Germany's political parties reorganize—Theodor Wolff—Composition of the National Assembly—Convenes at Weimar—Spartacans stage various uprisings—Friedrich Ebert elected provisional president of the German Republic—Germany's desperate financial situation—The difference between theory and practice.
Chapter XVII. The Spartacans Rise Again. [251]
Germany still hungering—Promised supplies of food delayed—Gas and coal shortage—Strikes add to people's sufferings—The Spartacans plan another uprising—Severe fighting in Berlin—The radical newspaper Die rote Fahne suppressed—Independent Socialists go over to the Spartacans—Independent Socialist and Spartacan Platforms contrasted.
Chapter XVIII. Red or White Internationalism: Which? [265]
Radicalism encouraged by Bolshevism's success in Hungary.
Chapter XIX. The Weimar Constitution. [273]
History of the new constitution—An advancedly democratic institution—Important change in constitution on third reading—The imperial constitution ceases to exist—Two "main divisions"—Construction of the state—Preambles of old and new constitutions compared—Fundamental and sweeping changes—Radical curtailment of states' rights—The President—The Reichstag, importance assigned to it—The Reichsrat—Legislative procedure—Referendum and initiative—Amendments—"Fundamental rights and fundamental duties of the Germans"—Articles on social and economic life—Socialist influence becomes unmistakable—Sweeping socialization made possible—Workmen's council is "anchored" in the constitution.
The Constitution of the German Commonwealth. [294]
Translation by William Bennett Munro and Arthur Norman Holcombe. Reprinted by permission of the World Peace Foundation.