Küstrin Putsch

Quick Facts: Who was Küstrin Putsch?

Subject:

Küstrin Putsch

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Failed coup attempt against the Weimar Republic in Küstrin on October 1, 1923.

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Origins & Early Life

The Küstrin Putsch of 1 October 1923, also known as the Buchrucker Putsch after its leader, was a coup attempt against the Weimar Republic by units of the paramilitary Black Reichswehr under Bruno Ernst Buchrucker. It was launched in response to nationalist anger over the government's decision to end passive resistance against the French and Belgian occupation of the Ruhr. It failed both in Berlin and in the eastern German town of Küstrin when the colonel in charge of the Küstrin Fortress detained Buchrucker and called in the Reichswehr. Buchrucker was convicted of treason and sentenced to prison but was amnestied after serving four years of the ten-year sentence. Groups from the Black Reichswehr called labor commandos (Arbeitskommando) led by Bruno Ernst Buchrucker wanted to bring down the Reich government of Chancellor Gustav Stresemann and replace the parliamentary democratic republic with a national dictatorship.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The putsch was prompted when on 26 September 1923 the government ended passive resistance to the French and Belgian occupation of the Ruhr that had begun in January 1923 after Germany defaulted on the war reparations payments required by the Treaty of Versailles. Buchrucker was reacting to an arrest warrant issued against him for recruiting additional labor commandos without authorization. The commandos were officially civilian volunteers tasked with finding and collecting weapons caches, but in reality they were troops being trained under the Reichswehr in violation of the 100,000 man limit on the German army imposed by the Treaty of Versailles. Buchrucker learned about the arrest warrant issued against him on 30 September in Berlin and drove to Küstrin (since 1945 Kostrzyn nad Odrą, Poland), about 320 km to the southeast. There he ordered the leader of the city's labor commandos, Major Fritz Hertzer, to have his men move inside the fortifications of the Old Town the following morning.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He gave as his reason the arrest warrant against him and said that he was seeking the labor commandos' help and protection. The next morning he planned to contact the local commander of the Reichswehr to have him inform the Reichswehr minister of the threatening situation in Küstrin. Buchrucker hoped that would get the arrest warrant lifted. The next morning Buchrucker delivered a reportedly nearly incoherent speech to the men assembled in the Küstrin Fortress. He and Hertzer went to the fortress commander, Colonel Gudowius, explained the situation to him and were immediately told that they were under arrest.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1923: 1923 Milestone — The Küstrin Putsch of 1 October 1923, also known as the Buchrucker Putsch after its leader, was a coup attempt against the Weimar Republic by units of the paramilitary Black Reichswehr under Bruno Ernst Buchrucker.
2. 1945: 1945 Milestone — Buchrucker learned about the arrest warrant issued against him on 30 September in Berlin and drove to Küstrin (since 1945 Kostrzyn nad Odrą, Poland), about 320 km to the southeast.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Küstrin Putsch

True or False: “The Black Reichswehr was dissolved by General Hans von Seeckt immediately following the Küstrin Putsch.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): General Hans von Seeckt dissolved the Black Reichswehr in response to the putsch attempt.

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.
• Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi — Historical peer (Born in 1945) (1945): Yemeni politician who served as the second President of Yemen from 2012 to 2022.
• Adolf Hitler — Historical peer (Died in 1945) (1945): Austrian-born German politician who became dictator of Germany during the Nazi era.

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