Germany 1918-1923

  • A German republic is proclaimed

    Under the leadership of Friedrich Ebert, after the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II.
  • Armistice is signed

  • The formation of the first unit of Freikorps

  • Communist revolutionaries try to seize Berlin

    Defeated by Freikorps troops.
  • German government relocates to Weimar

    Because of violence in Berlin
  • SPD wins 38 per cent of the votes

    In elections for the new national assembly
  • Friedrich Ebert elected as first president

  • The Treaty of Versailles is ratified

  • The Treaty of Versailles is signed

    By all parties
  • Proclamation of the new Weimar constitution,

  • DAP, renames itself NSDAP

    The National Socialist German Workers’ Party
  • NSDAP publishes its political manifesto

    A 25-point statement listing its beliefs, value and agenda.
  • The Kapp putsch

    An attempt to seize Berlin launched by a small group of ex-soldiers and nationalists, fails.
  • Elections for the national Reichstag

    Socialist parties win almost 40 per cent of votes and seats.
  • NSDAP obtains its first newspaper

    Voelkischer Beobachter.
  • Hitler is arrested for disturbing the peace

    After gate-crashing a meeting of a rival political group.
  • Hitler serves a month in prison

    For his for his disturbing the peace offence of September 1921.
  • Walter Rathenau is murdered

    The german forest minister
    Murdered by Organisation Consul, a right-wing terrorist group.
  • French troops occupy the Ruhr region

    After Germany defaults on several reparations payments.
  • Hyperinflation grips Germany

    After the government orders massive print runs of banknotes. Prices rise by huge amounts every day, while many Germans lose their savings and cash investments.
  • The NSDAP launches the Beer Hall Putsch

    An attempt to seize control of the Bavarian government.
  • The beer hall putsch is defeated

    By police and army units. Adolf Hitler, Ernst Rohm and others are arrested.
  • Hjalmar Schacht appointed president of the Reichsbank.

    A supporter of hitler