the dvp was at first seen, along with the german national people's party, as part of the "national opposition" to the weimar republic, particularly for its grudging acceptance of democracy and its attitude towards the freikorps and the kapp putsch in 1920. although they did not support the freikorps, the party did not publicly condemn them either. by late 1920, stresemann gradually moved to cooperation with the parties of the left and centre – possibly in reaction to political murders like that of walther rathenau. however, he remained a monarchist at heart.