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Again a major effort to unite the disparate German kingdoms and territories was headed by Charlemagne, who founded his vast empire in 800 AD. His successors divided the Frankish Empire later into eastern and western parts, the western part became France and the western part the first "Reich" (German for empire), with the "Kaiser?" (emperor, term is derived from Caesar?) as the head of the Holy Roman Empire, which was several hundred years later renamed to [Holy Roman Empire of German Nations]? which was disbanded in 1806 and conquered by Napoleon Bonaparte a few years later. After Napoleon's defeat, the German states (which had been relatively independent throughout the First Reich) united to form the [Deutscher Bund]? - a rather loose organisation, especially because the two great rivals, the Austro-Hungarian? empire and the Prussian kingdom didn't want to give up their power. Under the consolidating Prussian power in the 19th century, supported by growing German nationalism, inter-state fighting ended and resulted in the formation of the German empire in 1871 under the chancellorship of Otto von Bismarck. After the victory of 1871 in the [Franco-Prussian War]?, the German states formed the second Reich or the German Empire, with the Prussian king as the emperor and without Austria. Although authoritarian in many respects, the empire eventually permitted the development of political parties, and Bismarck was credited with passing the most advanced social welfare legislation of the age. This Reich flourished under Bismarck's guidance until the Kaiser's death . His son, the successor only lived 88 days . This Kaiser's successor, still too young and too different from the "old Kaiser " -- his grandfather -- forced Bismarck out of office. Apparently theBritish Empire with its naval? power, felt challenged , which eventually lead to confrontation in World War I. |
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Again a major effort to unite the disparate German kingdoms and territories was headed by Charlemagne, who founded his vast empire in 800 AD. His successors divided the Frankish Empire later into eastern and western parts, the western part became France and the western part the first "Reich" (German for empire), with the "Kaiser?" (emperor, term is derived from Caesar?) as the head of the Holy Roman Empire, which was several hundred years later renamed to [Holy Roman Empire of German Nations]? which was disbanded in 1806 and conquered by Napoleon Bonaparte a few years later. After Napoleon's defeat, the German states (which had been relatively independent throughout the First Reich) united to form the [Deutscher Bund]? - a rather loose organisation, especially because the two great rivals, the Austrian empire and the Prussian kingdom didn't want to give up their power. Under the consolidating Prussian power in the 19th century, supported by growing German nationalism, inter-state fighting ended and resulted in the formation of the German empire in 1871 under the chancellorship of Otto von Bismarck. Under Bismarck's influence, the Prussian kingdom expanded its power greatly and forced Austria to leave the Bund. After the victory of 1871 in the [Franco-Prussian War]?, the German states formed the second Reich or the German Empire, with the Prussian king as the emperor and without Austria. Although authoritarian in many respects, the empire eventually permitted the development of political parties, and Bismarck was credited with passing the most advanced social welfare legislation of the age. This Reich flourished under Bismarck's guidance until the Kaiser's death . His son, the successor only lived 88 days . This Kaiser's successor, still too young and too different from the "old Kaiser " -- his grandfather -- forced Bismarck out of office. Apparently theBritish Empire with its naval? power,felt challenged , which eventually lead to confrontation in World War I. |
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After the death of Queen Victoria, the European balance of power became shaky, and the struggling Austro-Hungarian empire declared war on Serbia after the Austro-Hungarian successor to the throne and his wife were shot in Sarajevo. Serbia was supported by Russia, which in turn was allied with France. Germany, which still had an alliance with Austria-Hungary dating back to Bismarck's sophisticated system of treaties, joined Austria-Hungary and declared war on France in what it called a strike of prevention. This was the beginning of World War I. In the course of the war, Germany and its allies slowly but steadily lost. The peace treaty was signed in Versailles, the same place where the [Second Reich]? had been founded some forty years before. The Kaiser was forced to abdicate, Germany lost some territories to France, the reinstated nation of Poland, and elsewhere. After revolts by socialists and communists (like the Spartacist? uprisings), the Weimar Republic was formed. |
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After the death of Queen Victoria, the European balance of power became shaky, and the struggling Austrian empire declared war on Serbia after the Austrian successor to the throne and his wife were shot in Sarajevo. Serbia was supported by Russia, which in turn was allied with France. Germany, which still had an alliance with Austria dating back to Bismarck's sophisticated system of treaties, joined Austria and declared war on France in what it called a strike of prevention. This was the beginning of World War I. In the course of the war, Germany and its allies slowly but steadily lost. The peace treaty was signed in Versailles, the same place where the [Second Reich]? had been founded some forty years before. The Kaiser was forced to abdicate, Germany lost some territories to France, the reinstated nation of Poland, and elsewhere. After revolts by socialists and communists (like the Spartacist? uprisings), the Weimar Republic was formed. |
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