German Army (German Empire)

German Army Deutsches Heer
Kaiserstandarte
Active	1871–1919
Country	Germany
Type	Army/Air Force
Role	Protecting the German Empire and its interests by using ground and air forces.
Size	500,000 (1871) 13,500,000 (World War I)
Motto(s)	"Gott mit uns"
Colors	Black, white, and red
Engagements	Franco-Prussian War Samoan Civil War Abushiri Revolt Second Samoan Civil War Boxer Rebellion Adamawa Campaign Herero Wars Maji Maji Rebellion Sokehs Rebellion World War I Finnish Civil War German Revolution

The Imperial German Army (German: Deutsches Heer) was the name given to the combined land and air forces of the German Empire (excluding the Marine-Fliegerabteilung maritime aviation formations of the Kaiserliche Marine). The term Deutsches Heer is also used for the modern German Army, the land component of the Bundeswehr. The German Army was formed after the unification of Germany under Prussian leadership in 1871 and dissolved in 1919, after the defeat of the German Empire in World War I.

The states that made up the German Empire contributed their armies; within the German Confederation, formed after the Napoleonic Wars, each state was responsible for maintaining certain units to be put at the disposal of the Confederation in case of conflict. When operating together, the units were known as the Federal Army (Bundesheer). The Federal Army system functioned during various conflicts of the 19th century, such as the First Schleswig War from 1848–50 but by the time of the Second Schleswig War of 1864, tension had grown between the main powers of the confederation, the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia and the German Confederation was dissolved after the Austro-Prussian War of 1866.

Prussia formed the North German Confederation and the treaty provided for the maintenance of a Federal Army and a Federal Navy (Bundesmarine or Bundeskriegsmarine). Further laws on military duty also used these terms. Conventions (some later amended) were entered into between the North German Confederation and its member states, subordinating their armies to the Prussian army in time of war, and giving the Prussian Army control over training, doctrine and equipment.