The bloody end of the Munich Soviet Badge

The bloody end of the Munich Soviet

The bloody end of the Munich Soviet
May 2 1919
Defeat of the revolution (Source: Photo archive Heinrich Hoffmann, Bavarian State Library)

Reichswehr and Freikorps bring the last Soviet republic in Germany to a violent end

Although Kurt Eisner, the Berlin-born leader of the Munich branch of the radical socialists (USPD), declared the transformation of the Kingdom of Bavaria into the “Free State of Bavaria” (i.e. free of any royal overlord) on 7 November 1918, subsequent elections gave his party only 2.5% of the vote. Eisner was assassinated by a right-wing radical whilst making his way to parliament to resign. Seeing that they would never win by the ballot box, radical socialists set up a workers’ council that placed Munich under siege, deposed the SPD-led coalition government and established a Soviet republic.

The recently elected Bavarian government fled to nearby Bamberg, from where it called on the Prussian and Württemberg army for assistance. Bolstered by volunteers organized in Freikorps, soldiers fought their way into Munich and put down all resistance. The fall of the Munich Soviet on 2 May 1919 resulted in the death or imprisonment of over 2,000 people; a new coalition of SPD and conservative parties took over the reins of power in August.

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The whole year at a glance

“The theatre resembled a madhouse” “The theatre resembled a madhouse”
Jan 13 1782
“The theatre resembled a madhouse”
The Lusatian Wends Association
Oct 13
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Happy birthday, Hannah Arendt!
Oct 14 1906
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Karl Marx, wage slave
Oct 15 1842
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Der Hauptmann von Köpenick
Oct 16 1906
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Erstes Oktoberfest in München
Oct 17 1810
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Wartburgfest
Oct 18 1817
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