Wolfgang Kapp

Wolfgang Kapp, was a German Nationalist, Conservative and Reactionary. He was former chancellor of The German Empire from 1920 to 1922, he was replaced by Karl Helfferich after dying to cancer.

Background:

Wolfgang Kapp was born in New York, United States, 24 July 1858, to Friedrich Kapp, an German activist who fled after the revolution's of 1848 and a later delegate of the Reichstag under the National Liberal Party. In 1870, the family, returned to Germany and Kapp continued his education in Berlin. In 1884, Kapp married Margarete Rosenow and the couple had three children. Through her connections, Kapp was able to acquire connections of conservative political elements.

He studied law at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen and the Georg-August University of Göttingen, he also joined the student orgainzation, Corps Hannovera Göttingen. In 1886, right after completing his doctorate, Kapp was appointed to the ministry of finance. In 1907, through a influential junker, Kapp became director of the East Prussian Agricultural Credit Institute, a post he held until March 1920. He supported agricultural movement's like, debt relief and peasant settlement.

War and Post-War:

Kapp during the war, was known for his staunch advocation for Germany's war aim's, he even criticized the government for not doing enough. This getting him for in conflict example, like over Kapp's support of unrestricted submarine warfare. Were he attacked Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg for not doing enough, evoking an indignant reply, were Theobald called it "Slanders's".

Kapp founded The German Fatherland Party along with Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz in reaction to the Reichstag Peace Resolution in 1917, opposing any idea of peace.

After the end of the war, Kapp felt Germany's lost was a national disgrace and became a proponent of "the stab in the back myth", that the Germany Army was betrayed by Jew's and Communist's. In 1919, Kapp joined the German National People's Party, a coalition of monarchist and far-right figures calling for the restoration of the monarchy. Around this time, he also joined the anti-republican National Union, with members like General Erich Ludendorff, Colonel Max Bauer and Captain Waldemar Pabst. All core figures of his group that would later stage his coup to overthrow the Weimar Republic.

Putsch and Civil War:

With, The Soviet Union victorious and a puppet state, The Polish Socialist Republic right next to Germany, it increased the chaos of the Weimar Republic. Kapp along with Erich Ludendorff were fearing a communist revolution, as the communist agitation had seemed to restart calls for another revolution similar to the failed 1919 Spartacist uprising. The German National People's Party as whole, feared, the Weinmar Republic was too weak to handle both internal and external threat's. Further, solidifying there stance that Germany need to return to its old ways, as in restoring the monarchy.

On March 1920, Kapp, and other plotters, organized the Kapp Putsh and overthrew the Weimar Republic seizing berlin, restoring The German Empire, with him as German Chancellor. He declared martial law, banned many opposing parties' and ordered preparations to restore the monarchy under a 'temporary regency'.

The German Civil War, erupted, while he secured the west, like later crushing the Ruhr Uprising, Kapp failed to stop the growing unrest within East Germany. The east later falling to the communists, as they proclaimed The German Soviet Republic led by Paul Levi, backed by the Soviets and The Polish Socialist Republic.

Kapp and his government, having to flee to Frankfurt after the communist's stormed Berlin, ordered commander-in-chief of the Reichswehr, Walther von Lüttwitz to remain on the defensive, hoping to wear them down. One of his critics of this decision was Erich Ludendorff's, who called for a more aggressive approach, noting that the non-stop offensives were weakening their fortifications, writing, "It will only be a matter of time before we fold, we must strike back and retake Berlin!".

As West Germany was under the complete control of the restored The German Empire fighting The German Soviet Republic in the east. Wolfgang's main goal, thought out the civil war, was focused on unifying The German National People's Party and destroying threat of Communism and Jew's. He did this by, forcefully taking control of the party, ousting Oskar Hergt, arresting him and established Jewish Ghettos that later turned into programs, after Wolfgang Kapp couldn't find ways to deport them.

Crowning a Kaiser:

Due to the West warnings of further hostility, if Wilhelm II the exiled Kaiser, was restored, The German National People's Party decided to remove him as the primary candidate.

