German Army Mutinates, Wilhelm II Abdicates; War Ends

November 9, 1918

On October 28th, the German fleet mutinied in Kiel. Eventually, the mutiny spread throughout the German Armed Forces. Kaiser Wilhelm was told by General Hindenberg that the loyalty of the army could no longer be guaranteed. Wilhelm abdicated and fled to Holland. Phillip Scheidemann, the Socialist leader, declared Germany a Republic. The Allies then imposed a harsh armistice on the vanquished Germans.