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Following World War I, the republic emerged from the German Revolution in November 1918. In 1919 a national assembly convened in the city of Weimar, where a new constitution for the German Reich was written, to be adopted on 11 August. The attempt to re-establish Germany as a liberal democracy failed with the ascent of Adolf

the German navy mutinied

Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated and fled the country

Freidrich Ebert was elected President

The Weimar Republic, proclaimed on November 9, 1918, was born in the throes of military defeat and social revolution. In January 1919, a National Assembly was elected to draft a constitution

The president was elected by popular direct ballot to a seven-year term and could be reelected. He appointed the chancellor and, pursuant to the chancellor's nominations, also appointed the cabinet ministers.

38 percent

The new republic faced a host of problems. These included: Over two and half million Germans had died in the war and four million were wounded. The army and many other Nationalist groups in German society were unhappy that the Kaiser had been forced to abdicate. Some of these owed a very shaky allegiance to the new republic. Many were completely hostile and viewed the government with contempt. Economic problems were serious, including rising prices, unemployment and a continued Allied blockade. Germany faced the prospect of a harsh treaty that was being negotiated in Paris

morale in the army