The German revolution

• By November 1918, the German revolution has already begun. As the map on page 9 shows, Kiesza Williams government had lost control of the country to strikers and rioters. In many towns, workers and soldiers had set up their own, unofficial councils to replace the kaisers officials
• On the 9th of November 1918, the Kaiser was at the army headquarters in the town of spa, 700 km from the capital, Berlin. His ministers told him the only way to restore order in Germany was for him to abdicate, giving up his position as the emperor of Germany. At first, he refused
• However, the Kaiser had lost support of the German army. The officers and army headquarters refused to support him. When told this news by General Wilhelm groener, The army second in command, the Kaiser had no choice. On ninth of November, he abdicated and, in the early hours of 10th November, went into exile in Holland
• On ninth November, the streets of Berlin were full of people. some gathered peacefully outside the Reichstag, The German parliament, while others collected guns and took over parts of the city
• Inside the Reichstag Was Phillip sceidemann, A leading member of the social Democratic party, the biggest party in the German parliament. He was told that armed rioters were preparing to announce a communist government in Berlin. Scheidemann was keen to retain control of the events and keep a more moderate form of government. Is this to an open window of the Reichstag and quickly into the letter that the Kaiser had gone and that there was a new German republic. He appealed for a peaceful transition to the new regime
• The SPD had to work quickly to establish the new republic
• Oh nice of November, the closest Chancellor maxi van Baden handed over his office for a bit, the leader of the SPD
• On 10th of November, ever made agreement with general groener for the army to work with the government to keep the communists out of power
• Also on 10th of November, but suspended the old Reichstag and then six moderate politicians who would form the council of peoples representatives. This council would help the government of the country, but only until the new constitution could be agreed
• By taking the steps, moderate politicians in the SPD were able to take control of Germany, preventing anarchy or a takeover by Communist extremists
• On 11th November, Abbotts representative, Matthias Ezberger, signed the armistice. This was the former agreement between Germany and the allies to end the First World War
• The armistice was the first major decision of the government for terms of peace, the treaty of Versallies, were to become a permanent burden to the new Republic