Founding of the German Empire

The founding of the German Empire (Deutsche Reichsgründung) took place in January 1871 after the joint victory of the German states in the Franco-Prussian War. As a result of the November Treaties of 1870s, the southern German states of Baden, Hesse-Darmstadt, with their territories south of the Main line, Württemberg and Bavaria, joined the Prussian-dominated "German Confederation" on 1 January 1871. On the same day, the new Constitution of the German Confederation came into force, thereby significantly extending the federal German lands to the newly created German Empire. On the date, when the Empire was founded, the 18 January became day of celebration when the Prussian King Wilhelm I was proclaimed German Emperor in Versailles.

Historically, it was referred to as the "Second German Empire" after the Holy Roman Empire.

The founding of the German Empire was not a single act which could be clearly distinguished from others. There are several definitions in literature which can be divided into four periods. However, authors are not always consistent with their distinctions. It also originated from the specific theme or structure of publication. It is not, in itself, a contradiction, on the one hand, to speak of a chronologically very limited foundation of the German Empire in 1871. On the other hand, often a "Reichgründungsepoche", or "Age of the German Founding" is spoken of, which can often be classified with the German revolutions of 1848 and 1849.

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