1/5/1919 The Freikorps storm Munich

Bavaria is in a state of civil war, with the parliamentary government of Johannes Hoffmann having been chased from Munich by supporters of the Bavarian Soviet Republic, now led by Eugen Leviné, a Communist. Forces loyal to Hoffmann attempted to overthrow the Soviet Republic on Palm Sunday, but their putsch failed. Soviet forces followed up that success by pushing Hoffman’s forces from Dachau.

Since then the pendulum has swung against the revolution. Leviné’s regime in Munich is isolated, cut off from Bavaria’s conservative countryside, with the result that it has been gripped by food shortages. Hoffmann meanwhile has taken a leaf from Ebert and Noske‘s book, recruiting local Freikorps (volunteer paramilitary organisations) to assist in suppressing the Soviets.
Hoffmann’s forces push the Soviets from Dachau and today they storm Munich itself. The Soviets execute hostages (one of whom is Countess Hella von Westarp, a relative of…