China and other places around the world. What Chancellor and President Hindenburg soon did was to get in contact with the Polish fearful they might use the German Civil War to settle Eastern border disputes by themselves and instead Hindenburg attempted to find a neutral solution to their ambitions without fully guaranteeing Polish borders, or eliminating German irredentism claims on the area entirely. On the other side things with the French to the West, were even more problematic, as the French secretly but overall very knowingly supported the Separatists of the Rhine Republic, as observable by the overall number of armor, weapons and partial even uniforms the Rhine Republic Army used against Weimar forces and Communist Red Ruhr Army partisans and rebels alike. The French meanwhile claimed the Rhine Republic had armed themselves with the remnants of some of the French Army Forces who had occupied the Ruhr Region before, when French troops left after the deceleration of the Ruhr Republic itself, as their reparations so they said had to come out of Germany, not the Ruhr Republic/ Rhine Republic which no longer was part of the German Nation State according to French foreign policy. Naturally this enraged Hindenburg’s own German Government and Republic, as well as most German Opposition Governments and German Nation States fighting him in this German Civil War as well.

German Civil War - Controlled Areas Map

 

[CountofDooku]

Road to the German Nation States Federation 1 – Fracturing German Nation States

In some instances these strikes, rebellions, uprisings and revolutions within the already internally very unstable Weimar Republic outright ripped it apart, fracturing it into a bunch of smaller republics and nation states. A movement that originally began when the Ruhr Republic backed by the French and to some extent the Belgians and later the similar formed Rhine Republic also with French support became independent nation states and democratic republics of their own supported by strong and powerful neighboring nations and states like the French. Meanwhile some support for the Bavarian Hitler Regime that was the Nation German Republic as it called itself came from the Christian-Social, Agrarian Heimatblock and it’s ultra-nationalist Heimwehr paramilitary in the form of a clearly Italofascist (Italian Fascism/ Mussolinism) inspired Austrofashist Fatherland Front (Vaterländische Front) Austrian(-German) Union Government under Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuß, which very clearly later inspired Hitler’s Bavarian pan-Germanic National German Front and what many called Germanofascism, Hitlers political German National Socialist ideology and movement. Meanwhile Hannoverian regional independence, christian democratic, agrarian and federalist government forces united within each other and advocated for their own Hanover Republic, or State of Hanover, independent from Prussia, as they had been as the Kingdom of Hanover before the Prussian conquest and annexation. Their main goal and hope was renewed British support for their independence and autonomy from the United Kingdom. England however had by now no longer any true support and the overall idea of further fracturing and weakening Germany in an already destabilized weak state was opposed by London, both out of fear of the Soviet Union becoming capable of pushing further into Eastern Europe, or Central Europe, or breakup the various new, smaller German Republics, to even use the civil war and fracturing republics and dividing German nation states inside the German Weimar Republic which in the fearful British in London might lead to a further spread of Communism and Soviet Republics within Central Europe.

As a result the English and their British Empire did not back the Hanoverian or any other German Separatist movement and instead chooses to continue recognizing the German Government in Berlin as the sole legitimized German government. This was much unlike the neighboring French who had been quick in recognizing the Rhine Republic and Ruhr Republic alike with diplomatic and trade connection quickly established and as various Weimar and local Separatist German forces also claimed, the French even gave further support to both West German Republics, both with armor and weaponry, as well as reports about French advisers and trainers for the local Rhine Republic Army and Ruhr Republic Army, which lead to heavy protests from Berlin itself, but there was little the Germans truly could do about that at the moment. Because fo that they used their reopened connections to the Polish to contact the British in the hopes they would reign in their French allies more, especially given the Fascist-Nationalist Socialist-Communist uprisings and rebellion the German Weimar Republic had to struggle and deal with at the moment. At the same time most of the forces the Hindenburg government could rely on were paramilitary forces, as despite the German Civil War, the French and to some extent also the British were unwilling to allow and recognize and true expansion of the Reichswehr itself, meaning few overall regular military trained forces and units would be able to be called upon by the Berlin Government. This made overall things much more difficult to deal with and the Reischsbanner Schwarz Rot Gold, the most centrist, pro-democratic and pro-republic German paramilitary wing was heavily relied upon, especially in the initial months and first years of the German Civil War alike. At the same time guerrilla forces of various sides forced the central government and each other to rely heavily on armored trains and similar transportation to get their troops were they needed to be without being ambushed, weakened, softened up and killed before even arriving on the frontline.

German Civil War - Controlled Areas Map

 

[CountofDooku]

More tomorrow because I planned four chapters, but family and darling were having a grill day in good weather so next chapters tomorrow (maybe eight instead of four have to see how much I manage to do).

