Scheidemann, Philipp (1865-1939)

German politician and journalist. In 1903 he was elected to the Reichstag, and in 1911 joined the executive committee of the Social-Democratic party. During World War I he was, with Friedrich Ebert, leader of the Majority Social Democrats, who voted for the government's war credits, but nevertheless worked for a peace of reconciliation. When, in 1918, Ebert became chancellor, Scheidemann, on his own initiative, proclaimed Germany a republic. In February 1919 Scheidemann was elected prime minister by the National Assembly at Weimar. A few months later he resigned, following his failure to obtain amendments of the Allies' peace conditions, and his refusal to sign the Treaty of Versailles. When Hitler came to power he left the country, and died in Denmark. Scheidemann was born in Kassel, Germany.