the german revolution 1918

• the town of Spa


  9th November - the Kaiser was at the Army headquarters in Spa (700 miles away from Berlin) - he was told the only way to restore order in Germany was for him to abdicate - he refused - then army officers (led by General Groener) said the army wouldn't support him if he didn't abdicate - this forced him too - 9th of November the Kaiser abdicated - 10th went into exile to Holland
• in Berlin


  9th November - streets were full of people - some gathered peacefully outside the Reichstag while others got guns and took over parts of the city

  inside the Reichstag, Scheidemann (Social Democratic Party (SPD)) was told that rioters were about to announce a communists government - he rushed to the window and shouted to the crowds that the Kaiser had abdicated - Germany = Republic, he asked the people to act peacefully

  the Kaiser Chancellor (prime minister) handed the power over to Ebert, leader of the SPD
• in Berlin 


  10th November - Ebert agreed with General Groener that the army would work with the government to keep the communists out of power

  Ebert suspended the old Reichstag and named 6 moderate politicians who would form the Council of People's Representatives. This council would head the government until a new constitution had been agreed

  the moderate politicians had prevented chaos and violence from breaking out and stopped the communists from taking over
• 11th November - Ebert announces Germany's surrender - Germany lost (some people were angry - Hitler)
• Ebert labelled as a November criminal - right wing view of those who surrendered - the crime = surrendering