 

[CountofDooku]

Road to the German Democratic Republic 1 - The Steel Chancellor

From the Iron Chancellor Otto von Bismark to the Steel Chancellor Paul von Hindenburg, who had been appointed by the Berlin Government to save the German Republic and it's democracy within and would use the Reichsbanner Schwarz Rot Gold, like the Freikoprs had been used before against Socialist and Communist Rebels at the End of the Weltkrieg (Great War). Under the new government coalition, known as the Deutsche Einheitsfront (German Unity Front, or German Untied Front) the pro-democratic and pro-republic forces, at least those opposed of the overall coups, uprisings and rebellions in favor of their own victory trough democratic elections combined their parties and forces in a new, united coalition against these extremist and treasonous elements, resulting in a strong unified German Democratic Republic, which quickly not only mobilized the Reichswehr, but also various paramilitary groups and movements of all parties and organizations still loyal to Berlin. With it a strong armed opposition against the extremist rebels from the Left and the Right was formed and showed the united will and determination of the German nation and People. Pro-democratic and pro-republican propaganda was increased under the Steel Chancellor and the oats of Reichswehr, Police and those auxiliary paramilitary forces aiding them were sworn in not with a oat to the Chancellor and President, but on the German Nation State, it's Democracy and Republic, to make it inherently clear to all, even in the more controversial paramilitary groups now enlisted to aid fighting this German Civil War. The result at least so hoped the Berlin Government, those sworn in as new auxiliary forces in the German Civil War would feel more supportive, loyal and in league with the democratic republic that had been created in Germany after the Weltkrieg (World War/ Great War) and stay away from any to radical movement sand groups who tired to topple, oppose and eliminate this democratic Republic of Germany, creating a new cadre of loyal auxiliary paramilitary, police and soldiers, that together with the overall propaganda and average citizens would form a strong pillar to secure democracy and republicanism in Germany.

Referring to themselves as true German Democrats and true German Republicans, while they called their enemies Bonzen, Junker, Revolutionaries, Bolsheviks and otherwise to empathize they were remnants of the old German Empire, of various Nationalist, Fascist, Socialist and Communist groups cutting away and backstabbing the German Democratic Republic from the back and the sides. This so the Berlin Government was why every true German Democrat needed to be cautious, as enemies and traitors could lurk behind every corner, they could be neighbors, family members, in the next house, or even your own, which was why any treasonous speech and behavior needed to be reported to make sure such enemies of the German Nation State, Republic and Democracy would not be able to sabotage the real Berlin government, or their war effort against these treasonous extremist revolutionaries, rebels and unrest causing groups. Since this was a revolution against the German Democratic Republic and those taking up arms against it were traitors, most of their leaders captured would be trialed and executed for high treason, while those that had followed them were imprisoned, both in prison camps, as well as in forced labor camps, were they were meant to work hard for the German Democratic Republic and against the treasonous traitors that had risen up in arms against the legitimate Weimar Government in Berlin and the Democratic Republic of Germany as a whole. Therefore forced labor was not only used against these traitors in camps and prisons, but reeducation as well, were they would get the importance of liberty and freedom drilled into them to support the republic and democracy of Germany, sometimes with rather harsh methods to ensure that the democracy and republic in Germany would never fall by the means of treasonous hands. At the same time many of the more radical democratic and republican elements, who behaved not better then their revolutionary socialist, communist, fascist and nationalist counterpart justified their own actions under the guise of protecting the new Germany it’s nation, people, democracy and republic at any means and any costs to themselves and others necessary, thereby creating a well fortified militant democracy and republic that would never be endangered again.

 

[CountofDooku]

Road to the National German People's Reich 2 – Schwarze Reichswehr

When Hitler and his conservative and nationalist supporters gained the backing of the Stahlhelm with it’s around 500,000, as well as the more conservative and nationalist elements of the Schwarze Reichswehr as well, they managed to gain massive support in the State of Prussia, especially East Prussia, West Prussia, Posen, Pommerania, Silesia and Brandenburg, were they maintained a conservative, nationalist stronghold because of it. With these new backing and regions held, the National German Reich now had a pincer movement against the Socialist-Communist held nation states in between, as well as Berlin, capital and seat of the German Republican and Democratic Government. This was why their new allies and coalition with other conservative and nationalist elements was so important, not only did it eliminate pressure from Bavaria itself, but the Prussian State provinces who had aided and joined them alongside large numbers of the local military, police and even regional population. Combined with Conservative, Nationalist propaganda, an ethos of putting your all everyday life and work into this Conservative Nationalist Revolution, in building up their very own National German Reich. In stark contrast to the German Democrats and Republicans it also became common for Hitler and others inside the National German Reich to constantly wear uniforms, either military, police and paramilitary auxiliary ones, or uniforms of the various organizations, movements and groups the new National German Reich divided it’s citizens into a sort of cast/ class and social system staggered in a hierarchy with Hitler as the Führer (Leader) atop it all. Even their enemies, captured in the battles of this civil war and put into concentration camps for hard labor, brainwashing, torture or execution had the system forced upon them with the uniforms of the prison telling were they were interned, special marks upon them telling for what they were there and the prisoners themselves having a hierarchy among themselves even before the prison guards, depending heavily on how much they adopted the new conservative, national socialist ideology and ideals of the National German Reich, or cooperated with their enslaves in general in these camps.

