Hertling cabinet

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Cabinet of Georg von Hertling
Flag of the German Empire.svg
7th Cabinet of the German Empire
1917 – 1918
Georg von Hertling portrait (cropped).jpg
Chancellor Georg von Hertling
Date formed1 November 1917
Date dissolved3 October 1918
(11 months and 2 days)
People and organisations
Emperor Wilhelm II
Chancellor Georg von Hertling
Vice Chancellor Karl Helfferich (until 24 October 1917)
Friedrich von Payer (from 9 November 1917)
Member partiesSupported by:
Social Democratic Party
Centre Party
National Liberal Party
Progressive People's Party
Status in legislature Majority government
History
Election 1912 federal election
Legislature term13th Reichstag of the German Empire
Predecessor Michaelis cabinet
Successor Baden cabinet

The Hertling cabinet, headed by Georg von Hertling of the Centre Party, was the seventh government of the German Empire and the first that had come about after consulting with the majority parties in the Reichstag. The cabinet took office on 1 November 1917 when it replaced the Michaelis cabinet, which had been dismissed after losing the support of Emperor Wilhelm II and most parties in the Reichstag.

Contents

Hertling belonged to the right wing of the Catholic Centre Party, and was against a parliamentarisation of the German Empire. The left wing around Matthias Erzberger took the opposite view, and the broad centre of the party wanted to take into account the views of the right wing, but also took note of the wishes of Catholic workers for democratisation. The Centre did not want to put obstacles in the way of parliamentarisation, but did not take active steps to prevent a split in the party. Hertling's chancellorship meant that the Centre and the left Liberals took account of the conservative elements. The latter could thus get used to a parliamentary way of governing. [1]

The Social Democrats did not join the cabinet, not wanting to render the process of forming a government even more difficult. However, they supported the cabinet in parliament.

Members

The cabinet consisted of the following ministers:

PortfolioMinisterTookofficeLeftofficeParty
Chancellorship 1 November 19173 October 1918  Centre
Vice-Chancellorship 1 November 191724 October 1918  Independent
9 November 19173 October 1918  FVp
Foreign Affairs 1 November 19179 July 1918  Independent
9 July 19183 October 1918  Independent
Interior 1 November 19173 October 1918  Independent
Justice 1 November 19173 October 1918  NlP
Navy 1 November 19173 October 1918  Independent
Economic Affairs 1 November 191720 November 1917  Independent
20 November 19173 October 1918  Independent
Food Supply 1 November 19173 October 1918  Independent
Postal Affairs 1 November 19173 October 1918  Independent
Treasury  [ de ]1 November 19173 October 1918  Independent
Colonial Affairs 1 November 19173 October 1918  Independent

Further reading

References

  1. Manfred Rauh: Die Parlamentarisierung des Deutschen Reiches, Droste Verlag: Düsseldorf 1977, p. 383, 384 and 386.