n widespread discontent. The economic distress caused by the French occupation of the Saar and the German passive resistance was enormous. Consequently, workers in the Saar stores and factories resisted by striking. However, Germanys currency was already fragile, and in face of the occurring circumstances consequent to the Saar invasion and the overprinting of currency, the Mark fell to chronic levels, eventually reaching the value of four billion against the US dollar which therefore generated in massive hyperinflation. 3Furthermore, the economic instability, on top of the disillusionment and resent caused by the humiliating peace settlement, vast sections of German society came to feel alienated from the Republic. They responded by attacking the democracy and as a consequence it became impossible to control the hostility and discontent. Urban hunger, peasant hoarding, the black market, pilfering and profiteering created social hostilities and individual despair. In all 35,000 armed men converged on Munich.4In addition, the deteriorating economic and social situation also managed to wreak havoc on the political atmosphere of the time and the Republic thus eventuated in having no allies and too many enemies. To illustrate, the Republic faced opposition from the extreme left by individuals who resorted to force in efforts to overturn the Republic.In March 1920, the Republic was also challenged from the right by the Freikorps who in Berlin launched a pro-Monarchist putsch in an attempt to install Wolfgang Kapp as Chancellor. During this incident troops both refused to defend the Republic or take action against Freikorps. Fortunately, however, the working classes then responded by organising a general strike in Berlin which had the effect of frustrating this putsch. The culminations were that the present regime was able to survive despite the numerous threats.4Nonetheless, extremism remained to pollute the atmosphere, the evidence being ...
