On 9 November 1918, Chancellor Max von Baden unilaterally announced the abdication of the German Emperor Wilhelm II and the renunciation of the hereditary rights to the throne of Crown Prince Wilhelm.
However, he and SPD leader Friedrich Ebert both still hoped to retain the monarchy in face of the revolution.
Maximilian von Baden preferred a younger son of Wilhelm II to succeed to the throne.
Around noon, Friedrich Ebert arrived at the Imperial chancellery and demanded that the authority to govern be handed over to him and the SPD.
Maximilian von Baden resigned and unconstitutionally designated Ebert his successor as "Imperial chancellor" and "Minister-President" of Prussia.
All of the Secretaries of State, including Scheidemann, remained in office.
Ebert issued a proclamation asking the masses on the streets to remain quiet and to go home.

Ebert and Scheidemann then went to the Reichstag building for lunch and sat at separate tables.
A huge crowd assembled outside, and there were calls for a speech.
Ebert refused to speak to the crowd, but Scheidemann stood up and rushed to a window facing it.
According to Scheidemann's own recollection, someone told him along the way that the Spartacist (communist) leader Karl Liebknecht intended to declare Germany a Soviet Republic.
Scheidemann then made a spontaneous speech that closed with these words:
The old and rotten, the monarchy has collapsed.
The new may live.
Long live the German Republic!

When he returned to the Reichstag dining room, a furious Ebert confronted him.
Ebert pounded the table with his fist and shouted, "You have no right to proclaim the Republic!
What becomes of Germany, a Republic or whatever, that is for the constituent assembly to decide!"

Later that day, in spite of Scheidemann's announcement, Ebert asked Prince Maximilian to stay on as Imperial regent, but was refused.
In fact, Scheidemann's speech was without legal authority.
Wilhelm II had not really abdicated, although he soon fled to the Netherlands and did sign an abdication later in November 1918.
As of 9 November 1918, Germany was legally still a monarchy.
Both Ebert and Scheidemann at this point hoped to preserve the existing structure of government under a Chancellor Ebert, restore calm and deal with the pressing issue of the armistice with the Allied powers.
Yet the revolution seemed likely to force the SPD to share power with those on the far left: the Spartacists and the Independents of the USPD.
In the afternoon of 9 November, Ebert grudgingly asked the USPD to nominate three ministers for a future government.

Ebert's plans were thrown into disarray when a group known as Revolutionary Stewards (Revolutionäre Obleute) then forced the SPD leadership to join with the revolutionary forces.
That evening a group of several hundred followers of these non-union workers' representatives occupied the Reichstag and held an impromptu debate.
They called for the election of soldiers' and workers' councils the next day with an eye to name a provisional government: the Council of the People's Deputies (Rat der Volksbeauftragten).
The SPD leadership managed to co-opt that process and sent three delegates to the Council set up on 10 November: Ebert, Scheidemann and Otto Landsberg.
Ebert became joint Chairman with Hugo Haase of the USPD.
Scheidemann was a member of the Council of the People's Deputies for its whole period of existence, from 10 November 1918 to 13 February 1919.
On 9 November 1918, Chancellor Max von Baden unilaterally announced the abdication of the German Emperor Wilhelm II and the renunciation of the hereditary rights to the throne of Crown Prince Wilhelm. However, he and SPD leader Friedrich Ebert both still hoped to retain the monarchy in face of the revolution. Maximilian von Baden preferred a younger son of Wilhelm II to succeed to the throne. Around noon, Friedrich Ebert arrived at the Imperial chancellery and demanded that the authority to govern be handed over to him and the SPD. Maximilian von Baden resigned and unconstitutionally designated Ebert his successor as "Imperial chancellor" and "Minister-President" of Prussia. All of the Secretaries of State, including Scheidemann, remained in office. Ebert issued a proclamation asking the masses on the streets to remain quiet and to go home.
Ebert and Scheidemann then went to the Reichstag building for lunch and sat at separate tables. A huge crowd assembled outside, and there were calls for a speech. Ebert refused to speak to the crowd, but Scheidemann stood up and rushed to a window facing it. According to Scheidemann's own recollection, someone told him along the way that the Spartacist (communist) leader Karl Liebknecht intended to declare Germany a Soviet Republic. Scheidemann then made a spontaneous speech that closed with these words:
The old and rotten, the monarchy has collapsed. The new may live. Long live the German Republic!
When he returned to the Reichstag dining room, a furious Ebert confronted him. Ebert pounded the table with his fist and shouted, "You have no right to proclaim the Republic! What becomes of Germany, a Republic or whatever, that is for the constituent assembly to decide!"
Later that day, in spite of Scheidemann's announcement, Ebert asked Prince Maximilian to stay on as Imperial regent, but was refused. In fact, Scheidemann's speech was without legal authority. Wilhelm II had not really abdicated, although he soon fled to the Netherlands and did sign an abdication later in November 1918. As of 9 November 1918, Germany was legally still a monarchy. Both Ebert and Scheidemann at this point hoped to preserve the existing structure of government under a Chancellor Ebert, restore calm and deal with the pressing issue of the armistice with the Allied powers. Yet the revolution seemed likely to force the SPD to share power with those on the far left: the Spartacists and the Independents of the USPD. In the afternoon of 9 November, Ebert grudgingly asked the USPD to nominate three ministers for a future government.
Ebert's plans were thrown into disarray when a group known as Revolutionary Stewards (Revolutionäre Obleute) then forced the SPD leadership to join with the revolutionary forces. That evening a group of several hundred followers of these non-union workers' representatives occupied the Reichstag and held an impromptu debate. They called for the election of soldiers' and workers' councils the next day with an eye to name a provisional government: the Council of the People's Deputies (Rat der Volksbeauftragten). The SPD leadership managed to co-opt that process and sent three delegates to the Council set up on 10 November: Ebert, Scheidemann and Otto Landsberg. Ebert became joint Chairman with Hugo Haase of the USPD. Scheidemann was a member of the Council of the People's Deputies for its whole period of existence, from 10 November 1918 to 13 February 1919.
Philipp Scheidemann