Friedrich Ebert was the first president of the Weimar Republic, serving from 1919 until his death in 1925. Born in Heidelberg in 1871, his political trajectory began within the Social Democratic Party, moving from local union activism in Bremen to the national leadership of the Reichstag during one of the most volatile eras in German history.
Early Development and Labor Politics
Born the seventh of nine children to tailor Karl Ebert and Katharina Hinkel, Friedrich Ebert lacked the funds for university education and instead trained as a saddle-maker between 1885 and 1888. After becoming a journeyman, he travelled across Germany, eventually joining the Social Democratic Party in 1889. His political work led to a police black list, forcing him to relocate frequently before settling in Bremen. There, he founded chapters of the Association of Saddlers and transitioned into journalism with the Bremer Bürger-Zeitung. By 1905, his focus on organizational issues over abstract ideology propelled him to the position of Secretary-General of the SPD in Berlin.
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Ebert assumed joint leadership of the SPD in 1913 following the death of August Bebel. Upon the outbreak of World War I, he supported the policy of Burgfrieden, which aimed to suppress domestic dissent to focus on the war effort. This position alienated the radical wing of his party, contributing to a formal split and the creation of the Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany in 1917. Throughout the conflict, he experienced personal tragedy with the loss of his sons Heinrich and Georg, who died in Macedonia and France respectively.
Navigating the Weimar Republic
Following the German revolution of 1918, Ebert served as Reich Chancellor and later as the nation's first president. His administration focused on maintaining order during a period of transition, often by coordinating with the military leadership under General Wilhelm Groener and the right-wing Freikorps. These alliances were instrumental in suppressing various socialist, communist, and nationalist uprisings, including the Kapp Putsch. Despite these actions, his governance remained central to the formation of the Weimar Republic until he died in Berlin in 1925.
Fast facts
- Born: 4 February 1871, Heidelberg
- Died: 28 February 1925, Berlin
- Profession: Politician
- Political Party: Social Democratic Party
- President of Germany: 1919–1925
- Chancellor of Germany: 1918–1919
- Burial Site: Bergfriedhof
Questions readers ask
What trade did Friedrich Ebert learn?
He trained as a saddle-maker from 1885 to 1888.
Which party did he lead?
He was a leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany.
Achievements
- president of Germany (1919–1925)
- Reich Chancellor in the Weimar Republic (1918–1919)
- member of the Reichstag of the German Empire
- Minister President of Prussia