Another major occurrence in the National German Reich was constant propaganda, trough posters on the streets and houses, loudspeakers, news radio and even some television and film, mostly in form of cinema propaganda news shows. Not only was it meant to mold the citizen to know the right and only way of thinking and viewing the world in this fascist, nationalist ideology, but also to denounce whatever their enemies claimed as counter, yes to go so far as to eliminate the very thought of disobedience and questioning the Führer and the National State itself, as any individuality, any diversity in thought, speech, appearance and behavior was no longer allowed under this despotic, tyrannic dictatorship. This unquestionable collectivism, close to the totalitarianism of the Soviet Union, yes surpassing it in some aspects even was the reason even some very loyal devote Conservatives and Nationalists could always find themselves being questioned and in danger of being outed as traitors, Bolsheviks, Communists, Socialists, Democrats and Republicans, not to mention it was even worse for the everyday citizen outside of the government elite circles, paramilitary police, auxiliary and military itself. After all those often lacked connections or important positions themselves to protect them and soon not only books with the wrong outdated views and opinions in them burned, but also the people who wrote them and could still spread their to the regime dangerous ideology, which was how concentration camps and prisons also quickly became death camps and execution houses for ideological and outspoken enemies of Hitler and his supporters. The more yes-sayer and supporters of the regime rose to positions in power of government and military, the more those that questioned and opposed it were silenced, the more the system itself worsened, as different voices were forced out and only that who nodded to what the regime already believed, told and said in general, creating an ideological spiral of ensuring itself and preventing any different opinions at all, thereby in the long term limiting their own overall abilities, thoughts and ideas massively.

 

[Mayukh]

More tomorrow because I planned four chapters, but family and darling were having a grill day in good weather so next chapters tomorrow (maybe eight instead of four have to see how much I manage to do).

Has the war begun to diverge from each other?

 

[CountofDooku]

Has the war begun to diverge from each other?

Finally by now the answer is yes, each chapters with the same first part are related to one another, see:

Road to the National German People’s Reich 1 - Hitler Coup in Bavaria

Road to the National German People's Reich 2 – Schwarze Reichswehr

meaning all in the same wane following now will furhter elaborate on one of the different Germanies coming out on top.

Next today are therefore:

Road to the German People’s Republic 2 - German Workers United

and

Road to the German Military Dictatorship 2 - Hindenburgism

 

[CountofDooku]

Road to the German People’s Republic 2 - German Workers United

With the SPD-KPD coalition in Thuringia and Saxony known as the German People’s Republic, as well as a SPD-USPD backing and support by former members of the Berlin Government and the democratic Republic of Weimar Germany, the Democratic Republic of German People. Similarly they quickly were joined by the Red Ruhr Rhine Worker’s Republic which had established with French aid in the West and backed by the French government and military, especially the left-wing movements uniting against Germany and the German Nation at first, by the French Socialists and the French Communist later on. Together they formed a triad of left-leaning, left-wing Socialist and Communist German factions, nation states, movements and other interlinked, or allied movements, that band together, despite remaining basically their own nation states with different structures and forms of government inside. This model would be kept by the future German People’s Republic, basically creating a German Peoples Republic Union, United German People’s Republic, or German Republican People’s Union, which much more so even the Soviet Union would ultimately have very different internal states/ provinces, that would be rather unique each in their own way, or as the German People’s Republic and Union would put it, better fit the Workers, Soldiers and People in these different regions the best. After all the Bavarian, Hanoverian, Rhine, Ruhr and other People’s Republics all reflected their local people with different agricultural, industrial, economic and other surrounding background, including regional German cultures, Christian religious branches and dialects that made them quit unique and different from one another. As a result the various German People’s Red Armies of each region were also rather different and divergent inside this German Civil War meaning the Conservative Nationalists, or Berlin Weimar Republic Government alike opposing and fighting them soon realized an immense difference in the various local People’s armies, with the Rhein-Ruhr one mainly trained and supplied by the French, the Thuringia-Saxony one mostly former German Army and Police, as well as in parts Czech supplied.

At the same time the Hanoverian was secretly aided by the Soviet Union and other International Socialist and Communist groups reaching them by sea, as the central SPD and USPD ones were mainly regular German army and police supplied with domestic weaponry in the center of the country. At the same time the training of these local People’s Armies also varied differently, with most central ones having been trained by the Prussians, while the northern Hannvoeran, central Hesse, Thuringia and Saxony, as well as the southern Baden and Wüttemberg ones were very differently armed and trained in general. At the same time very few of the overall Police and Reichswehr forces, let alone industrial capitalists could be viewed as truly loyal and some had to be forced to work at gunpoint by the new German People’s Republic’s Union Governments. As a result most of their People’s armies avoided open field battles and instead used ambushes in forests and urban population centers, ambushed enemy patrols and supply liens to keep in the fight and ultimately overwhelm the Weimar Republic and other enemies in this German Civil War despite many of them having better trained armed forces then the socialist and communist rebels, but overall had very limited numbers in overall Reichswehr and police forces fighting them. This was why overall fights and destruction was heaviest in urban centers, especially cities and towns, resulting in immense local destruction, especially when fires broke out and continues firefights prevented local firefighters from putting out the flames and rescuing people of overall collapsed and destroyed buildings. This was what further increased overall civil causalities besides the lack of food, medicine and other supplies in highly populated areas that were heavily contested in this German Civil War. Beside hunger and famine, infections of all kind also spread rapidly in the contested areas and the International Red Cross had a very hard time getting to everyone they needed to aid, let alone get enough aid for everyone were it truly needed to go. This was in many parts thanks to various radical and rivaling factions of the German Civil War actively denying them to pass trough into enemy territory to help their rivaling factions.

