The German Empire (German: Deutsches Reich[1], called by some German historians as Kaiserlich Deutsches Reich or Kaiserreich) refers to Germany from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871 to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of Wilhelm II (28 November 1918). Deutsches Reich remained the official name of Germany throughout the Weimar period and most of the Nazi period until 1943, when it was changed to Großdeutsches Reich ("Great German Empire").
Quick Facts German EmpireDeutsches Reich, Capital ...
German Empire |
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Motto: Gott mit uns "God with us" |
Anthem: (none official) "Heil dir im Siegerkranz" (Imperial) "Deutschlandlied" (popular) "Die Wacht am Rhein" (Unofficial) |
Territory of the German Empire in 1914, prior to World War I |
Capital | Berlin |
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Common languages | Official language: German Unofficial minority languages: Danish, French, Polish, Frisian, Old Prussian, Lithuanian Colonial languages: Bantu, Oshiwambo, Afrikaans, Swahili, (African Colonies) Chinese, (Tsingtao & Jiaozhou bay) Papuan languages, (German New Guinea) Samoan (German Samoa) |
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Religion | Lutherans~60% Roman Catholics~40% |
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Government | Constitutional monarchy |
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Emperor | |
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• 1871–1888 | William I |
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• 1888 | Frederick III |
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• 1888–1918 | Wilhelm II |
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Chancellor | |
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• 1871–1890 | Otto von Bismarck (first) |
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• 8–9 Nov 1918 | Friedrich Ebert (last) |
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Legislature | Reichstag |
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• State council | Reichsrat |
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Historical era | New Imperialism/WWI |
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| 18 January 1871 |
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| 9 November 1918 |
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• Formal abdication | 28 November 1918 |
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1910 | 540,857.54 km2 (208,826.26 sq mi) |
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• 1871 | 41,058,792 |
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• 1890 | 49,428,470 |
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• 1910 | 64,925,993 |
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Currency | Vereinsthaler, South German gulden, Bremen thaler, Hamburg mark, French franc (until 1873, together) Goldmark (1873–1914) Papiermark (after 1914) |
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ISO 3166 code | DE |
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Today part of | Czech Republic Denmark France Germany Lithuania Poland Russia |
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Area and population not including colonial possessions Area source: [2] Population source: [3] |
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During its 47 years of existence, the German Empire emerged as one of the most powerful industrial economies on Earth and a great power, until it collapsed following its military defeat in World War I and the concurrent November Revolution. The most important bordering states were Imperial Russia in the east, France in the west, and Austria-Hungary in the south.
The German Empire consisted of twenty-six constituent territories (if Alsace-Lorraine is included) but the Kingdom of Prussia contained most of the population and most of the territory of the Empire.