German Revolution of 1918

The German Revolution of 1918-1919 was a series of riots and violent civil clashes which broke out throughout Germany at the end of World War I. This social and political strife began in early November 1918, at the same time Germany surrendered and signed the Armistice on November 11. It began with the sailors mutiny and ended with the establishment of the Weimar Republic in August 1919. The revolution led to the abdication of Emperor Wilhelm II.

The roots of the German Revolution can be found in the underlying social malaise in Germany caused by four years of war, which eroded the country’s economy and the people credibility in their leaders. This general social dissatisfaction spread to the emerging political parties because of the undemocratic constitution of the German Empire and the unwillingness of its leaders to implement political reforms.

The spark that set off German Revolution of 1918 was the decision of the Supreme Command and the Naval Command in the face of defeat to fight one last battle against the British Royal Navy. The war-weary German sailors rose in mutiny against their commanders. This mutiny took place in the naval ports of Wilhelmshaven and Kiel, spreading across the whole country within days and in time led to the proclamation the following year, in August, 1919, of a short-lived republic.

The most violent riots were those carried out by the communists, who wanted to implement extreme radical reforms, such as those undertaken in Russia in 1917. Hordes of red vandals destroyed business, shops ,cars and other private property in a blind hatred of upper classes. Nevertheless the communist ideas failed because of the resistance of the Social Democratic Party of Germany leadership in January 1919.

Fearing an all-out civil war they, in line with the middle-class parties, did not have in mind to completely strip the old imperial elites of their power. Instead they sought to reconcile them with the new democratic conditions. In this endeavour they made an alliance with the Supreme Command and had the army and Freikorps quell the communist and anarchist uprising by force. It was the intervention of the Freikorps, which was a nationalist militia composed of World War I battle-hardened veterans, who saved Germany from falling in communist hands.