German Empire (Cherry, Plum, and Chrysanthemum)

The German Empire (German: Deutsches Kaiserreich) or offically known as the German Realm (German: Deutsches Reich) was a designation for Germany from the German unification 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 the Emperor, Wilhelm II. The German Empire consisted of 27 constituent territories (most of them ruled by royal families).