Rally at the Reichstag in Berlin in November 1918

Rally at the Reichstag in Berlin in November 1918.

Historical context

In November 1918, when the revolution was in full swing, countless people gathered in Berlin for demonstrations and rallies – an expression of the overwhelming will of the people to break away from the old monarchical order. One particularly symbolic event took place right next to the Reichstag building.

On this day, Philipp Scheidemann took the opportunity to announce the proclamation of the republic from a window of the Reichstag. With his spontaneous appeal – which in his words read: “The old and rotten monarchy has fallen. Long live the new one, long live the German Republic!” – he wanted to prevent radical left-wing forces, such as Karl Liebknecht, from completely taking over the political initiative. A few hours later, Liebknecht proclaimed a “free socialist republic” from the palace terrace, revealing the deep ideological rift within the revolutionary movement.

Despite the legal uncertainty – as Kaiser Wilhelm II had not yet officially abdicated at this point – Scheidemann’s rally was seen as a powerful break with the old system. The masses that had gathered in front of the Reichstag symbolised the turning point: the transition from the imperial monarchy to the Weimar Republic and thus the beginning of a new, democratic era in Germany.