The party had heavily debated, who to restore, to the throne as many members of House of Hohenzollern had already returned and decided to go with Wilhelm's son, "Wilhelm, Crown Prince". Kapp and The German National People's Party, believed, he was less problematic, moderate and more popular with the Western population of Germany.

Former Kasier Wilhelm II on the other hand, was separated immediately and placed under house arrest in Munich. Kapp's government, hoped to figure out what to do with him as pressures from France and Britain, wanted to extradite him to face trial for his crimes during the war.

In order, to explain his imprisonment, Kapp personally came to Munich and explained to the former Kaiser in that, under the current condition's, he couldn't be restored without risking, expanding the current civil war. Further adding, France and Britain would not tolerate him being on the throne, suggesting there are talks of invasion among them if they restored him.

Kapp, then said, they would accept his son and believed this was a safer way to restore the monarchy, seeing dethroning the former Kaiser as a necessary sacrifice. He then offered apologizes, promising that he and The German National People's Party tried all they could, but they saw this as the only way. As the conservation ended, before leaving Kapp said, they were happy he was back and was allowed to attend his son's coronation, if he wished.

The Civil War:

As Wilhelm, Crown Prince was brought to Frankfurt and crowed Kaiser, taking the name "Wilhelm III", this was attended in Höchster Schloss in September 1920. Empire, finally, had it's Kaiser, though different but a clear signal to a return to the old ways.

As the civil war, progressed, Czechoslovakia in 1921, fell to a communist revolution led by Klement Gottwald and they made peace with The Hungarian Soviet Republic. The German Western Population, fears of communism spreading, many began calling to make more aggressive approaches in the civil war. Erich Ludendorff's began rising popularity, in his calls for an aggressive approach but many within The German National People's Party worried it push Germany to its breaking point.

So Kapp, wishing to silence Erich's influence, presented an opportunity to make a towards a step towards pan-Germanism, while making a stand toward The Soviet Union. This target, was Austria, and by late 1921, he finally persuaded Wilhelm III to order an invasion as the state fell quickly with no resistance, they were annexed by referendum.

This action, appeased hardliner's to into supporting continuing Walther von Lüttwitz's strategy in the war, however hurt it relations with Italy who wished to expand its influence into the region.

The Franco-British union expressed outrage by the annexation of Austria but couldn't withdraw their arms support, worrying The German Empire would fall to The German Soviet Republic, understanding that Communism was the greater threat.

Post- Civil War and Death:

By the beginning of 1922, both The German Empire and The German Soviet Republic exhausted, finally entered into a ceasefire. Though, the German Government disapproved of the ceasefire, they also saw it as an opportunity to rebuild and strike back to unite Germany in the future.

At first, Kapp had no intention to lift martial law and hoped he could continue leading a Monarchist Dictatorship, but the end of conflict only grew for more calls for martial law to end. Wolfgang, finally came to the realization, he was not going to win by staying in power as dictator in peacetime so he caved.

On February 1st, the Kaiser was as able to talk him into lifting martial law, and he accepted, restoring the imperial constitution.

Kapp, in March called for a snap election hoping to secure another term, and he did, as The German National People's Party won, keeping a majority in The Reichstag, while the other parties The Social Democratic Party Of Germany, The Centre Party, The German Democratic Party, The German People's Party and new radical right wing, NSDAP were in the opposition. Thus, securing his bid as chancellor, working with Wilhelm III as he started, reconstruction plans. However, many in the west and within Germany, criticized the results, as there was voter meditation and accusations of fraud.

Despite the conservatory, things seem returned to was life before 1914, a weak democracy, while there is a strong Kaiser willing to forced his hand if he desired.

Kapp, on June 12, 1922, during a medical examination, doctors found a tumor behind his right eye. In Frankfurt, Kapp underwent an operation, to remove it. He died during the surgery. Leaving the now uneasy fragile restored, The German Empire leaderless.

As the nation mourned, Kasier Wilhelm III growing in power, influencing The German National People's Party was able to appointed his favorite, Karl Helfferich, as the new chancellor to serve out his half-term.