With the end of the German Empire and the start of the German Republic, on November 9, 1918, Schwerk stepped down and his successor was Otto Wels. Schwerk was transferred to Breslau and appointed inspector of the local militia Landwehr inspection and was head of the Sicherheitspolize (security police) in Silesia, Poland. He retired from active military service on January 31, 1920. In retirement, Schwerk became the chairman of the officers' association of the former 4th Lower Silesian Infantry Regiment No. 51 and leader of the Provincial Warriors' Association for Silesia. He also became a leader in the Sturmabteilung (SA) Reserve II in Silesia, and was promoted to the rank of Standartenfuhrer.Axis Biographical Research: SS & GERMAN POLICE, SS-OBERGRUPPENFÜHRER & GENERAL DER POLIZEI, (M - Z). Geraadpleegd op 28 september 2018.
