June 1919
14 - 15 June
Communist leaflets speaking out against the government are distributed in Weimar. [PK]
16 June
The Allies give the German government an ultimatum to accept the Versailles peace treaty. [EK]
17 - 18 June
In Weimar Sergeant Schwärtz frees approximately 60 military prisoners on his own and exchanges fire with the National Assembly protection forces. [PK]
20 June
21 June
Gustav Bauer (SPD) becomes new Reichsministerpräsident, Hermann Müller (SPD) Reichsminister des Auswärtigen (Foreign Affairs), Erzberger (Center) Reichsminister der Finanzen (Finance), Eduard David (SPD) Reichsminister des Innern (Interior), Wilhelm Mayer (Center) Reichsschatzminister (Treasury), Rudolf Wissell (SPD) Reichswirtschaftsminister (Economic Affairs), Robert Schmidt (SPD) Reichsernährungsminister (Food), Gustav Noske (SPD) Reichswehrminister (Defence), Alexander Schlicke (SPD) Reichsarbeitsminister (Labor), Johann Giesberts (Center) Reichspostminister (Post), Johannes Bell (Center) Reichsminister für Verkehrswesen (Transport), Under-Secretary Heinrich Delbrück (SPD) Reichsjustizminister (acting Justice Minister). [EK; DNV, Vol. 3, p. 408]
22 June
The fortieth session of the National Assembly, from 12:19 to 4:22pm The new government’s statement: Denunciation and protest against the Treaty of Versailles, but also call to all parliamentary groups to verify the facts in great earnest instead of pursuing party tactics. Refusal to recognize Articles 227 to 230 (extradition of war criminals, including former Kaiser Wilhelm II) as well as Article 231 (Germany and its allies are declared guilty for the war). After debate - consenting responses from the SPD, the USPD, and the Center Party; rejection from the DDP, the DVP and the DNVP - the Allies’ peace conditions are approved with 237 votes in favour out of a total 381 votes cast (138 votes against, 5 abstentions and 1 invalid vote). The National Assembly furthermore expresses its confidence in the new government (235 votes in favour, 89 against, 69 abstentions and one invalid vote of 394 total votes cast). [DNV, Vol. 3, pp. 406-459]
Leaflets are dropped around the city of Weimar in protest against the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. [PK]
23 June
The forty-first session of the National Assembly, from 2:56pm to 3:15pm and 4:35 to 5:41pm
Reichministerpräsident Bauer (SPD) reads out the response of the Entente in which the latter rejects the National Assembly’s conditional approval of the peace treaty from the previous day as insufficient and demands an unconditional approval without reservation within 24 hours. The Bauer cabinet is in favour of signing unconditionally and calls for a vote on this: a large majority of Members are in favour; session is then suspended.
A “call to the German army” is read out in which the National Assembly expresses its thanks “for great sacrifices for the defence of the homeland” and asks the army for loyalty.
Deliberation and unanimous approval of the "Bill concerning the amendment of the Act on Tax Evasion of 26 July 1918". Deliberations and approval of the “Bill concerning the further provisional arrangements regarding the national budget and the budget for the Schutzgebiete for the financial year 1919”. Deliberation and unanimous approval of the “Bill concerning the accession of the Free States of Bavaria and Baden to the Beer Tax Community”. [DNV, Vol. 3, pp. 460-472]
24 June
The forty-second session of the National Assembly, from 10:24am to 11:10am
Government representatives answer various questions: Lack of registration forms for leather merchants in Bavaria; increase in housing allowance funds for border guards in Saxony; price calculation of cow hides; too little family support available for war veterans i.a.
Deliberations and unanimous approval of the “Bill concerning the regional health insurance funds, insurance fund employees and auxiliary health insurance funds (i.a. promoting equality for the agricultural workforce). [DNV, Vol. 3, pp. 474-481]
28 June
The peace treaty is signed by the Entente and the German government in Versailles by Foreign Minister Hermann Müller (SPD) and Transport Minister Johannes Bell (Center Party).
Protest rally against the signing of the peace treaty takes place in Weimar’s market square. [EK; PK]
