The Baden cabinet (German: Kabinett Baden) was the final Reichsregierung or Imperial Government of the German Empire. It was formed on 4 October 1918 by Prince Max von Baden, who had been appointed as Reichskanzler (Chancellor) the day before by Emperor Wilhelm II.[1] It was the first cabinet of the Empire to include members of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). After the constitution was changed in late October 1918, the Chancellor and his government were for the first time accountable to the Reichstag (parliament). Previous governments had been accountable just to the Emperor.[2][3]: 6
Cabinet of Max von Baden | |
|---|---|
 8th Cabinet of the German Empire | |
| 1918 | |
 Max von Baden with Vice-Chancellor von Payer (second from left), Erhard Eduard Deutelmoser (left, press spokesman of the Chancellor) and Wilhelm von Radowitz (right, head of the Reich Chancellery) on their way to the Reichstag, October 1918. | |
| Date formed | 4 October 1918 |
| Date dissolved | 9 November 1918 (1 month and 5 days) |
| People and organisations | |
| Emperor | Wilhelm II |
| Chancellor | Max von Baden |
| Vice Chancellor | Friedrich von Payer |
| Member parties | Supported by: Progressive People's Party Centre Party National Liberal Party Social Democratic Party |
| Status in legislature | Majority |
| History | |
| Election | 1912 federal election |
| Predecessor | Hertling cabinet |
| Successor | Council of the People's Deputies |
The cabinet would be in office only until 9 November 1918. As a result of the German Revolution, Max von Baden resigned that day, after having announced the abdication of the Emperor. The social democrat Friedrich Ebert took over as Chancellor.[4]: 83–90
The members of the cabinet (most of them known as Staatssekretäre or "State Secretaries") were as follows: [5][6]
Composition
edit| Portfolio | Minister | Took office | Left office | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chancellor | 3 October 1918 | 9 November 1918 | Independent | ||
| Vice Chancellor | 9 November 1917 | 10 November 1918 | FVP | ||
| State Secretary for Foreign Affairs | 3 October 1918 | 13 December 1918 | Independent | ||
| State Secretary for the Interior | 3 October 1918 | 6 October 1918 | Independent | ||
Karl Trimborn | 6 October 1918 | 9 November 1918 | Centre | ||
| State Secretary for Justice | 7 August 1917 | 13 February 1919 | NLP | ||
| State Secretary for the Navy[note 1][7] [8] | 3 October 1918 | 6 October 1918 | Independent | ||
| 6 October 1918 | 9 November 1918 | Independent | |||
| State Secretary for Economics | Hans Karl von Stein zu Nord- und Ostheim | 3 October 1918 | 9 November 1918 | Independent | |
| State Secretary for Food | Wilhelm von Waldow | 3 October 1918 | 9 November 1918 | Independent | |
| State Secretary for Labour | 4 October 1918 | 20 June 1919 | SPD | ||
| State Secretary for the Post | Otto Rüdlin | 3 October 1918 | 9 November 1918 | Independent | |
| State Secretary for the Treasury | 3 October 1918 | 9 November 1918 | Independent | ||
| State Secretary for the Colonies | 20 December 1911 | 13 December 1918 | Independent | ||
| Minister without portfolio | 4 October 1918 | 9 November 1918 | SPD | ||
| 4 October 1918 | 20 June 1919 | Centre | |||
Adolf Gröber | 4 October 1918 | 9 November 1918 | Centre | ||
| 14 October 1918 | 9 November 1918 | FVP | |||
Notes
edit- ^ There is some confusion about the position of Staatssekretär im Reichsmarineamt. But it seems that both Eduard von Capelle and his successor Paul Behncke resigned before Max von Baden became Chancellor and were thus only part of the cabinet of Georg von Hertling.
References
edit- ^ "Biografie Prinz Max von Baden (German)". Deutsches Historisches Museum. Archived from the original on 2 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- ^ "Gesetz zur Abänderung der Reichsverfassung 28. Oktober 1918 (Original text of the law, German)". Deutsches Historisches Museum. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
- ^ Sturm, Reinhard (2011). "Weimarer Republik, Informationen zur politischen Bildung, Nr. 261 (German)". Informationen zur Politischen Bildung. Bonn: Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung. ISSN 0046-9408. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
- ^ Haffner, Sebastian (2002). Die deutsche Revolution 1918/19 (German). Kindler. ISBN 3-463-40423-0.
- ^ Spuler, B., ed. (1962). Regenten und Regierungen der Welt, Volumes 2,3. Neueste Zeit: 1492–1917 (German). Ploetz, Würzburg.
- ^ "Die neuen Männer. Flugblatt zur Regierungsbildung des Kabinetts unter Prinz Max von Baden (German)". Deutsches Historisches Museum. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
- ^ "Bio Eduard von Capelle (German)". Bayerische Staatsbibliothek. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
- ^ Hildebrand, Hans H. (1988). Deutschlands Admirale 1849–1945 Band 1: A-G (German). Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück. pp. 87–88. ISBN 3-7648-1499-3.