The signing of the armistice could not prevent the spread of revolution in Ger many. Actual revolution was begun by the revolt of the German High Sea Fleet at Kiel, and was followed by uprisings in various cities throughout the Empire. On November 9, 1918, the German Em peror decided to abdicate. The final ab dication was not published, however, until the end of the month, following the Emperor's flight into Holland. The rev olution now swept with great swiftness. The King of Bavaria was forced from his thrown and a Socialist journalist, Kurt Eisner, was placed at the head of the newly formed republic. In quick suc cession followed revolution in Wiirttem berg, Saxony, Oldenburg, Mecklenburg, and Baden. The reactionary party made an attempt at resistance throughout the country, but finally the more moderate wing of the Socialists, headed by Ebert, Landsberg, and Scheidemann, assumed the supreme power. Ebert was tempo rarily appointed Imperial Chancellor. This provisional government was faced by many difficult problems. The extreme radical Socialists, known as the Spar tacan group, put themselves in direct opposition. This party was headed by Dr. Liebknecht, who issued a call to arms for a social revolution. There was a general demand for an all-German Na tional Assembly, and this was finally accomplished on November 25. It was composed of 17 delegates, representing 21 German states, and its object was to formulate the rules for the coming na tional convention.
During the last November and early December days of 1918, political con ditions continued more intense. Strikes occurred in many industrial centers. Opposition to the Ebert government was strong in Bavaria and other south Ger man states. The Spartacan party con tinued in hostile opposition. People's councils and soldiers' and workmen's councils sprang up throughout the coun try. On Dec. 16, 1918, the central council of delegates from soldiers' and workmen's councils met in Berlin for the purpose of debating the place of national assembly. Liebknecht took this oppor tunity to incite the people to revolt. The radical Socialists insisted that Germany should be formed into one single repub lic, that all power should be given to the soldiers' and workmen's councils, and that the supreme executive power should be exercised by the executive council. It was finally decided by the Congress that elections should be held to appoint a National assembly on January 19, 1919. The Spartacan party received as sistance from Russia ana was also en couraged by the continued spread of strikes throughout the country. The Spartacans finally broke out in actual revolt in January. It was, however, quickly suppressed. On January 16 Carl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg, the two most prominent leaders of the Spar tacans, were arrested and shortly after ward shot by their guards in their place of detention. This broke the oppo sition of the radical Socialists.
Elections were held for members of the National Assembly on January 19, 1919, and the Assembly convened at Weimar on February 6. On February 21, 1919, there was a serious outbreak at Munich. Kurt Eisner, the Prime Minister, was killed. There were simi lar outbreaks throughout the country. Eisner had been at the head of a so called Soviet government, and the col lapse of this at his death removed the last stronghold of Bolshevism in Ger many, although there continued to be uprisings of the Spartacans from time to time. By the time of the meeting of the Peace Conference, however, com parative peace reigned throughout Ger many.
The terms of the Peace Treaty aroused a storm of protest throughout Germany. The German delegates left the conference to consult with the Ger man Government. An extension of time was granted for the signing of the treaty, and finally on June 23, 1919, the National Assembly accepted, without conditions, the reservations of the Allied terms. The Peace Treaty was ratified by the German National Assembly on July 9, 1919. The new constitution was
formally adopted by the Assembly on July 31, 1919. The constitution consists of 181 articles. It provides for the com position and function of the Nationa' government; for the regulation of the National government and the various State governments; for the election and function of the Reichstag, of the Na tional President, of the Chancellor, of the National ministers, of the National Council, and of the duties of the various National government departments. This provides also for the administration of justice, the fundamental rights and duties of the citizens; for the regula tion of marriage, education, religion, and economic life; of the temporary varying of existing laws and regulations; for the repeal of the constitution of the for mer German and for the con tinuation of German laws and regula tions in so far as they do not contradict the new constitution.
The people accepted the new constitu tion with comparative calmness. There continued to be, however, internal dis sensions and industrial troubles. On January 13, 1920, a mob of 50,000 per sons gathered in front of the Reichstag building, and overwhelmed the military guard. The police were obliged to use bombs and machine guns to suppress the riot, and over 40 persons were killed. A counter-revolution against President Ebert's government, inspired by Pan Germans, suddenly broke out on March 13. Wolfgang Kapp proclaimed himself chancellor. President Ebert fled to Stutt gart, but immediately proclaimed a gen eral strike of workmen, which spread throughout the country, stopping all transportation and cutting off food and water for the cities. Dr. Kapp resigned on March 17, and Gustav Noske, Minis ter of Defense, assumed charge of the government. President Ebert returned on March 21. The radical elements among the workmen began a second rev olution in the industrial centers. They captured Essen and other towns and demanded the resignation of Noske. The Ebert government agreed to this and the rioting ceased. Elections were held on June 6, 1920, for the first Reichstag under the republican government. The majority Socialists won 112 seats, the Independents 81, the Centrists 67, and the German Nationalists 65. The Reichs tag, on July 31, passed a bill abolishing compulsory military service. The gov ernment ordered general disarmament of the civilian population and this was carried on throughout the remainder of the year.
The Allied Powers found considerable difficulty in enforcing the terms of the Treaty of Peace. The question of rep arations was the most difficult. Ger many insisted on being told the exact amount which would be exacted and the terms upon which it was to be paid. The Allied governments, however, refused until February, 1921, to give explicit terms. It was then announced that the sum of the indemnity would be practi cally 59 billion dollars, to be paid during an indefinite period. A meeting was held in London in March, 1921, to con sider the method of payment and Ger man delegates were invited to be present. They protested against this sum levied upon Germany, and proposed instead an indemnity of about $7,000,000,000. This proposal was rejected by the Allies and the German delegates withdrew. Fol lowing this, the Allied forces, composed chiefly of. French troops, marched into Germany, taking possession of the cities of Diisseldorf, Duisburg, and Ruhrort. This occupation was accomplished with out any hostility on the part of the in habitants of these cities.
The German Emperor, having fled into Holland, for several years resided at the Castle of Amerongen, under the pro tection of the Dutch Government. He afterward purchased an estate at Doorn. The Crown Prince had fled to the island of Wieringen, where he remained a practical exile, although he was per mitted from time to time to visit his father and mother. See WORLD WAR; PEACE TREATY, and the articles on the various German states.