starter activity

Can you recognise the face of the murderer of Rosa Luxemburg?

Rosa Luxemburg

Who was Who was responsible for responsible for

the death of Rosa the death of Rosa Luxemburg?Luxemburg?To explain the differences between To explain the differences between

rightright & & left wingleft wing politics politicsTo identify the aims of the Spartacists To identify the aims of the Spartacists

& reasons for failure& reasons for failure

LOs

Key words: Weimar communist Spartacist Freikorps

Your taskYour task

Political parties are often divided Political parties are often divided into two groups. Those of the left into two groups. Those of the left and those on the right.and those on the right.

What are the two main parties in the What are the two main parties in the UK? How are their policies different? UK? How are their policies different? Who tends to vote for these partiesWho tends to vote for these parties

Your taskYour task Match these phrases to a party:Match these phrases to a party:

Trade unionsTrade unions Cutting taxationCutting taxation Free enterpriseFree enterprise NHS & welfare stateNHS & welfare state Private ownershipPrivate ownership Nationalisation (Nationalisation (taking over factoriestaking over factories)) Strong law and orderStrong law and order No immigrationNo immigration Strong sense of patriotismStrong sense of patriotism

Write a definition of left- and right-wing Write a definition of left- and right-wing political parties in your notes.political parties in your notes.

Extension. What would left and right wing parties in Germany want after World War One?

Your taskYour task Read p.8-9 and note down Read p.8-9 and note down

the following:the following: Under the heading ‘Changes Under the heading ‘Changes

that the new leader of that the new leader of Germany, Friedrich Ebert, Germany, Friedrich Ebert, made’ take notesmade’ take notes

Under the heading ‘Aims of Under the heading ‘Aims of the Spartacists’ take notesthe Spartacists’ take notes

Why did people in Why did people in Germany especially support Germany especially support ‘Red Rosa’ – use p.9 to help‘Red Rosa’ – use p.9 to help

KPD poster – German

Communist Party

Reforms of Friedrich Reforms of Friedrich EbertEbert

Kaiser abdicatedKaiser abdicated Ebert Ebert leader of Social Democratsleader of Social Democrats Became new Became new PresidentPresident of Germany of Germany Improved conditions in GermanyImproved conditions in Germany, e.g. , e.g.

reduced working hours, provided help reduced working hours, provided help for unemployed, improved housing & for unemployed, improved housing & food, introduced new freedomsfood, introduced new freedoms

ElectionsElections for new German parliament for new German parliament (Reichstag)(Reichstag)

Aims & beliefs of Aims & beliefs of SpartacistsSpartacists

Left-wingLeft-wing revolutionariesrevolutionaries

Germany run by Germany run by workers’ & soldiers’ workers’ & soldiers’ councilscouncils

RevolutionRevolution like the like the one in one in RussiaRussia (1917) (1917)

Believed in communist Believed in communist ideas of ideas of equality, equality, fairer distribution of fairer distribution of wealth, no need for wealth, no need for private propertyprivate property Karl Liebneckt & Rosa

Luxemburg

What can we learn from this poster about the aims of the Spartacists?

What are the problems in using this source?

Your taskYour task

Read p.8-9 and note down the reasons Read p.8-9 and note down the reasons for the failure of the Spartacist Uprisingfor the failure of the Spartacist Uprising

Study the information box on p.9 on the Study the information box on p.9 on the Communists and the Friekorps (Free Communists and the Friekorps (Free Corps). List reasons why they fought Corps). List reasons why they fought against each other.against each other.

Prepare an explanation of the term Prepare an explanation of the term ‘Weimar Republic’ for the class. Use the ‘Weimar Republic’ for the class. Use the ‘Fact’ box on p.9 to help‘Fact’ box on p.9 to help

Reasons for failureReasons for failure Poorly organisedPoorly organised Spartacists failed to Spartacists failed to

capture many capture many buildings in Berlinbuildings in Berlin

Lacked support of Lacked support of other left-wing groupsother left-wing groups

Govt had support of Govt had support of FriekorpsFriekorps

Spartacist leaders Spartacist leaders murdered – party lack murdered – party lack directiondirection

One of the armoured vehicles used by the Freikorps to put down the Spartacist Uprising

Tensions between Tensions between Spartacists & FreikorpsSpartacists & Freikorps

Freikorps & Spartacists were Freikorps & Spartacists were militantmilitant groupsgroups

Freikorps blamed Spartacists for Freikorps blamed Spartacists for social unrest in Germany & defeat in social unrest in Germany & defeat in WWIWWI

Freikorps wanted return to strong Freikorps wanted return to strong single ruler – possibly Kaisersingle ruler – possibly Kaiser

Spartacists wanted people’s Spartacists wanted people’s government like the one in Russiagovernment like the one in Russia

Your taskYour task

Study sources 11-16 on p.15 (SHP). Copy Study sources 11-16 on p.15 (SHP). Copy out these questions and find evidence from out these questions and find evidence from the sources to answer them. Explain how the sources to answer them. Explain how reliable the evidence is based on NOPreliable the evidence is based on NOP

Were the Freikorps acting on orders from Were the Freikorps acting on orders from the government?the government?

Did the government in any way encourage Did the government in any way encourage the Freikorps to murder Rosa Luxembourg?the Freikorps to murder Rosa Luxembourg?

Were the Spartacists themselves to blame Were the Spartacists themselves to blame for the murders? for the murders? 

HomeworkHomework

Produce a police report (with photos) Produce a police report (with photos) on the death of Rosa Luxemburg.on the death of Rosa Luxemburg. Describe the key eventsDescribe the key events Use evidence/statements from eye-Use evidence/statements from eye-

witnesseswitnesses Explain who were the key suspectsExplain who were the key suspects Describe actions taken by the authorities Describe actions taken by the authorities

after Rosa’s deathafter Rosa’s death Use weblinks on Studyhistory to Use weblinks on Studyhistory to

develop your reportdevelop your reportStarter sentences: “I would like to report a crime committed …..”; “I have gathered evidence from a number of witnesses including …”; “All the evidence points to … being to blame for Rosa’s death”; “I would recommend the following steps be taken …”

The site of R.L.’s murder inBerlin

Extension taskExtension task

Visit Visit www.studyhistory.co.uk and go and go to the weblinks section for GCSE to the weblinks section for GCSE Germany. Find out more about the Germany. Find out more about the life and ideas of Rosa Luxemburg. life and ideas of Rosa Luxemburg. Produce a factoid. What does her life Produce a factoid. What does her life tell us about Germany at the time of tell us about Germany at the time of the foundation of the Weimar the foundation of the Weimar Republic?Republic?

PlenaryPlenary

Left and right wing?Left and right wing? Key aims of SpartacistsKey aims of Spartacists Appeal of Rosa Luxemburg?Appeal of Rosa Luxemburg? Reasons for failureReasons for failure What problems would Ebert What problems would Ebert

now face in governing now face in governing Germany?Germany?