DOCS.
667,
668
DECEMBER
1918 707
wish him
a
Merry
Christmas.
I’ll
be
coming
to
see
you
in
6
weeks[2]
and
am very
much
looking
forward
to
it.
Your strike
was just
a
weak reflection of the revolution
here.[3]
This
one began
in Kiel.
The
sailors
there
refused to
fight on,
ousted
their
officers,
and
then took
control of the
public buildings
and
the
administration
of the
city.[4]
After that
they
sent
delegations
to
the
soldiers
in
other
cities,
who
followed
their
example.
The
workers
everywhere joined in,
and
everywhere
workers’
and soldiers’ councils
were
formed,
which
took the
place
of
the
previous government. Finally
the
coup
was
carried out in
Berlin,
the
Republic
was
proclaimed,
parliament
was
dismissed,
the
emperor
and
crown
prince
were
forced to
flee,[5]
the
generals
and
officers
were
removed,
and
a
Socialist
government was
installed which
is
accountable to
the
representatives of
the
Workers’
and
Soldiers’
Councils,
what
is
called
the
Executive Council.
A
normal National
Assembly
is
supposed
to
convene shortly,
elected
by
all
men
and
women
in
Germany.[6]
In
the
interim,
quite
wild
things
have been
going
on, though. Many
are
trying
to take
advantage
of
the
confusion. The funds and
other
properties
of
the
state
are being
used
recklessly.
Paper
money
is
being
printed
in vast
quantities,
so
money
is constantly
dropping
in value. Workers
are
demanding
enormous
wages
even
though
there
is nothing to
do at
the
factories.
All
factories
are on
the
verge
of
going
bankrupt.
Today
the
soldiers marched
in.
That
was a
cheerful stir.
Many boys
like
you
drove and rode
around
in
the
streets with
the
soldiers and
everyone
was
up
and
about
in order to welcome the
men
who
had
had
to
endure
the
so
very long
and
hard
ordeals
and
dangers.
But
Tete should
not
go
in
for
vile soldier
games.
I
don’t
like
that
in the least.
Affectionate
regards
from
your
Papa.
Amicable
greetings
to Mama.
668. To Moritz
Schlick
[Berlin,]
10
December
1918
Dear Mr.
Schlick,
I
find
your exposition excellent,
like
your
earlier
one.[1]
You
will
understand the
few
minor
suggested
corrections
I
have
made,
without
any
need for
explanation.
You
are a
true artist
of
exposition.
Best
regards, yours,
A. Einstein.