German Empire

*German Empire may also refer to Holy Roman Empire.*

**German Empire** refers to the following united German nation states:

## Second German Empire

Flag

Coat of arms (1889–1918)

### Head of State

**Emperor:** • Wilhelm I (1871–1888)• Friedrich III (1888)• Wilhelm II (1888–1918)**Chancellor:**

• Otto von Bismarck(1871–1890)• Max von Baden (1918)

### Population

• 41,058,792 (1871)• 56,367,178 (1900)• 64,925,993 (1910)

### Currency

Vereinsthaler, South German gulden, Bremen thaler, Hamburg mark, French franc (1871-1873)German gold mark

(1873–1914)German Papiermark

(1914–1918)

### Preceded by

Kingdom of BavariaKingdom of Württemberg

Grand duchy of Baden

North German Confederation

• Kingdom of Prussia• Kingdom of Saxony• Grand duchy of Hesse• Grand duchy of Oldenburg• Grand duchy of Mecklenburg• Grand duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz• Duchy of Brunswick• Duchy of Anhalt• Principality of Waldeck• Principality of Lippe• Principality of Schaumburg-Lippe• Bremen• Hamburg• Lübeck• Thuringian States

### Succeeded by

 Weimar Republic

The **German Empire** (*German: **Deutsches Reich** or **Deutsches Kaiserreich***) also referred to as the **Second German Empire** or **Imperial Germany**, was the first united German nation state that existed from unification in 1871 until the end of the first World War in 1918.

It was founded on 1 January 1871 when the south German states, except for Austria, joined the North German Confederation and the new constitution came into force, changing the name, and establishing a more centralized government, which introduced the title of German Emperor for Wilhelm I, King of Prussia from the House of Hohenzollern. Berlin remained its capital, and Bismarck, Minister-President of Prussia became Chancellor, the head of government. As these events occurred, the Prussian-led North German Confederation and its southern German allies were still engaged in the Franco-Prussian War.

### Politics

The second German Constitution, adopted by the parliament on 14 April 1871 and proclaimed by the Emperor on 16 April, was substantially based upon Bismarck's North German Constitution. The political system remained the same. The empire had a parliament called the *Reichstag*, which was elected by male citizen.

Legislation also required the consent of the *Bundesrat*, the federal council of deputies from all 27 states.

Executive power was held by the emperor, who was assisted by the Chancellor. The emperor was given extensive powers by the constitution, he alone, for example, appointed and dismissed the chancellor (in practice letting the emperor rule the country through a puppet), he also acted as the supreme commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and could also disband the Reichstag to call for new elections. The *Reichstag* had the power to pass, amend, or reject bills and to initiate legislation. However, as mentioned above, in practice the real power was vested in the emperor, who exercised it through his chancellor.

#### Subdivisions

The German Empire consisted of 26 states, most of them ruled by royal families.

Which included four kingdoms, six grand duchies, five duchies (six before 1876), seven principalities, three free Hanseatic cities, and one imperial territory. Although Prussia was one of several kingdoms in the realm,

it contained about two thirds of **Germany's** population and territory. Prussian dominance had also been established constitutionally.

#### Democracy

The second German Empire was a parliamentary semi-constitutional monarchy, meaning that the empire had an elected parliament, the Reichstag. Every male citizen who was at least 25 years of age was allowed to vote in parliamentary elections, which took place every 5 years. The first ever parliamentary election in 1871, had over 15 parties taking part in the election, the party with the most votes ended up being the National Liberal Party *(German: Nationalliberale Partei)* with about 1,171,000 votes or 30.1%.

### Wars

* The first war the **German Empire** was ever engaged in was the Franco-Prussian War, since Germany united during the war, it automatically participated. The war resulted in a German victory and lead to the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine *(German: Elsaß-Lothringen)*, which was granted the special status of "Imperial territory" instead of becoming a state.
* The **Second German Empire** was most notably involved in the first World War, which it lost. This defeat then lead to the abolition of the monarchy, as the emperor was sent into exile in the Netherlands. As well as the loss of all German colonies, significant chunks of land, and the creation of the Weimar Republic, which meant the end for the government of the first united German State.