Prince Maximilian of Baden – Passport 1918

Prince Maximilian of Baden Passport
A gem of German passport history – The passport of Prince Max of Baden, issued by the foreign office in Karlsruhe on Dec 5th, 1918.

Maximilian, Margrave of Baden, whose full name was Maximilian Alexander Friedrich Wilhelm and who also went by the name Max von Baden, held the titles of German prince, military leader, and statesman. He was the designated heir to the throne of the Grand Duchy of Baden. During a brief period in October and November 1918, he assumed the roles of the final chancellor of the German Empire and the minister-president of Prussia. Prince Maximilian of Baden Passport

In this capacity, Max von Baden actively pursued peace negotiations on behalf of Germany towards the conclusion of World War I. He did so by aligning with U.S. President Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points and initiated steps to transition the government into a parliamentary system. As the German Revolution of 1918–1919 unfolded, Max von Baden transferred the position of chancellor to Friedrich Ebert, who was the Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SPD). Simultaneously, he unilaterally declared the abdication of Emperor Wilhelm II. These significant events occurred on November 9, 1918, marking the inception of the Weimar Republic.

Prince Maximilian of Baden Passport

Maximilian chose a life of retirement for his remaining years. He turned down an offer to serve in the 1919 Weimar National Assembly, which had been extended to him by the German Democratic leader Max Weber. In 1920, he collaborated with Kurt Hahn to establish the Schule Schloss Salem boarding school, aimed at nurturing a new generation of intellectual elites in Germany.

Max also authored several books, with assistance from Hahn. These included “Völkerbund und Rechtsfriede” in 1919, “Die moralische Offensive” in 1921, and “Erinnerungen und Dokumente” in 1927.

In 1928, following the passing of Grand Duke Frederick II, who had been removed from power in November 1918 when the German monarchies were abolished, Maximilian assumed leadership of the House of Zähringen and took on the historical title of Margrave of Baden. He passed away in Salem on November 6 the following year.

Here, you can find also a very rare State of Baden passport issued after WWII.