Ruhr Red Army
| Ruhr Red Army | |
|---|---|
| German: Rote Ruhrarmee | |
Members of the Ruhr Red Army in Dortmund, 1920 | |
| Dates of operation | 13 March – 6 April 1920 |
| Active regions | Ruhr Valley |
| Ideology | Communism Socialism |
| Political position | Left-wing |
| Size | 50,000 – 80,000 |
| Allies | |
| Opponents | Weimar Republic Freikorps |
The Ruhr Red Army or Red Ruhr Army (German: Rote Ruhrarmee) was a paramilitary of 50,000 to 80,000 left-wing workers that fought in the Ruhr uprising in Weimar Germany from 13 March to 6 April 1920.
The Ruhr Red Army was formed in Germany's Ruhr region in reaction to the right-wing Kapp Putsch from left-wing militias that supported the establishment of a council republic. It came into conflict with the German government in Berlin after an agreement to end a general strike in the region failed. Reichswehr and Freikorps units put down the rebellion with considerable brutality, including summary executions of prisoners and the killing of wounded fighters. The Ruhr Red Army was defeated by 6 April and many surviving members fled to the French-occupied Rhineland.