Friedrich Ebert Biography and Timeline

Birth of Friedrich Ebert

Birth of Friedrich Ebert

Party Secretary

Appointed Party Secretary of the Social Democratic Party

Jena Party Congress

Participates in the SPD congress as a national executive member.

Role range: 1905-1913

SPD Organization

Supports the party's organizational work before the coming Reichstag election.

Role range: 1905-1913

Election

Elected Member of Reichstag

Chairman

Appointed Chairman of the SDP

Declaration of War

Persuades the SDP to vote for war credits to defend Germany from the Tsarist autocracy

Declaration of War

Ebert leads the SDP party to vote almost unanimously in favour of war appropriations, accepting that a war was a necessary patriotic, defensive measure

Declaration of War

Ebert leads the SDP party to vote almost unanimously in favour of war appropriations, accepting that a war was a necessary patriotic, defensive measure

Role range: 1914-1918

Reichstag

Appointed Party Leader in the Reichstag

Declaration of War

The Party is split by Eberts opposition to the minority anti-war caucus of the SDP. Supports defending German territory, including Alsace & Lorraine, non-annexationist

Role range: 1914-1918

Dismissal

Calls for the dismissal of the Chancellor, Georg Michaelis

Role range: 1914-1918

Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany (USPD)

The party's stance, under the leadership of Ebert and other revisionists like Scheidemann, in favour of the war eventually led to a split, with the more left wing elements in the party leaving in early 1917 to form the USPD

Peace

Helps draft the Reichstag Peace Resolution

Role range: 1914-1918

Constitution of Germany

The Weimar Republic is adopted. The plan to transform Germany into a constitutional monarchy similar to Britain quickly becomes obsolete as the country slid into a state of near-total chaos. The 1871 constitution is amended to make the Reich a Parliamentary democracy, which the Government had refused for half a century, the Chancellor is henceforth responsible to Parliament, the Reichstag, and no longer to the Kaiser

Role range: 1919-1933 – 1918-1919

Weimar Republic

The Weimar Republic is adopted. The 1871 constitution is amended to make the Reich a Parliamentary democracy, which the Government had refused for half a century, the Chancellor is henceforth responsible to Parliament, the Reichstag, and no longer to the Kaiser

Role range: 1919-1933 – 1918-1919

Constitution of Germany

Rebellion breaks out when the military command, without consultation with the Government, orders the German High Seas Fleet to sortie

Role range: 1919-1933 – 1918-1919

Weimar Republic

The crews of two ships in Wilhelmshaven mutiny, when the military arrest about 1,000 seamen and have them transported to Kiel, the Wilhelmshaven mutiny turns into a general rebellion that quickly swept over most of Germany

Role range: 1919-1933 – 1918-1919

Government

When it became clear that the war was lost, a new Government was formed by Prince Maximilian of Baden which included Ebert and other members of the SPD in October 1918

Abdication

supporter of the monarchy until the abdication of the Kaiser ("If the Kaiser abdicates, the social revolution is inevitable. But I do not want it, I hate it like sin", he says to Max von Baden

Role range: 1918-1919

Constitution of Germany

supporter of the monarchy until the abdication of the Kaiser ("If the Kaiser abdicates, the social revolution is inevitable. But I do not want it, I hate it like sin", he says to Max von Baden

Role range: 1918-1919

Weimar Republic

The revolution had reaches Munich, causing King Ludwig III of Bavaria to flee

Role range: 1919-1933 – 1918-1919

Rebellion of Rebels in Munich

The revolution had reaches Munich, causing King Ludwig III of Bavaria to flee

Alliance Ebert and General Wilhelm Groener

Ebert makes a pact over the phone with General Wilhelm Groener

Role range: 1918-1919

Armistice

Begins preparations for drawing up an armistice with the Allies

Role range: 1918-1919

Chancellor

Appointed Head of the Provisional Government. Appointed Chancellor of Germany, accepts Max von Badens offer

Role range: 1918-1919

Constitution of Germany

From November 1918 through January 1919, Germany is governed dictatorially by the Council of Peoples Commissioners.

Role range: 1918-1919

Constitution of Germany

The Ebert-Groener pact stipulates that the Government would not attempt to reform the Army so long as the army swore to protect the state.

Role range: 1918-1919

Constitution of Germany

To ensure that his fledgling Government is able to maintain control over the country, Ebert makes an uneasy pact with the OHL, now led by Ludendorffs successor General Wilhelm Groener.

Role range: 1918-1919

Constitution of Germany

Begins preparations for elections to the new National Constitutional Assembly

Role range: 1918-1919

Council of Peoples Commissioners

From November 1918 through January 1919, Germany is governed dictatorially by the Council of Peoples Commissioners

Role range: 1918-1919

Election

Begins preparations for elections to the new National Constitutional Assembly

Role range: 1918-1919

Pact between Friedrich Ebert and Wilhelm Groener

The Ebert-Groener pact stipulates that the Government would not attempt to reform the Army so long as the army swore to protect the state

Role range: 1918-1919

Provisional Government

Appointed Head of the Provisional Government

Role range: 1918-1919

Constitution of Germany

In a legally questionable act, Reichskanzler Prince Max of Baden transfers his powers to Friedrich Ebert, leader of the MSPD, who, shattered by the monarchys fall, reluctantly accepts. Ebert continues to serve as Head of Government during the three months between the end of the German Empire in November 1918 and the first gathering of the National Assembly in February 1919, but did not use the title of Chancellor

Role range: 1919-1933 – 1918-1919

National Assembly

Ebert continues to serve as Head of Government during the three months between the end of the German Empire in November 1918 and the first gathering of the National Assembly in February 1919, but did not use the title of Chancellor

Role range: 1919-1933 – 1918-1919

Weimar Republic

In a legally questionable act, Reichskanzler Prince Max of Baden transfers his powers to Friedrich Ebert, leader of the MSPD, who, shattered by the monarchys fall, reluctantly accepts

Role range: 1919-1933 – 1918-1919

Constitution of Germany

Opposes Scheidemanns declaration of a republic, wants a constitutional monarchy

Weimar Republic

In a legally questionable act, Reichskanzler Prince Max of Baden transfers his powers to Friedrich Ebert, leader of the MSPD, who, shattered by the monarchys fall, reluctantly accepts

Role range: 1919-1933 – 1918-1919

Armistice

The Allies demand evacuation of all occupied territories including Alsace Lorraine

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1918-1919