Ebert-groener Pact

This served the purposes of both Ebert and Groener as they both of the men because Ebert was trying to handle a situation where many communists were pushing for a workers revolution revolution, similar to what had just happened in Russia. Groener was trying to take care of many decommissioned army officers who were jobless and starving and were beginning to form paramilitary groups in Berlin . From this agreement the Freikorps , or "free corps", a right wing vigilante army was born. The Freikorps was used to wipe out the communists threat.

It is critical to understanding the importance of the Ebert-Groener deal to realize the relationship between the government and the supreme command. During World War I, the supreme command had more or less been in control of not only the Army but also civilian life. Groener's predecessor, Erich Ludendorff , had intimidated the Kaiser into essentially giving him and Paul Von Hindenburg , the leaders of the Army's supreme command, control. This ultimately led to Germany losing the Great War, and Ludendorff being forced to flee Germany in disguise. During the transition of Germany from a Monarchy to a Republic legislation was enacted to ensure the army would come under civilian control. The pact can be seen as Groener trying to intimidate Ebert into giving the supreme command control once more over civilian life.

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Ebert-groener Pact