Friedrich Ebert: Germany

Makers of the Modern World: The peace conferences of 1919-23 and their aftermath
By Harry Harmer

Friedrich Ebert (1871-1925). On 9 November 1918 Ebert became Imperial Chancellor as revolution broke out in Berlin. He had been influencial in securing SPD support for the war in 1914 and maintained close relations with the Imperial government and military authorities throughout. Two of his sons were killed in the conflict, a tragedy he used to emphasise his own patriotism.

In February of 1919 he became Germany'e first democratically elected head of state, the President of the new Weimar Republic.

Only reluctantly did he accept the need for Germany to sign the Treaty of Versailles, at one point saying that he might be prepared to resume the war. It was left to Johannes Bell and Hermann Muller to sign on behalf of Germany.

There were arguments among the Allies over how Germany should be treated, as France, Britain and the United States sought different objectives. In May1919, the terms of the Treaty - on reparations, the war, guilt clause, the loss of territories in Europe and colonies, and the limitations of arms - were presented to German representatives, participating widespread opposition in government and the Armed forces.

This book follows Ebert's rise to national prominence in the pre-war Social Democratic Party, his role inthe First World War, and his short tenure as the first president of the Weimar Republic.

Harry Harmer's particular interest is late 19th and early 20th century European history. He has studied the history of the Weimar Republic and the rise of Hitler, and his PhD involved research into the Communist International and the European Communist parties, of which the German was the most significant. He is the author of a number of biographies.