Georg von Hertling

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Georg Graf von Hertling
Georg von Hertling

In office
November 1, 1917 – September 30, 1918
Monarch William II
Preceded by Georg Michaelis
Succeeded by Prince Maximilian of Baden

Born August 31, 1843 (1843-08-31)
Died January 4, 1919
Political party Centre

Georg Friedrich Graf von Hertling (August 31, 1843January 4, 1919) was a Bavarian politician who served as Prime Minister of Bavaria 19121917 and as Chancellor of the German Empire from 1917 to 1918.

As leader of the largest party in the Bavarian Landtag Hertling was appointed Bavarian Prime Minister in 1912 by Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria. Following the outbreak of World War I Hertling supported the policy of Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg but declined to become his successor. Hertling became German Chancellor and Prime Minister of Prussia only after the fall of Georg Michaelis in 1917 but was incapable of meeting the crisis during the final stage of the war. Due to his age and conservatism he was unable to overcome the power of the military high command, led by Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff, despite having been a deputy to the Reichstag and a leader of the Centre Party. He was required to resign his seat when he took office under the Kaiser.

In civil life he was a professor of philosophy. He founded the important German catholic fraternity Askania-Burgundia and was a member of K.St.V. Arminia at Bonn.

His great-granddaughter is actress Gila von Weitershausen.

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Political offices
Preceded by
Clemens Graf von Podewils-Dürnitz
Prime Minister of Bavaria
1912–1917
Succeeded by
Otto Ritter von Dandl
Preceded by
Georg Michaelis
Chancellor of Germany
1917–1918
Succeeded by
Prince Maximilian of Baden
Prime Minister of Prussia
1917–1918