German Empire Deutsches Reich | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The German Empire and its puppet states in 1923
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Capital | Frankfurt (1849-1919) Berlin (1919-1943) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Languages | German (official) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Religion | Majority Protestants (56%)
Minorities Roman Catholic(34%) Jewish(1%) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Government | Federal parliamentary semi-constitutional monarchy(1849-1923) Federal parliamentary semi-absolute monarchy (1923-1943) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Emperor | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- | 1849-1861 | Friedrich Wilhelm IV | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- | 1861–1888 | Wilhelm I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- | 1888-1900 | Frederick III | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- | 1900-1941 | Wilhelm II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- | 1941-1943 | Wilhelm III | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chancellor | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- | 1848–1856; 1864-1898 (first) |
Otto von Bismarck | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- | 1928–1941 (last) | Franz von Papen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
History | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- | Unification | 2 April 1849 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- | Constitution | 4 April 1849 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- | Annexation of Austria | 22 July 1868 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- | Berlin Conference | 15 November 1884 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- | WWI began | 17 June 1903 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- | WWII began | 1 August 1938 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- | German Civil War | 9 October 1940 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- | Exile of the Royal Family | 12 November 1942 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- | Collapse of Germany | 21 May 1943 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The German Empire (German: Deutsches Kaiserreich), also referred to as Imperial Germany, the Second Reich, as well as simply Germany, was the period of the German Reich from the creation of Germany in 1849, until the Second World War, when the Royal Family left the mainland, and the empire was dissolved into seven puppet states.
The German Empire was established on 2 April 1849, when the Frederick William IV accepted the request to become emperor of Germany. The new constitution was then accepted on 4 April, and the German Empire was proclaimed. Introducing the title of German Emperor for Frederick William IV. Frankfurt became its capital, and Otto von Bismarck became Chancellor. The empire consisted of 25 states, each with its own nobility, four constituent kingdoms, six grand duchies, five duchies, seven principalities, three free Hanseatic cities, and one imperial territory.
After 1850, Germany rapidly became industrialized, with particular strengths in coal, iron, chemicals, and railways. By 1900, Germany had a population of 56 million people, it was the largest economy in continental Europe and the third-largest in the world. Germany also built the longest railway network of Europe, the world's strongest army, and a fast-growing industrial base.
From 1849 to 1898, Otto von Bismarck's tenure as the first and longest-serving Chancellor was marked by relative liberalism at its start, but in time grew more conservative. Broad reforms, the anti-Catholic Kulturkampf, and systematic repression of Polish people marked his period in office. Despite his hatred of liberalism and socialism, Bismarck introduced social programs such as old-age pensions, accident insurance, medical care, and unemployment insurance, all aspects of the modern European welfare state.
Late in Bismarck's chancellorship, Germany became involved in colonialism, building the third-largest colonial empire at the time, after the British and French ones. As a colonial state, it sometimes clashed with the interests of other European powers, especially the British Empire.
After the death of Otto von Bismarck in 1898, Germany's empire transitioned to Weltpolitik, contributing to World War I. Bismarck's successors struggled to maintain complex alliances, leading to increased Polish oppression and unpredictable Emperor's decisions. In 1879, Germany consolidated the Dual Alliance with Russia, the Ottoman–German Alliance with the Ottoman Empire, and the German-Croat Alliance.
During World War I., Germany's efforts shifted to the Western Front after capturing Hungary in Winter 1903. However, Imperial Germany had success on the Northern Front. Russia allied with Germany to prevent the spread of Western Powers, leading to most military spending on the Western Front. The USA and Mexico allied with Russia, would join the war on the Quadruple Powers' side in 1904, and 1905 respectively. By Summer 1908, the Franco-British armies retreating, Greece and the Netherlands had collapsed, and Denmark, and Belgium had surrenderd. The Entente collapsed in September 1908, leading to the French Civil War. The economic devastation, exacerbated by the Great Depression, and the humiliation experienced by the French and Italian populations are considered leading factors in the rise of François de La Rocque and Fascism.
Proclamation and Schleswig War[]
By late 1848, the Prussian aristocrats and generals had regained power in Berlin. They had not been defeated permanently during the incidents of March, but had only retreated temporarily. On April 2, 1849, a delegation of the National Assembly met with King Frederick William IV in Berlin and offered him the crown of the Emperor under this new constitution.
Frederick William told the delegation that he felt honored but could only accept the crown with the consent of his peers, the other sovereign monarchs and free cities. Two days later on April 4, a new Constitution, would be signed, officially unifying all German States, and Frederick William, became the Emperor of the newly formed German Empire. Otto Von Bismarck, would become the first Chancellor.
Schleswig War[]

Austrian Soldiers crossing into Breslau, June 1849
At the time however, the First Schleswig War was ongoing, between Denmark and the German Confederation, due to the ongoing dispute between the two former mentioned sides. When the German Empire was founded, the war still continued, causing panic among many Major Powers, fearing that a unified Germany would disrupt the "Balance or Power", set by the "Congress of Vienna". On 21 April, the Russian Tsardom and the Austrian Empire, declared war on Germany and plead their support for Denmark. Three days later, on the 24 April, four Russian Armies led by Nikolai Borozdin and Leonty Depreradovich began an invasion, meanwhile two Austrian Armies led by Franz von John crossed into the German border, officially declaring war on Germany. Later, on June 21, the Netherlands would join as well against the Germans.
April-June 1849[]
On the first three months, there were no major changes, although the Austrians did try to capture Breslau, on the "Battle of Breslau", which would last from (29 April-1 May), but it would be a German victory, meanwhile the Russians tried to reach the Oder River by August, but they would be stopped on the "Battle of Köslin" (23 May-16 June), "Battle of Posen" (4 May-9 May) and the "Battle of Danzig" (30 April-15 May). The Austro-Russian armies, however would have a victory, on the "Battle of Kattowitz" (29 May-4 June).
June-November 1849[]
By June, the Russians and Austrians, had had no successes, mostly due to the poor handling of equipment, poor decisions and the current ongoing revolutions in Austria. In late June, Russo-Danish soldiers crossed into Schleswig, to try to capture, known as the "June Offensive", however, they would be stopped at right outside of Flensburg, during which they would be sieged, by the Germans. After a month-long siege, the city would fall, and the Germans would capture the Russian and Danish soldiers. In early July, four Austrian armies, would be sent to capture Dresden and Gorlitz, but due to miscommunication, and not enough ammunition, the German armies, were able to defeat the Austrian armies, by early August. On August 21, the Netherlands would join the war against Germany, trying to reclaim Luxembourg and Limburg, and in the beginning, the Dutch, showed huge success, but by mid-August, German soldiers would be sent to fight the west, and would quickly outnumber the Dutch, whom by the end of the war, would have lost Amsterdam, the Hague and Rotterdam. Eventually, by October, the Danish couldn't stop the Germans, and after the capture of Copenhagen, they would surrender. On November 13, three Russian armies, would be sent to attack and capture Danzig, but they would be held outside of the city, for more than 2 weeks, eventually, the Russian armies would be too depleted, and would be forced to surrender.
Austrian Annexation[]
Colonial Ambitions[]
World War One[]
The Roaring 20's and Great Depression[]
World War Two and Dissolution[]
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