The German Revolution of 1918–1919 was a political upheaval that led to the end of the German Empire and the establishment of the Weimar Republic. It began in November 1918, following Germany's defeat in World War I, when widespread unrest and protests erupted against the monarchy and the war. Workers and soldiers formed councils, demanding democratic reforms and better living conditions. The revolution resulted in the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II and the proclamation of a republic. However, the transition was marked by violence and conflict, including the Spartacist uprising in January 1919, which highlighted the divisions within the revolutionary movement.