Reichstag Peace Resolution

The Reichstag Peace Resolution was passed by the Reichstag of the German Empire on 19 July 1917 by 212 votes to 126. It was supported by the Social Democrats, the Catholic Center Party and the Progressive People's Party, and was opposed by the National Liberals and the Conservatives. The resolution was introduced by the Catholic leader Matthias Erzberger. It was an attempt to seek a negotiated peace treaty (Verständigungsfrieden) to end World War I. The resolution called for no annexations, no indemnities, freedom of the seas and international arbitration. It was ignored by the German High Command and by the Allied powers.[1]

The resolution was passed five days after Georg Michaelis was appointed Reich Chancellor. Michaelis was inwardly opposed to the peace resolution: "It was clear to me that I could not accept the resolution in this form."[2] An open conflict was, however, avoided in that Michaelis presented the resolution as a workable framework in his inaugural address but spoke of the "resolution as I conceive it." The policy of the peace resolution was thus stillborn under his leadership.[3]

Notes

A. J. Ryder, The German Revolution of 1918: A Study of Socialism in War and Revolt (Cambridge University Press, 1967), pp. 87–93.
Michaelis, Georg (1922). Für Staat und Volk. Eine Lebensgeschichte [For State and People. A Life Story]. Berlin. p. 326.
Epstein, Klaus (1960). Der Interfraktionelle Ausschuss und das Problem der Parlamentarisierung 1917–1918 [The Interfractional Committee and the Problem of Parliamentarization 1917-1918]. In: Historische Zeitschrift 191. p. 576.

External links

The Reichstag’s Peace Resolution (July 19, 1917), Documents – Germany at War, 1914–1918: Seeking an End to War, from German History in Documents and Images (GHDI).

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[1] A. J. Ryder, The German Revolution of 1918: A Study of Socialism in War and Revolt (Cambridge University Press, 1967), pp. 87–93.

[2] Michaelis, Georg (1922). Für Staat und Volk. Eine Lebensgeschichte [For State and People. A Life Story]. Berlin. p. 326.

[3] Epstein, Klaus (1960). Der Interfraktionelle Ausschuss und das Problem der Parlamentarisierung 1917–1918 [The Interfractional Committee and the Problem of Parliamentarization 1917-1918]. In: Historische Zeitschrift 191. p. 576.