 

[CountofDooku]

Road to the German Military Dictatorship 2 - Hindenburgism

Left-wing socialist and communist rebels in the West and South, conservative, fascist and nationalists rebels in the South and East meant that the more and more authoritarian Weimar Republic itself under Hindenburg felt under siege of all sides and certainly also felt like it. At the same time the Weimar government had a central transportation hub in Berlin connecting most roads and railways which allowed them to quickly move their forces wherever they might be needed and to counteract the rebel militias and guerrilla forces much quicker then they in return were capable of. To ensure the system worked and to unify the German People and the German Nation behind the common goal of securing democracy and republicanism, it was Chancellor and President Paul von Hindenburg that would organize this, his new Germany further and further along military hierarchies and organizations until in the End the very democracy and republic von Hindenburg had been supposed to protect had been replaced by his very personal authoritarian, dictatorial rule and a family dynasty of his. As the result of that the term Hindenburgism to name and explain the changes inside the German Nation and it’s fading democratic republic. It was an overall agreeing that this mainly meant the appointing of more and more active and veteran military personal into political ministerial and other positions of influence and power. Because of that the overall authoritarian influence, hierarchies and structures of the German Republic slowly but steadily morphed ever more into a radical authoritarian and tyrannical regime, with Hindenburg as the Hero of the World War/ Great War becoming more and more the Hero of the German Civil War as well a larger then life military and political figure that soon also had a cult following, only increased by constant state propaganda and overall news about him and his actions. Every sign of unity and strength, every victory and every achievement quickly was viewed and presented as being thanks to Hindenburg himself, whose star, prominence and influence grew and rose more and more until there were little to none inside the German Republic and Democracy who dared to question him personally, as he began to represent the German Nation, the German People and the German Unity alike personally.

The public view of Hindenburg in the eyes of most Germans not rebelling became more and more favorable and with it the overall support and agreement backing the Field Marshall Hindenburg, his own view of himself and what he all did right and archived for Germany, the German People, the German Nation and the German Unity to the point that Hindenburg literally became the Fave of the German Nation, the German People and the German Unity, that could be seen on every poster, every newspaper, public buildings and places, including statues being build in his honor. This only further increased the public image and view of the Chancellor and President von Hindenburg that most loyal Germans had and as a result von Hindenburg himself began to believe in the own image the state portrayed himself in as the Hero and Savior of it all, resulting in an inflated ego and view that no one else understood and saved the Germans, their Nation and it’s Unity better and more then he had done. Because of this von Hindenburg would begin to increasingly dismiss civil and political government advisers and rule more and more with an elite cadre of old German military commanders and veterans alike that formed a close connected circle of people who began to truly have the overall power inside of Germany instead of the Weimar Republic and it’s democratic elected leaders. To the neighboring foreign nations not much of this was of cornea, as Hindenburg was seen as a centrist, who dealt with a civil war and many European nation States, especially to the East and Southeast of Central Europe, in East Europe, South Europe and Southwest Europe had similar, or even more authoritarian, despotic and tyrannical leaders without outright threatening their neighbors, or the Balance of Power in Europe, or the post-Great War/ post-World War new order that had been established with the Treaty of Versailles. As long as von Hindenburg did not do that either and actually prevented a Socialist and Communist takeover of Germany and Central Europe, most British, French Italians and other Europe Nation States were either indifferent of his overall actions and growing powers, or secretly and openly even in support of him.

 

[Dan]

I can see the thinking in London, Paris etc being "Better the devil you know..." as Hindenburg is "One of them".

 

[CountofDooku]

