'Revolution from above'

• • September 1918, the gov admitted military defeat was inevitable.
  • To prevent a military crisis - German leaders appealed to the US president to help negotiate an end to the war and a fair peace deal.
  • to strengthen Germany's negotiating position, the kaiser and leading generals instigated a 'revolution from above'
• • new gov was created, headed by Prince Max of Baden, who became the new chancellor
  • gov was based on the support of the parties in the Reichstag
  • creation of a democratic government was an attempt to persuade the USA, Britain and France that Germany was becoming a democracy.
• • german leaders hoped that this step towards democracy would encourage the USA, Britain and France to treat Germany with sympathy, rather than using their victory to impose a harsh peace treaty
• • 'revolution from above' created a 'constitutional monarchy'
  • the kaiser retained his title but power passed to the reichstag