Deutsche Bank AG
Taunusanlage 12, D-60325
Frankfurt am Main
Federal Republic of Germany



Jeffrey A. Ruiz
Vice President
Telephone: (212) 250-3667


                                       February 4, 2005



Securities and Exchange Commission
SEC Document Control
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC  20549
Attn:  Filing Desk


Dear Sir or Madame:

         Re:  Filing of Schedule 13G - Equity Residential

Pursuant to Rule 13d-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, attached is one
copy of Schedule 13G with respect to the common stock of the above referenced
corporation.

Please acknowledge your receipt of the Schedule 13G by return e-mail
confirmation.

                                       Sincerely,



                                       Jeffrey A. Ruiz








Enclosures




                                UNITED STATES
                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13G

                                (Amendment No. )

                   Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                              Equity Residential
                    ---------------------------------------
                               NAME OF ISSUER:


                        Common Stock ($0.001 Par Value)
                    ---------------------------------------
                        TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES

                                  29476L107
                    ---------------------------------------
                                 CUSIP NUMBER


                               December 31, 2004
                    ---------------------------------------
              (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)


    Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this
    Schedule is filed:

                              [X] Rule 13d-1(b)

                              [ ] Rule 13d-1(c)

                              [ ] Rule 13d-1(d)





1.  NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
    S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS

         Deutsche Bank AG*

2.  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

         (A) [ ]  (B) [ ]

3.  SEC USE ONLY

4.  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

    Federal Republic of Germany

NUMBER OF         5.  SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES                14,469,925
BENEFICIALLY      6.  SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED BY
EACH              7.  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING             14,469,925
PERSON WITH       8.  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

9.  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

         14,469,925

10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW 9 EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES 
       [ ]

11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

         5.12%

12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

         HC, CO,

     * In accordance with Securities Exchange Act Release No. 39538 (January 12,
     1998),  this amended filing reflects the securities  beneficially  owned by
     the  Private  Clients  and Asset  Management  business  group  ("PCAM")  of
     Deutsche  Bank  AG  and  its  subsidiaries  and  affiliates  (collectively,
     "DBAG").  This  filing does not reflect  securities,  if any,  beneficially
     owned by any other business group of DBAG. Consistent with Rule 13d-4 under
     the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934  ("Act"),  this filing  shall not be
     construed as an admission that PCAM is, for purposes of Section 13(d) under
     the Act, the beneficial owner of any securities covered by the filing.


1.  NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
    S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS

         RREEF America, L.L.C.

2.  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

         (A) [ ] (B) [ ]

3.  SEC USE ONLY

4.  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

    Delaware

NUMBER OF         5.  SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES                14,017,125
BENEFICIALLY      6.  SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED BY
EACH              7.  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING             14,017,125
PERSON WITH       8.  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

         14,017,125

10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW 9 EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES 
       [ ]

11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

         4.96%

12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

         IA, CO,


1.  NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

    S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS

         Deutsche Asset Management Investment

2.  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

         (A) [ ]  (B) [ ]

3.  SEC USE ONLY

4.  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

    Delaware

NUMBER OF         5.  SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES                17,900
BENEFICIALLY      6.  SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED BY
EACH              7.  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING             17,900
PERSON WITH       8.  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

         17,900

10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW 9 EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES 
       [ ]

11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

         0.01%

12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

         IA, CO,



1.  NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
    S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS

         Deutsche Investment Management Americas

2.  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

         (A) [ ]  (B) [ ]

3.  SEC USE ONLY

4.  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

    Delaware

NUMBER OF         5.  SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES                434,900
BENEFICIALLY      6.  SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED BY
EACH              7.  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING             434,900
PERSON WITH       8.  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

9.  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

         434,900

10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW 9 EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES 
       [ ]

11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

         0.15%

12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

         IA, CO,



Item 1(a).  Name of Issuer:

            Equity Residential

Item 1(b).  Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:

            Two North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, IL 60606

Item 2(a).  Name of Person Filing:

            This statement is filed on behalf of Deutsche Bank AG,
            ("Reporting Person").

