German October

Quick Facts: Who was German October?

Subject:

German October

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A planned communist uprising in Weimar Germany during a period of extreme political and economic turmoil.

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Origins & Early Life

The German October (German: Deutscher Oktober) was a plan of the Executive Committee of the Communist International (ECCI) to attempt a communist revolution in the Weimar Republic in October 1923, amidst acute political and economic crises in the country. The Communist Party of Germany (KPD), under the United Front strategy, was directed to enter into coalition governments with the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) in the states of Thuringia and Saxony and utilize their resources to assist the revolution. Despite their efforts, the KPD and ECCI leadership found no support and the plan was called off on 21 October. However, local branches of the KPD in Hamburg and Bremen launched their own insurrections, which were suppressed by the local police. The entry of the KPD into government in Saxony and Thuringia sparked a crisis in itself.

Career & Major Achievements

The Reichswehr under Otto Gessler, with the support of the Stresemann cabinet and Reich President Friedrich Ebert, issued an ultimatum demanding the reorganisation of these governments to exclude the Communists. While the Thuringian government agreed, the Saxon government under Erich Zeigner refused, prompting Gessler to deploy the Reichswehr and appoint a Reichskommissar, who deposed Zeigner and occupied the state parliament. The crisis ended with the formation of a new SPD-only government two days later. Donald Pryce posits that the Reich cabinet did not see Saxony or the Communists as a serious threat, but agreed to depose the government in order to appease the Reichswehr and prevent a coup against Berlin assisted by the rogue Bavarian government. The October events formed a part of the existential crisis of the Weimar Republic in 1923.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Three major events in 1923, the occupation of the Ruhr, separatist unrest in the Rhineland and the Palatinate, and the danger of Hitler's far-right beer hall putsch in Bavaria spreading across the country put the Weimar Republic government under extreme pressure. In autumn 1923 the Weimar Republic found itself in political chaos. By the order of the Reich President Friedrich Ebert, a state of emergency was imposed in Germany on September 26, 1923. Shortly after the Cuno government took office, Belgian and French troops marched into Germany on January 11, 1923, and occupied the Ruhr area. The reason was that Germany did not fulfill her reparations obligations under the Treaty of Versailles by failing to deliver sawn timber, telegraph poles and coal.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1923: 1923 Milestone — The German October (German: Deutscher Oktober) was a plan of the Executive Committee of the Communist International (ECCI) to attempt a communist revolution in the Weimar Republic in October 1923, amidst acute political and economic crises in the country.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: German October

True or False: “The German October was an immediate, spontaneous reaction to the Ruhr occupation by French and Belgian troops.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The plan for the German October originated from directives issued in Moscow by the Communist International (ECCI) leadership.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Aaron Spelling — Historical peer (Born in 1923) (1923): Pioneering American producer of hit TV series like Dynasty and Beverly Hills, 90210.
• Ahmet Ertegun — Historical peer (Born in 1923) (1923): Pioneering Turkish-American music executive, co-founder of Atlantic Records.
• German Peasants' War — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A massive 16th-century popular revolt in Central Europe challenging feudal and religious authority.
• German reunification — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: The complex political process re-establishing Germany as a single sovereign state from 1989 to 1990.
• German Revolution of 1918–19 — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: The revolutionary period that dismantled the German Empire and birthed the Weimar Republic.
• German revolution of 1918–1919 — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: The revolutionary period that dismantled the German Empire and birthed the Weimar Republic.

Frequently Asked Questions about German October