The establishment of the Weimar Republic and its early problems

Revolution & Abdication (1918)

• Triggered by WWI hardships, naval ​mutiny at Kiel (25 Oct 1918)​, and widespread strikes.

• ​Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated and fled to Holland on 9 Nov 1918.​​

• ​WWI Human Cost:​​ ~1.8 million German military killed, ~4 million injured, ~750,000 civilian deaths from starvation/disease.

Armistice & Founding of the Republic

• ​Armistice signed 11 Nov 1918​ by Matthias Erzberger for President Friedrich Ebert's new republic.

• Military leaders propagated the ​​"stab-in-the-back" myth, claiming undefeated forces were betrayed by politicians, making the new republic instantly unpopular.

Weimar Republic Establishment (1919)

• ​First elections (19 Jan 1919):​​ 82% voter turnout. Ebert's Social Democratic Party (SDP) won ​40%​​ of seats.

• ​Constitution (Weimar Constitution):​​

  • ​Parliamentary democracy​ with an elected ​Reichstag.

  • Universal suffrage (voting right) for ​men and women over 20.

  • Guaranteed freedoms of speech, religion, equality.

  • ​Federal structure​ of ​18 states, each with its own parliament and laws.

​Early Violence & Opposition

• Matthias Erzberger​ (who signed the armistice) was ​assassinated on 26 Aug 1921​ by members of the ultra-nationalist ​Organisation Consul.

• His murderers were later granted amnesty, and many considered the assassination a ​​"national act of heroism."​