The German Revolution 1918-19

By late September 1918 Germany was heading for military defeat. General Ludendorff persuaded the Kaiser to turn Germany into a constitutional monarchy. He was hoping to appease the population, and for favourable terms in the peace negotiations. He also wanted a scapegoat to avoid the military being blamed for defeat. On 3rd October Prince Max von Baden became Chancellor. The government included members of the Social Democrats (SPD) and Left Liberals. They abolished the three-class franchise in Prussia, the Kaiser ceased to have power over the military, and government was made accountable to the Reichstag. There is some debate as to whether these reforms were initiated by the Reichstag or by the German military high command (OHL).

By early November 1918 there was a "revolutionary situation" in Germany. There was a revolt of sailors at Kiel. Workers and soldiers established councils in many major cities. However the Social Democrats (SPD), under the leadership of Ebert and Scheidemann, were not in favour of communism, and supported parliamentary democracy. The Spartakists, led by Rosa Luxembourg and Karl Liebknecht, wanted a revolution along Soviet lines. The Independent German Social Democratic Party (USPD) were frightened of political upheaval and also supported parliamentary democracy, but wanted radical social and economic reforms so as to prevent a revolution. Fearing a revolution Prince Max von Baden formed an SPD/USPD government on 9th of November. Following the advice of generals, the Kaiser abdicated, and went into exile in the Netherlands. Ebert was fearful of social and political upheaval. This prompted him to accept the offer made by General Groener, the successor to Ludendorff, on 10th November offering the support of the military for the government in return for the government's clampdown on the left and support for military authority. The Stinnes-Legien agreement gave the unions legal recognition and brought in an 8-hour working day. The Spartakists formed the German Communist party (KPD) on 1st January 1919. The USPD withdrew from the government following the murder of some Spartakists. The Spartakists attempted an uprising in January 1919. The SPD Government was isolated, and reacted by relying on army troops and paramilitary groups to suppress the Communist uprising, which was easily defeated. Rosa Luxembourg and Karl Leibnecht were murdered whilst being held by the police. In Bavaria in April 1919 a Communist government was established, but it only survived a short while.

However, there was no extensive ground support for communism. Most workers who joined the workers councils movement were not in sympathy with the extreme left. The SPD over-reacted, and allowed themselves to compromise too much with reactionary forces.

The Weimar Republic was established in May 1919. Many historians do not agree that there was a revolution. Whilst the Kaiser and other monarchies fell, very little was really reformed. The army, the judiciary and the civil service were unchanged, and remained as bastions of conservativism. Ownership of business and land was not altered.