Revolution From Above (october)

 Having realised defeat was enviable Ludendorff advised the Kaiser ( September 1918)  to reform the way in which Germany was run by making it more democratic he hoped this meant that when they asked for peace the terms would be softer.

The Kaiser started a series of reforms;

·         He appointed Prince Max of Baden as his new chancellor.

·         The chancellor was now responsible to the Reichstag not the Kaiser.

·         A new government was established which was based on the majority parties in the Reichstag.

·         The armed forces were put under control of the civil government.

These reforms didn’t lead to the peace hoped for, American president Woodrow Wilson’s terms effectively demanded a German surrender and the abdication of the Kaiser. Ludendorff quickly changed his mind however Max still went along with the plans to ask Wilson for an armistice.

This was effectively the October revolution. It is often known as the revolution from above as the whole political situation changed "from above".

 Ludendorff quickly changed his mind on the armistice however Max still went along with the plans to ask Wilson for an armistice. When the armistice was signed on the 11th of November 1918 the German people were very shocked as they had endured extreme hardships with the thought they would win the war. Their faith in the government and the Kaiser was lost and they now saw the Kaiser as an obstacle to peace. This lead to a series of uprisings;

·         3rd November 1918-Mutiny at Kiel naval base which lead to the soldier’s disobeying officer’s orders and taking control of the base.

·         4th November 1918-The revolt in Kiel spread to the city,workers and soldiers councils were established these revolters were called soviets. The soviets have a socialist view which means they are run by SDP. These revolts began to spread through Germany. The workers, soldiers and sailors demanded change.  

·         8th November 1918- A separate socialist republic was declared for the entire region of Bavaria. This is important as Bavaria was a strong ally for Germany this is when Max realised he had lost control.

·         9th November 1918- SPD called on workers on Berlin to join a strike against the Kaiser, the SPD threatened to withdraw support unless the Kaiser abdicated within 24 hours. Max tells Germany that the Kaiser is abdicating and by the 10th the Kaiser flees. 

·         11th November 1918- Armistice signed.