Road to the German Nation States Federation 2 – the many German Nation States

With the ongoing German Civil War Hanover enlarged it’s holding to the north, Meckenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Streliz united as the independent Republic of Mecklenburg, as Anhalt, Brunswick, Lippe, Waldeck-Pyrmont and Hessen Province formed the Hessen Republic. In this chaos and confusion French forces used the moment to formerly annex the Saar region and Polish forces annexed former contested areas of East Prussia and Silesia alike. The further loss of these lands to the French and Polish was devastating to any legitimate German government claiming to be taken seriously, while failing to protect Germany and the Germans from enemies foreign and within, while at the same time the coordinated attack by nationalist French and nationalist Polish forces could only mean some form of coordination and plan to strike at the same time, which was also why London protested harshly in diplomatic notes, but did not take any further action on behalf of Germany, as the German Civil War made any overall internal German situation and whom to negotiate with quit difficult and problematic. Unsurprisingly Lithuania, having itself irredentism claims against the Polish now allied with the Germans in Prussia, especially East Prussia to form a united Baltic Sea front against any further polish ambitions to push them and East Prussia into the Sea and make it polish land, just as they had previously annexed neutral Danzig during their campaign against East Prussia and Silesia. At the same time no former deceleration of War from either French or Polish had been given, the attacks had been a complete surprise and both nations claimed it was only to establish a secure buffer zone between them and any potentially spillover of the German Civil War into their own nation states. When Oldenburg also became autonomous and independent from Berlin, the English strike themselves, occupying Helgoland for the British Empire and also seizing the majority of the remaining German High Seas Fleet/ Kriegsmarine in an attempt to prevent it from falling into revolutionary hands they said. At the same time it was a not so covered warning for other neighboring nation states with territorial ambitions, like the Belgians, Dutch and Czech that London would no longer stand by and watch as Germany was to much weakened.

Fearing increasing Czechoslovak ambitions not only against Germany, but the Sudetenland and Czech border regions of their own, the Austrians actually aligned themselves with whoever German Civil War Warlord and regional group that controlled Bavaria, Saxony or Silesia to form a better unified front against the Czech Nationalists, just like Lithuania had done with East Prussia before in fear of similar Polish ambitions. In the north of Germany the parts of Hanover and Kiel under Socialist and Communist control managed to annex more of Schleswig-Holstein and form the Schleswig-Holstein People’s Republic, which many claimed was in no small part why the British had occupied Helgoland and were building it in a Royal Navy military base so close by. Unlike most People’s Republic who focused mostly on Workers and Soldiers, the Schleswig-Holstein People’s Republic itself emphases more on Fishers and Sailors, given their unique character of the region and overall way of life and traditions, not to mention a clear nod to the Kiel Mutiny most of them saw themselves as a continuation off. As a result the so called Schleswig-Holstein People’s Republic Navy Army in it’s majority used navy uniforms even for their army parts and was also in so large parts made up of former Sailors and Marines, that they became the very core of their armed forces. For this very reason the nearby Dutch also were alarmed of a potential spillover of the German Revolution and Civil War, especially the Schleswig-Holstein Socialist and Communist ones. As a result of that the Danish Army, at least in the border region was mobilized to ensure no socialist and communist rebels would sneak into the danish border lands and spread their uprising, rebellion and revolution into the Danish nation state, resulting in some border clashes and skirmishes between the Danish Army and Police and militia and armed forces from the Schleswig-Holstein People’s Republic itself. The Kiel government was quick to apologize to the Danish one in fear an intervention by the Danish Army itself, which could potentially very quickly end their new Kiel government, or at least weaken their Schleswig-Holstein People’s Republic enough, so that the German Republic and Berlin government could become capable of defeating them themselves.

 

[CountofDooku]

I can see the thinking in London, Paris etc being "Better the devil you know..." as Hindenburg is "One of them".

Indeed.

 

[CountofDooku]

Road to the German Democratic Republic 2 – against the Left

The main focus of the German Democratic Republic was against the left-wing coalition government of Thuringia and Saxony, as a clear warning to the SPD and USPD and other such left leaning parties and groups to not oppose, rise up, unrest and rebel against the Berling government and the democratic republic of Weimar. Not only one of the older rebellions, but also one of the most dangerous ones as it was so close to Berlin. Further more it was on the way to the Conservative-Nationalist uprising in Bavaria, meaning the natural push of the Reichswehr against the main rebellions, unrest and riots against the Weimar Government in Berlin. Reichswehr and police forces loyal to the Berlin government and the Weimar Republic would head south and battle the socialists and communists in Thuringia and Saxony. Trough heavy urban battles in Leipzig, Dresden, Chemnitz, Weimar, Jena, Erfurth, Sonderhausen and Gera they fought the SPD-KPD German People’s Republic, after the Left-wing on attempted “Push on Berlin” had been halted in the Battle of Halle. The battles overall devastated the cities fought over the hardest and lead to a massive refugee crisis in Thuringia and Saxony that soon spread into the neighboring German states of Bavaria and Prussia. Not only was the overall refugee crisis horrible, with food, medicine and other shortages, but the increased need for such goods from outside of Germany was not the only problem. A huge number of enemy soldiers, paramilitary militia and other forces captured injured, but alive, needed to be feed and kept alive as well. This in turn increased the overall needs to keep these people healthy as well, when the International Red Cross would visit these prison camps, since after the civil war battles, as well as local unrest, riots, criminal looting and other crimes the local bandits, gangsters and other criminals had done either as part of the revolutionaries, or as local criminal groups and individuals that simply would use the anarchy and chaos the German Civil War and the loss of government, military and police control brought with it in many areas and regions of the German Nation State.