Item 2(b).  Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence:

            The principal place of business of the Reporting Person is:

                 Taunusanlage 12, D-60325
                 Frankfurt am Main
                 Federal Republic of Germany

Item 2(c).  Citizenship:

            The citizenship of the Reporting Person is set forth on the
            cover page.

Item 2(d).  Title of Class of Securities:

            The title of the securities is common stock, $0.001 par value
            ("Common Stock").

Item 2(e).  CUSIP Number:

            The CUSIP number of the Common Stock is set forth on the cover page.

Item 3.     If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b) 
            or (c), check whether the person filing is a:

            (a)  [ ]  Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act;

            (b)  [ ]  Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act;

            (c)  [ ]  Insurance Company as defined in section 3(a)(19)
                      of the Act;

            (d)  [ ]  Investment Company registered under section 8
                      of the Investment Company Act of 1940;

            (e)  [X]  An investment adviser in accordance with Rule
                      13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);

                      RREEF America, L.L.C

                      Deutsche Asset Management Inc.

                      Deutsche Investment Management Americas

            (f)  [ ]  An employee benefit plan, or endowment fund in
                      accordance with Rule 13d-1 (b)(1)(ii)(F);

            (g)  [X]  Parent holding company or control person in
                      accordance with Rule 13d-1 (b)(1)(ii)(G);

                      Deutsche Bank AG

            (h)  [ ]  A savings association as defined in section
                      3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act;

            (i)  [ ]  A church plan that is excluded from the
                      definition of an investment company under section
                      3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940;

            (j)  [ ]  Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1 (b)(1)(ii)(J).

Item 4.     Ownership.

            (a)  Amount beneficially owned:

                 The Reporting Person owns the amount of the Common Stock as
                 set forth on the cover page.

            (b)  Percent of class:

                 The Reporting Person owns the percentage of the Common Stock
                 as set forth on the cover page.

            (c)  Number of shares as to which such person has:

                 (i)  sole power to vote or to direct the vote:

                      The Reporting Person has the sole power to vote or
                      direct the vote of the Common Stock as set forth on
                      the cover page.

                 (ii) shared power to vote or to direct the vote:

                      The Reporting Person has the shared power to vote or
                      direct the vote of the Common Stock as set forth on
                      the cover page.

                 (iii)sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:

                      The Reporting Person has the sole power to dispose or
                      direct the disposition of the Common Stock as set
                      forth on the cover page.

                 (iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:

                      The Reporting Person has the shared power to dispose
                      or direct the disposition of the Common Stock as set
                      forth on the cover page.

Item 5.     Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

            Not applicable.

Item 6.     Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

            Not applicable.

Item 7.     Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired 
            the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company.

                     Subsidiary                      Item 3 Classification
            ------------------------------       ------------------------------

            RREEF America, L.L.C.                     Investment Advisor

            Deutsche Asset Management Inc.            Investment Advisor

            Deutsche Investment Management Americas   Investment Advisor

Item 8.     Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

            Not applicable.

Item 9.     Notice of Dissolution of Group.

            Not applicable.

Item 10.    Certification.

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the
securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course
of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with
the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the
securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a
participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.




                                  SIGNATURE

                  After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete and correct.

Dated: 2/04/05

                                       DEUTSCHE BANK AG


                                       By: /s/ Jeffrey A. Ruiz
                                       Name: Jeffrey A. Ruiz
                                       Title: Vice President

                                       By: /s/ Pasquale Antolino
                                       Name: Pasquale Antolino
                                       Title: Associate





                                  SIGNATURE

                  After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete and correct.

Dated: 2/04/05


                                       RREEF America, L.L.C.

                                       By: /s/ Mark Zeisloft
                                       Name: Mark Zeisloft
                                       Title: Vice President





                                  SIGNATURE

                  After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete and correct.

Dated: 2/04/05


                                       Deutsche Asset Management Inc.


                                       By: /s/ Jeffrey A. Ruiz
                                       Name: Jeffrey A. Ruiz
                                       Title: Vice President






                                  SIGNATURE

                  After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete and correct.

Dated: 2/04/05


                                       Deutsche Investment Management Americas


                                       By: /s/ Jeffrey A. Ruiz
                                       Name: Jeffrey A. Ruiz
                                       Title: Vice President