republic · Germany and Central Europe

Free People's State of Württemberg

1918 CE – 1945 CE · capital Stuttgart

Democratic successor of the Kingdom of Württemberg, a well-governed Weimar state that was split by the occupying powers in 1945.

Origins

In November 1918 King William II abdicated, and a provisional government of Social Democrats and Independents declared a republic in Stuttgart. A constitution adopted in 1919 created the Free People's State of Württemberg.

Rule and society

Württemberg had a balanced economy of small farms and skilled industry, with companies such as Bosch and Daimler. After governments led by Social Democrats and liberals, the state was led by conservatives and from 1928 by the Centre's Eugen Bolz, who was later executed for his part in the resistance to Hitler. After 1933 the Nazi Reich governor Wilhelm Murr ruled the state.

Decline and legacy

After 1945 the state was divided by the occupying powers: the northern part, in the American zone, joined northern Baden as Württemberg-Baden, and the southern part, under the French, became Württemberg-Hohenzollern. They merged into Baden-Württemberg in 1952.

Lineage

Kingdom of Württemberg 1806 CE – 1918 CEFree People's State of Württemberg

Connections (2)

  • Free People's State of Württemberg was part of Weimar Republic1918 CE – 1933 CE
  • Free People's State of Württemberg was part of Nazi Germany1933 CE – 1945 CE

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Free People's State of Württemberg. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/free-peoples-state-of-wurttemberg
MLA
“Free People's State of Württemberg.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/free-peoples-state-of-wurttemberg. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Free People's State of Württemberg.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/free-peoples-state-of-wurttemberg.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Free People's State of Württemberg’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/free-peoples-state-of-wurttemberg (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