Ever since the various skirmishes and crimes seen during these battles and riots had resulted in an overflow of German republic and Berlin government still controlled and hold prisons and the desperate need to establish prison camps to hold all the criminals and rebels, but even then their supply with fresh food, water and medicine was often limited or non-existing. After all the German government and nation state prioritized their own military fighting this civil war and it’s own loyal citizens over these criminals, which often meant if there were shortcomings those in the camps and prisons would feel them first, resulting in nearly as many dead trough hunger and missing medical treatment, or disease then the Communists and Nazi’s killed in their prisons trough torture, purposely denying food and medicine, or outright mass killings in some extreme instances. Therefore the situation for the average German civilian, or prisoner of any site was quit dangerous and problematic, but many things despite it all were not as horrible as under the rule of the Socialist-Communists and Fascists-Nationalists were not only was food and medicine purposely denied for certain political enemies of their state and ideology, but were torture and executions were overall widespread and often so publicly, that they cemented the fear, horror and terror of these new regimes in the minds of everyone living under them, resulting in many not daring to question, speak out or dare openly oppose them as much as possible. The result was an astonishing lack of pro-Democratic and pro-Republican partisans in the majority of the Socialist-Communists and Fascists-Nationalists controlled rebel states and regions of Germany were these Socialist-Communists and Fascists-Nationalists had declared their very own nation states, the German People’s Reich and the German People’s Republic respectively. At least the German People’s Republic was defeated with the taking back of Thuringia and Saxony, with those leaders of theirs captured alive soon to be publicly trialed for treason against the German Nation, the German People and the German Republic respectively. A formality in most chases to guarantee a legal procedure before the law, as most of them trough public appearances, speeches and leading the revolutionary forces were most clearly guilty and therefore would face public execution shortly after their trials.

 

[CountofDooku]

Road to the National German People's Reich 3 - Gau Reorganizing

When the National German People’s Republic took power in Bavaria, they nearly immediately reorganized the former states or provinces, into newer Gaue (territory/ historically shire) and Kreise (districts) and Gemeinden (townships), with Bavaria itself being divided into München-Oberbayers, Bayrische-Ostmark, Swabia, Frankia and Mainfranken, while the regions of former Prussia in the east were divided into East Prussia, Pomerania, Silesia, Kurmark and Berlin. These new Gaue would have their own Gau capitals and similar to the Führerprinzip (Leader principle) the new hierarchy organized itself under so called Gauleiter (Gau Leaders), who themselves had much more authority and power then their Weimar counterparts as ministers and governors ever wished they could have, despite themselves only answering to the Leader above them in any major decision. Foreign observers called it Prussian Germany, or Militarist Germany, because the Navo (National Volks/ National People’s) Regime itself was immensely militaristic and authoritarian organized along military command structures not unlike the overall rule of the Prussian State by the Prussian Military, or the German Empire by the Imperial German Army at the End of the Great War/ World War. Not only were all these changes meaning the National German People’s Reich was a nation state in which even civilians and others would constantly wear at least some form of uniform with a strict hierarchy, social and political groups, movements, cliques, classes and casts that made up this new, radical Germany. The main opposition many in the outside had against this German Civil War faction was it’s overall use of the National Socialist and German People name parts, which evoked, especially in Britain/ London and France/ Paris fearful horrors of another Socialist Left-leaning nation state and government taking hold upon the European Continent and either bringing Central Europe closer to the Communists itself, or at least join in an alliance, or other agreement with them, that might very easily endanger surrounding nation states trapped between the two of these new National Socialist People’s Union and International Socialist Soviet Union.

Therefore Hitler especially held a new series of propaganda rallies, clearly positioning himself closer to the Austrofascist Austrian Empire and the Italofascist Italian Empire alike, explaining his own National German Socialism was more so a Germanofascism (Gefa) then true socialism, that it was part of the pan-German Empire and Unity in which the German Worker and the German Farmer had always played a vital role as both such groups were much closer to the People’s, Socialist and Workers part in the name of their party, but that neither of them meant they were in league with the traitorous Socialist and Communists that their forces now defeated back in Thuringia and Saxony, were not only the Socialist and Communist politicians and soldiers, including auxiliary militia and police that survived were tortured and publicly executed without much of a trial, but were even those that had worked hard under them, or offered no sign of resistance and sabotage were viewed as some form of traitor to the German People, the German Nation Reich and the German Führer itself, even if they themselves had been forced to do so under treat of death, or torture by the previously Socialist and Communist regime themselves. Because of that the situation in Thuringia and Saxony was a terrible horror, even for innocent civilians and ideologically driven much, much worse then even during the Battle of Berlin, or the later trial against those elements of the Weimar Democratic Republic government or Reichswehr military leadership captured there. Some were beaten and tortured so severely they rather took their own lives, before the Navo and Gefa could continue their own work on these traitors as they called them. As a result much horror and terror encountered there even shocked some of the Great War veteran news reporter who had interviewed and seen the horrors of the Great War/ World War before were still traumatized by the things they would see during this German Civil War. To many these reassured the tales of the German Hun, the German Barbaric Warrior that had remained throughout European history since times of the Ancient Roman Empire, as even Benito Mussolini was never tired to repeat when reminding the world that as Rome became the Eternal City, German Tribesman were living among bushes and trees.

