On the 5^th of January 1919 the Sparticists attempted to seize power through various intimidation techniques such as organizing strikes and occupying public buildings.

But the Spartacists were doomed to failure because the day before they began their rising, Ebert had created a volunteer force of 4000 soldiers. Known as Free Corps, they hated communists and were very violent, disciplined and fully equipped.

On January 10^th the Free Corps attacked. They captured a building held by Sparticists, shot several of them and beat up the rest.

On the following day, the Free Corps captured all other occupied buildings in central Berlin.

On January 13^th the Free corps caught the Spartacist leaders, Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht and murdered them.

Thus the first rising failed.