A putsch/rising against the Weimar government led by the communists

Because they called themselves spartacists after Spartacus, a slave who led a rebellion against the Romans

The 4 - 15th of January, 1919

The Spartacists were communists so wanted Germany to be run by the working classes

They wanted to replicate the Russian Revolution of 1917 by overthrowing the Weimar government and giving power to the workers

In January 1919, 50,000 workers went to strike and demonstrated in the centre of Berlin. This demonstration was taken over the Spartacist leadership. Newspaper and communication buildings were seized and demonstrators armed themselves. They controlled Berlin for several days.

Rosa Luxemburg & Karl Leibknecht

Ex-soldiers called Freikorps were called to put down the rebellion. They were well trained and used to fighting. They killed over 100 rebels by the end of the fighting.

1) Rosa Luxemburg & Karl Leibknecht were executed 2) The communists and working class developed a hatred for the Weimar government and Social democrats 3) The Social democrats and Communists didn't work together to stop the Nazis