 

[CountofDooku]

Road to the German People’s Republic 3 – Union of German Republics

The Union of German People’s Republics, formed from the German People’s Republic, the German Social Republic, the German Soviet Republic, the German Communist Republic, or more minor, smaller versions, groups, movements and Socialist, Independent Socialist, United Socialist, Communists, or Soviet German parties, movements and trade unions. Together with the SPD and USPD governed and controlled states now joining them, the German People’s Republic Union managed to gain a strong hold upon central Germany and even managed to take Berlin for themselves, which they would rename into Karl-Marx-Stadt (Karl Marx City), which was a little confusing, as the Rhine-Ruhr People’s Republic had already done so with Triers/ Treves (Trier), leading to the later distinction of Trier as Karl-Marx-Stadt West (Karl Marx City West) and Karl-Marx-Stadt Ost (Karl Marx City East), also known as Karl-Marx-Stadt Hauptstadt (Karl Marx City Capital) respectively to better distinct the two of them. One of the first moves of theirs, like in every majorly taken city was to capture all capitalist and industrialists, taking their possession and redistributing them among the workers, farmers and soldiers that among their own People’s Army Veterans were presented with as reward for their hard labor, beside honorary titles and medals. Naturally such politics and actions under gunpoint had a devastating overall effect on the German Republics Union economy, as well as immensely limiting and slowing down the later reconstruction of their nation state after the German Civil War. At the same time this redistribution also resulted in newfound riches and also the change of some classes and social standards of those that gained new status, goods and Reichsmark riches thanks to the German Civil War, which was especially prominent among the Socialist and Communist rebels, rioters and uprising people, as well as among the Fascist and Nationalist ones, while the more moderate Conservatives, Liberals and Moderates alike would overall be much more cautious in arresting, judging and punishing their opposition inside this German Civil War then most of their rivals and enemies.

Similar to some of the German Nationalists and some Conservative Traditionalists allied to them, who called for a permanent revolution within their state against class, social, ethnic and religious rivals and enemies, many of the Socialist and Communist to were in support of their version of a permanent revolution against class enemies like capitalists, junkers, industrialists and others. In their place came loyal socialists and communists who would take over major government, military and economic positions, which was why many of the revolutionary rebel and uprising forces in the German Civil War had an early disadvantage despite having many former Great War veterans inside their paramilitary auxiliary forces and militia that far outnumbered those of the regular Reichswehr, they often lacked the trained Generals, Admirals, Commanders and Officers these more well trained and better armed and organized units had, but occasionally some of those, often for their very own personal and ideological reasons would join the rebellion, unrest and riots against the Weimar Republic and the Berlin Government alike. Those that did however despite being skilled military leaders, often had to fight with Admirals, Generals and Commanders who had gotten their ranks, or higher ones thanks to nothing else then the right ideology and the right things they said, which was why there was a growing divide between this Old Guard and the New Commanders alike. As a result the overall military structure of these German rebel states and unrest nations and provinces was quit very different from the overall Weimar Republic one and at the very same time many newer, younger Admirals, Generals, Commanders, as well as tactics and strategies that were often much more modern then those of the Old Guard, including specialized units for urban warfare, motorized, mechanized and tank forces. Those would take an auxiliary role to the regular infantry and artillery forces, but at the same time proved to be rather vulnerable to grenade, mine and other ambushes in urban areas, like cities and towns. There the overall fights often were close combat, hand to hand, house to house and room to room, which was why they were often so brutal, costly and overall destructive.

 

[CountofDooku]

Road to the German Military Dictatorship 3 – Iron Germany

The fight against the Rhine-Ruhr Republic as well as the SPD-KPD Coalition governments in Thuringia and Saxony was nothing compared to the highly trained, well lead and modern equipped forces of the Schwarze Reichswehr in the East. This was thy the Rhine-Ruhr Republic was focused again first to retake and secure the main industrial heartland of Germany, while all other fronts remained defensive, before pushing around and dealing with the SPD-KPD held regions in a bloody guerrilla war. Against them however mostly auxiliary paramilitary forces were used, as the majority of the Reichswehr and veteran forces were send East to defeat their brothers of the Schwarze Reichswehr before they themselves could push into central Germany and take over themselves. Luckily these mostly Conservative and Traditionalist Nationalist Forces had little support outside the regions they already held and any push of theirs was met with heavy resistance, including civilian one that could range from riots all the way to sabotage and refusing to work. The End of the Schwarze Reichswehr however came not on the battlefield, but trough propaganda and politics, as the Berlin Government and Hindenburg reminded the German Soldiers that they themselves had sworn an oat of allegiance and loyalty to the German People, the German Nation, the German Government, the German Democracy and the German Republic. Therefore they had to lay down their weapons and stop fighting the legitimate German government, as anyone who would do so would be pardoned, while those who continued to fight would be treated as the traitors they were and therefore not even long trialed, but found guilty of high treason upon capturing them, resulting in any single one of them being executed right on the spot. This encouraged many to actually lay down their weapons in the hope that they would be pardoned. Many actually betrayed their own Admirals, Generals, Commanders and Officers in the Schwarze Reichswehr, claiming that they themselves had been tricked and betrayed by their superiors and told they were fighting a illegitim government that had taken over after the Coup.

