The German Empire

German Empire
Deutsches Kaiserreich
1871–1918
Flag Coat of arms
Motto Gott mit uns "God with us"
Anthem Heil dir im Siegerkranz (official anthem of the Emperor) "Hail to Thee in the Victor's Crown" Deutschlandlied (unofficial, popular) "Song of the Germans" Die Wacht am Rhein (unofficial) "The Watch on the Rhine"
Germany on the eve of World War I
States of the German Empire (Kingdom of Prussia with its provinces shown in blue)
Capital		Berlin 52°31′N 13°24′E / 52.517°N 13.400°E / 52.517; 13.400Coordinates: 52°31′N 13°24′E / 52.517°N 13.400°E / 52.517; 13.400
Languages		Official: German Unofficial: Danish, French, Polish, Czech, Dutch, Sorbian, Low German, Frisian, Lithuanian
Religion		Whitaker's data for 1890 Majority: 62.8% Protestant (Lutheran, Reformed, United) Minorities: 35.8% Roman Catholic, 1.2% Jewish
Government		Federal semi-constitutional monarchy (until August 1916) Federal semi-constitutional monarchy under a military dictatorship (August 1916 to October 1918) Federal parliamentary semi-constitutional monarchy under a military dictatorship (October 1918 to November 1918)
Emperor
•	1871–1888	Wilhelm I
•	1888	Frederick III
•	1888–1918	Wilhelm II
Chancellor
•	1871–1890	Otto von Bismarck (first)
•	1918	Max von Baden (last)
Legislature		Reichstag
•	Federal Council	Bundesrat
Historical era		New Imperialism/World War I
•	Unification	1 January 1871
•	Constitution adopted	1 January 1871; 16 April 1871
•	First World War	28 July 1914
•	German Revolution	3 November 1918
•	Armistice declared	11 November 1918
•	Abdication of Wilhelm II	28 November 1918
•	Treaty of Versailles	28 June 1919
Area
•	1900	540,857.54 km2 (208,826.26 sq mi)
Population
•	1871 est.	40,050,792
•	1900 est.	52,279,915
Density		97/km2 (250/sq mi)
•	1910 est.	64,925,993
Currency		Vereinsthaler, South German gulden, Bremen thaler, Hamburg mark, French franc, (until 1873, together) German gold mark, (1873–1914) German Papiermark (1914–1918)
Preceded by Succeeded by North German Confederation Kingdom of Bavaria Kingdom of Württemberg Grand Duchy of Baden Grand Duchy of Hesse Weimar Republic Second Polish Republic Saar Basin Free City of Danzig Republic of Lithuania First Czechoslovak Republic
Today part of		Germany  Poland  France  Denmark  Russia  Belgium  Lithuania  Czech Republic  Netherlands
Area and population not including colonial possessions Area source: Population source:

The German Empire (German: Deutsches Kaiserreich, officially Deutsches Reich), also known as Imperial Germany, was the German nation state that existed from the Unification of Germany in 1871 until the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1918.

It was founded in 1871 when the south German states joined the North German Confederation. On January 1, 1871, the new constitution came into force that changed the name of the federal state and introduced the title of emperor for Wilhelm I, King of Prussia from the Hohenzollern dynasty.Berlin remained its capital. Otto von Bismarck remained Chancellor, the head of government. As these events occurred, the Prussian-led North German Confederation and its southern German allies were still engaged in the Franco-Prussian War.

The German Empire consisted of 26 states, most of them ruled by noble families. They included four kingdoms, six grand duchies, five duchies (six before 1876), seven principalities, three free Hanseatic cities, and one imperial territory. Although Prussia was one of several kingdoms in the realm, it contained about two thirds of Germany's population and territory. Prussian dominance was also established constitutionally.