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 formed4 October 1918
Date dissolved9 November 1918
(1 month and 5 days)
People and organisations
EmperorWilhelm II
ChancellorMax von Baden
Vice ChancellorFriedrich von Payer
Member partiesSupported by:
Progressive People's Party
Centre Party
National Liberal Party
Social Democratic Party
Status in legislatureMajority
History
Election1912 federal election
PredecessorHertling cabinet
SuccessorCouncil 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

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Portfolio Minister Took office Left office Party
Chancellor3 October 19189 November 1918 Independent
Vice Chancellor9 November 191710 November 1918 FVP
State Secretary for Foreign Affairs3 October 191813 December 1918 Independent
State Secretary for the Interior3 October 19186 October 1918 Independent
Karl Trimborn
6 October 19189 November 1918 Centre
State Secretary for Justice7 August 191713 February 1919 NLP
State Secretary for the Navy[note 1][7] [8]3 October 19186 October 1918 Independent
6 October 19189 November 1918 Independent
State Secretary for Economics
Hans Karl von Stein zu Nord- und Ostheim
3 October 19189 November 1918 Independent
State Secretary for Food
Wilhelm von Waldow
3 October 19189 November 1918 Independent
State Secretary for Labour4 October 191820 June 1919 SPD
State Secretary for the Post
Otto Rüdlin
3 October 19189 November 1918 Independent
State Secretary for the Treasury3 October 19189 November 1918 Independent
State Secretary for the Colonies20 December 191113 December 1918 Independent
Minister without portfolio4 October 19189 November 1918 SPD
4 October 191820 June 1919 Centre
Adolf Gröber
4 October 19189 November 1918 Centre
14 October 19189 November 1918 FVP

Notes

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  1. ^ 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

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  1. ^ "Biografie Prinz Max von Baden (German)". Deutsches Historisches Museum. Archived from the original on 2 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  2. ^ "Gesetz zur Abänderung der Reichsverfassung 28. Oktober 1918 (Original text of the law, German)". Deutsches Historisches Museum. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Haffner, Sebastian (2002). Die deutsche Revolution 1918/19 (German). Kindler. ISBN 3-463-40423-0.
  5. ^ Spuler, B., ed. (1962). Regenten und Regierungen der Welt, Volumes 2,3. Neueste Zeit: 1492–1917 (German). Ploetz, Würzburg.
  6. ^ "Die neuen Männer. Flugblatt zur Regierungsbildung des Kabinetts unter Prinz Max von Baden (German)". Deutsches Historisches Museum. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  7. ^ "Bio Eduard von Capelle (German)". Bayerische Staatsbibliothek. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  8. ^ Hildebrand, Hans H. (1988). Deutschlands Admirale 1849–1945 Band 1: A-G (German). Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück. pp. 87–88. ISBN 3-7648-1499-3.