Reichswehr-Red Army cooperation exposed

[Zellner]

Hello, could someone relate to me exactly how the cooperation between the Red Army and Reichswehr was brought to the public? What was the political fallout from such revelations? I heard the Social Democrats raised a stink in the Reichstag, but it quickly blew over. What happened? Why didn't the French or British punish Germany for this breech in the treaty?

Thanks for any info.

[pugsville]

There were some reports in Britain at least about such co-operation, with the disappearing and reappearing of officers, and the likely reason being fight training in Russia. from what I've read there was some knowledge.

Why didnt they do anything? Like what? Occupy part of Germany? Be more hard arse on Germany about reparations? Embargo? There would have been very little public support for any move, and quite a lot of heat for such actions. Before the Nazis, Germany was actively on a number of fronts getting around Versailles, but overall the WW1 Allies were mostly happy enough with Weimar Republics efforts. Germany wasnt a real threat pre-1933 when this was going on, and overall it was "behaving" , sure there were a range of issues (things German wanted changed, things the Allies wanted) but there was no real prospect of Huge re-armament or likely Military solution to issues. Once the Nazi's came in there was huge re-armament and a more realistic threat, but the Red army co-operation was over, everyone had there own domestic crisis (the great depression). Hitlers early actions, Rhineland, Austria, German Military forces , Race Laws, Suppression were all fairly much "internal" issues that would be hard to whip up support for action on.

It didnt particularly warrant action at the time, and even in retrospect I dont see such co-operation as particularly critical.

[Zellner]

Thanks for the info. I am curious about something else that pertains to the Reichswehr-Red Army cooperation. I have read reports of Social Democrats charging Communists of attacking and murdering their members with Soviet firearms. Is this true? Did the Soviets arm and equip the KPD for the street fights?

[phylo_roadking]

Why didnt they do anything? Like what? Occupy part of Germany?

Hardly likely after all - given that the French re-occupation of the Rhineland SO decimated the German economy as a sideeffect!

The French DID however threaten occupation at least twice BEFORE that episode...when Germany didn't keep tp the terms of destroying aircraft and aero industries. Each time germany eventually complied - with various evasions, the hidden agreements around the 1922 Rapallo Treaty of course being among them!

Then again - what did it really gain them? Look at some of the aircraft designed built and tested during the Lipetsk era - the He51???

[Alsaceone]

Carl von Ossietzky was a newspaper reporter in Germany for the Die Weltbuhne. The newspaper had been covering Germany's secret rearmament program during the 1920's. After von Ossietzky became paper's editor he published an article about the Reichswehr's ties to paramilitary organizations for which he was prosecuted for libel and sentenced to one month in prison. In March 1929 he published an article regarding secret the Reichswehr military training program in the Soviet Union. As a result of this article von Ossietzky was charged with betrayal of military secrets and sentenced to 18 months in Spandau Prison in November 1931.
I recommend reading the first two chapters of Phoenix Triumphant: The Rise and Rise of the Luftwaffe by E.R. Hooton.

[phylo_roadking]

Also Hanfried Schliephake's "The Birth Of The Luftwaffe".

[Juha Tompuri]

Then again - what did it really gain them?

(Blitzkrieg) tactics, personel and equipment development and training.

Regards, Juha