by the spring of 1918 not even a victorious peace of stupendous dimensions could restore the national unity that had launched the German war effort in August 1914. The USPD denounced Brest as a Peace of Violation (Vergewaltigungsfrieden). For the SPD, the once loyal Eduard David spoke fiercely against the short-sightedness of the Kaiser’s government. Germany had gambled away a unique opportunity to found a lasting new order in eastern Europe.
