Bavarian Soviet Republic

The **Bavarian Soviet Republic** or **Bavarian Council Republic** (German: *Bayerische Räterepublik*) is an autonomous republic within the Free Socialist Republic of Germany. It was originally established on 6 April 1919 following the fall of the People's State of Bavaria, with its current political structure being created in 1921. Bavaria notably has its own legislature and exercises considerable autonomy compared to other parts of Germany.

## History

### Post-Civil War

#### 1921 Autonomy Referendum

After the conclusion of the German Civil War, the territories formerly making up the Kingdom of Bavaria were admitted into the Free Socialist Republic of Germany as five states: Franken (Franconia), Niederbayern (Lower Bavaria), Oberbayern (Upper Bavaria), Schwaben (Swabia) and, despite a lack of actual control due to French occupation, Pfalz (Palatinate) as well. The Free State of Coburg, split from the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha after the November Revolution, was attached to Franconia. These states had the same legal status as states elsewhere. For many supporters of the Bavarian Soviet Republic, this loss of autonomy and division into separate states came as a disappointment. Furthermore, many conservative Bavarians distrustful of socialism were fearful of policies that could be imposed by the central government in Berlin, and thus preferred autonomy as a means to diminish their authority. Resistance in the countryside intensified, worsened by cross-border support for the opposition from Baden-Württemberg, which not only threatened Germany's food security but even posed the possibility of an outright insurgency. Despite suppressive efforts non-partisan candidates performed exceptionally well in Lower Bavaria, Upper Bavaria and Swabia in the 1921 legislative elections, prompting a move by the local councils to seek autonomy as a means to placate Bavarians. Although these moves were viewed with suspicion by the government in Berlin, a referendum was nonetheless granted by a narrow vote in the Congress of Workers' and Soldiers' Councils and Congress of People's Deputies. It was scheduled for 10 December 1921.

The referendum was held as planned, turning out a majority of support for autonomy. The divide was strongly regionalized. The staunchly Catholic and Bavarian-speaking constituencies in Lower Bavaria and Upper Bavaria voted overwhelmingly in favor of independence. Opposition to autonomy within these states was highest in Munich and areas closer to Franconia, with Sulzbach being the only constituency in these states to have a majority against autonomy. Support for autonomy was also high, albeit notably lower than Upper Bavaria and Lower Bavaria, in the constituencies in Swabia. On the other hand, high levels of opposition were manifested in Franconia, with a very clear majority voting against autonomy. Opposition was especially high in areas of Franconia with a Protestant majority, such as Nuremburg, as well as the industrialized region on the Saxon border centered around Hof. Catholic regions in Franconia had higher levels of support but still tended towards opposition, with the constituencies of Eichstätt and Hilpoltstein being the only in Franconia to vote in favor of autonomy. This divide can generally be attributed to cultural, religious, and political differences between Franconia and the south. Additionally, Franconia stood largely outside of the Bavarian Soviet Republic's authority during the civil war, as the anti-communist Whites had held Nuremburg and most of the region until late into the war. Additionally, some areas in northeastern Franconia were closer culturally to Saxony, and had been attached to the Saxon Soviet Republic during the civil war. This divide prompted a debate in the legislature on whether to detach Franconia from an autonomous Bavaria, but these motions were ultimately defeated. Despite disappointment from the government at the outcome of the referendum the results were ultimately respected, with the Bavarian Soviet Republic reestablished as an autonomous unit within Germany. As per the terms the five states were not abolished, but the newly established Congress of Bavarian Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Councils was given a veto power over them under a special constitution. A minor point of contention has arisen over the state of Pfalz, which the German constitution does not recognize as part of the Bavarian Soviet Republic, in contrast to Bavaria's own constitution. As Pfalz lies outside the de facto authority of Germany, the issue has not been pressed far by either government.

#### Recent History

Despite the autonomy referendum and increasing levels of support for socialism, the opposition in Bavaria remains strong, with the underground terrorist group Organisation Consul being especially active in the region, owing in great part to proximity to Baden-Württemberg, whose government has actively funded and supported anti-communist opposition throughout Germany. This support extends also to sheltering opposition figures involved in militant opposition, including the leadership of the Bavarian People's Party under Fritz Schäffer. The most prominent attempt at an uprising came in November 1928 with the Passau Rebellion. Lasting only a few days before being quashed, the rebellion had been planned to be wider in scale, but other resistance cells were thwarted in their attempts to seize arms depots and government buildings in Regensburg, Augsburg, and Bayreuth, and a promised supportive invasion by the Baden-Württemberger army was prevented by French interference. The rebels had also anticipated a popular rebellion that would come to their aid, but the quick containment of the uprising in Passau and censorship of news prevented any real unrest. Though the rebellion was ultimately a failure it has led to intensified efforts at suppressing the underground resistance and strengthening border security with Baden-Württemberg, Austria and Czechia. There have been growing calls, particularly within the KPD, to abolish the autonomy of Bavaria in response to these perceived failures.

## Flag

    The current flag of the Bavarian Soviet Republic was made by a design committee in 1925, having previously used a simple red flag. The red, white and blue on the main body of the flag represents socialism, the Alps mountain range and the river Danube respectively. The yellow shield represents the defense of the proletariat, while the tri-colored star represents the three main cultural groups in Bavaria; the black representing the Swabians, the red representing the Franconians and the blue representing the Bavarians.