While it is questionable for later historians to say if that is true, or how many of the Schwarze Reichswehr soldiers actually believed this in general, it is quit clear that many used this to save their own skin, arresting, or often even shooting, grenade bombing, or otherwise executing their superiors, most likely in an attempt to bury the truth about them and their own claims of having being tricked as well. Whatever the chase it worked and the German Military Dictatorship not only regained control of the majority of the Reichswehr and Police, but internal purges, some of suspects, others of potential suspects meant that in the future the Reichswehr and Police would never ever again question their Chancellor and President, resulting in them becoming key elements in his new dictatorship and enforcing his iron will to every corner of Germany. Even more so then the leading elements of the Schwarze Reichswehr however the Socialists, Communists, Fascists and Nationalists who had actually rebelled, been in unrest and risen up against the original Berlin Government, as well as later continued this fight against the Chancellor and President would feel the full force of the new military justice system crushing down upon them without any mercy. Executions were public, yes they would even be reported live throughout radio, as well as later on television throughout the course of this German Military Dictatorship and become a key instrument of terror and keeping people in line in the future. Not only that throughout the course of the German Civil War the Police and Military, alongside the Chancellor and President himself had gained special emergency powers to End the Civil War, that neither of them would ever give up, even long after the German Civil War infighting among the Germans, as well as any major conflict and war in Europe and the World had long been gone again. In the End many historians agreed that the true winner of the German Civil War was the Chancellor and President, as well as his Armed Forces and Police themselves, while the true looser were the German Democracy, German Republic, German Nation and German People.

 

[CountofDooku]

Road to the German Nation States Federation 3 – Fractured but not Divided

With the internal fracturing of the German People in the German Civil War, like the breakup of the Prussian Provinces of Silesia and Pomerania was caused by political and religious differences, as well as the wish of many to stop the fighting, both as a reason of pan-Germanist ideals and dreams still alive, as well as fear of neighboring ambitions, like from the Polish, French, Danish, Czech, Dutch or other powers and nation states. This was the reason why the internal German Civil War partly died out especially in the border places, while at the same time many tried to remain capable of defending their border region against irredentism of their very neighbors, as many felt they already had betrayed, back-stabbed and attacked Germany after the Great War/ World War as not all areas lost to the Germans have had pesticides with the local population deciding it’s own fate, completely ignoring the fact that Germany and most others had also never done so in the Past against the French or others. This was why most German civil war factions and nation states overall had gathered in Göttingen to discuss a possible negotiation peace between them an agreement of the various new German Nation States to coexist and remain in a German Confederation, German Federation, or German Union, as the German Civil War itself was slowing down to stalemates, which awakened many horrible memories from the Great War/ World War Western Front and many feared might also potentially split apart the various German Nation States for good. Seeing how many of their neighbors intervened for one side or another and how the League of Nations got little done to actually help the overall situation, such fears were maybe not as unrealistic as some might think. To negotiate a treaty, or agreement of any sorts in Göttingen the various German delegates actually managed to archive a chase-fire, which ultimately would result in a negotiation peace in the so called Treaty of Göttingen and the Göttingen Peace as many would later call it, which officially would end the German Civil War for good within a few months,

Overall any such agreement was however not easily reached, as beside regional cultural, lingual and religious differences, much more importantly a huge variety of economic and political views also had manifested themselves in various of the German Nation States that had split up from Weimar Germany, some with rather contrasting, opposing, if not outright enemy and rivaling views and systems. To bring all of those back together, yes to alone make them agree to travel to Göttingen and to start talking about a peaceful solution and coexisting with one another was no easy task at all. The negotiations therefore were more then heated and a couple of times actual fist fights between various diplomats and other delegates send to Göttingen broke out with some even threatening to leave again if that was the overall situation in the city and during these negotiations. However the overall wish to End the German Civil War, to preserve a united German Nation State and to End the blood, violence, suffering, wounds and dead that Germany and the Germans already had seen so immensely during the Great War/ World War kept most people there and moving towards a diplomatic solution. It was a hard fought negotiation peace and treaty, but one that the Germans, current and future ones would be proud of and that showed Europe and the world another Germany. A new democratic republic one that could others let live and coexist beside of it and one so many would conclude that actually made a much more neutral and lasting peace treaty then the abomination that was the by many hated Treaty of Versailles. As a result many Germans saw the Peace and Treaty of Göttingen as proof the Germans were better or something special, especially the more nationalist ones. At the same time however many others in Europe and around the world saw the Treaty and Peace of Göttingen at lest as proof that the Weimar Germans had significantly changed their former military ways and radical government to the extent, they could be better trusted within the League of Nations again. As a result the reparations from the Treaty of Versailles were limited and shrunken down, in part also because of the loss of urban, industrial, economic and other threats that had severely weakened Germany and the Germans themselves, which would be taken in consideration by the League of Nations during the renegotiation.