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Becomes Secretary General
Ebert became secretary general of the German Social Democratic Party (SPD). He updated party administration, introducing typewriters and filing systems that the party had lacked until that time due to its fear of house searches. -
Archduke Assasination
Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the Archoke of Austria. He was assassinated in Sarajevo on this date. His death is the event that sparks World War I later on. -
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World War I
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His Support in the War
Ebert prevailed upon German Social Democrats to support the war and their needs to win. -
First Tanks Ever Being Used
The British employ the first tanks ever used in battle in Germany. Although they are useful at breaking through barbed wire and clearing a path for the infantry, tanks have a lot of cons and they fail to be an ultimate weapon to winning the war, as their designers figured they would be. -
Front Lines Attempt To Advance
The British fires a million shells at the German lines by storming them with 100,000 men. Twenty-thousand British soldiers were killed on the first day. Not a single British soldier reached the German lines. This time it took the generals only four months and 1.1 million men to realize that the old ways no longer worked and that "the cold efficiency of the machine gun was more powerful than all the courage of their men". -
U.S. Enters War
After a long debate, Congress authorizes a declaration of war against Germany. The United States enters World War I on the side of France and Britain. -
Germany + Russia = Peace
The Germans sign a peace treaty with the new Bolshevik government of Russia. The terms of the treaty give Germany a huge amount of their land that had been owned by Ukraine and Poland. Peace on the Eastern Front allows Germany to shift soldiers to the Western Front, causing serious problems for the French, British, and Americans. -
A New Government Uprises
A new government was formed by Ebert partnering with Maximilian, the Prince of Baden, supported by the three parties of the Black–Red–Gold coalition was organized. -
Chancellor for a Day
With the war over and Germans reflecting their defeat in Berlin, Maximilian asked Ebert to replace him as chancellor. Ebert, who still hoped to establish a regency for the emperor, actually held office as chancellor for only one day. -
Establishing a Government
Ebert attempted to establish a wholly socialist government, even though he knew it was impossible during WW1. Ebert got his support from the Workers and Soldiers Council, a Berlin-based organization, to help achieve this goal. -
Named Provisional President
Ebert was named as the Provisional President of the Weimer Republic -
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Presidency Term
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Treaty of Versailles
World War I officially ended when the Allied Powers negotatiated along with Germany about ending the war and fined for all of the damages with a document called the Treaty of Versailles. With 15 parts and 440 articles, Germany had to agree with almost everything stated in the document like repaying for all the damages in the war, returning land to all of their original countries, cut back on how many units they could use in combat, etc. -
Ebert's Death
Ebert died at the age of 54, his death was presumebly caused by the decision of a court which he was declared guilty of high treason for his support of munitions strikers during WWI
