events

• in september 1918, Ludendorff suggests an immediate armistice is necessary, and a new government should be formed to impress the allies
• as a result of this the october reforms are announced on October 26th, 1918, stating Prince Max Von Baden was now chancellor, and that military appointments needed to be agreed to by the Minister of War, meaning the Kaiser's power was limited.
• the kaiser no longer had authority over german forces, so the discipline of troops and war supporters fell significantly, and the extreme left began to rise
• in october 1918, striking workers chanted for peace and bread, chanting "up with the german republic". this was different to previous strikes in june and july which were purely economic
• on november 3rd, 1918, an armistice was imminent, so the germany admiralty wanted to send out their fleet for one final attack, leading to open mutiny in Kiel with sailors forming the sailors' council and demanding the freedom of prisoners + peace and the kaiser's abdication
• on November 4th, Max Von Baden sent the secretary of state and Gustav Noske to bring stability. they got prisoners released and established a chairman to the sailors' council in order to legitimize it
• many other councils began to spread across Germany, such as Wilhelmshaven on November 5th. and on November 6th, workers and sailors marched in Hanover and Hamburg, with action taking place on Cologne on November 7th
• Kurt Eisner (leader of the independent socialists in Bavaria) was pushed into power because of national fear, he was extremely anti-war and demanded peace and republicanism, sparking the rise of councils
• on november 7th, Eisner led his followers in a march, seizing all arms and city garrisons by the end of the day, and declared the establishment of a bavarian republic.
• on november 9th, max von baden announced the kaiser's resignation, and Friedrich Ebert (head of socialist democrats) is to become chancellor, and calls new constituent assembly.
• despite Ebert's attachment to a monarchy, on November 9th at 2 pm, Philip Schiedemann gave a speech in the Riechstag Square to a mass audience, where he declared Wilhelm's abdication and the establishment of a german republic