It took the best of part of seven months for the delegates of the new German National Assembly to agree on the terms of the new Weimar constitution, which Ebert signed into law whilst on holiday in Schwarzburg.
The mutiny quickly spread throughout the Kiel naval base, and within days tens of thousands of sailors and workers had joined the movement.
The enactment of the Second Naval Law represented an ambitious plan to double the size of the German fleet, but with the British Royal Navy having long been the world’s dominant maritime force Germany’s naval expansion was perceived as a direct challenge to British supremacy.
Although committed to democratic principles, the Weimar Republic and President Ebert faced persistent challenges from both the left and the right amidst the daunting task of guiding Germany through economic turmoil, political polarization, and the drafting of a new constitution.
The Allies’ continuous advances, coupled with internal unrest and food shortages, left Germany with limited options and the Supreme Army Command demanded that the government seek a ceasefire immediately.
Exactly one month after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.
28th June 2015
11th November 2025
11th November 2025
1st September 2018
9th November 2019
