General who struck the 1918 secret pact with Ebert that preserved the officer corps and later served Weimar as defence and interior minister
A Württemberg staff officer and railway transport expert, he ran the War Office in the war, directing munitions production and labour mobilisation. In October 1918 he succeeded Ludendorff as First Quartermaster General and in November told the emperor that the army no longer stood behind him. On the night of 10 November he struck a secret telephone pact with Ebert, trading the army’s support for the preservation of the officer corps’ command. He later served as transport, defence and interior minister and fell in 1932 over his ban on the Nazi SA.
Activities and affiliations
Related historical events
- 1914–1918First World WarGerman wartime production and labour mobilisation chiefDuring the war, he ran the War Office and directed munitions production and labour mobilisation.
- 1918.10–1919.08The German Revolution of 1918–1919First Quartermaster GeneralStruck the secret pact with Ebert that kept the officer corps intact.