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What was the first and second Reich?

Updated: 8/22/2023
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βˆ™ 13y ago

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The First Reich was the Holy Roman Empire. Various dates are given for its foundation. The date preferred by most German historians is the coronation of Otto I in 962. In a rather shadowy form this empire remained in existence till 1806. It was often said that it was 'neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire'.

The Second Reich was the united Germany created by Bismarck and Prussia in 1871. This lasted up until the end of the First World War and the fall of the last German Kaiser, hence Hitlers idea for a 1000-year 'Third Reich'.

AnswerI believe that the first Reich refers to the establishment of the Holy Roman Empire in the 9th century was Charles the Great. The Second Reich was the unification of Germany under the Prussian Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1870. Of course, we all know what the Third Reich was. AnswerThe First Reich was the Holy Roman Empire. There is little agreement as to when it was founded. Most German historians date the foundation from the coronation of Otto I in 962. That 'empire' had a continuous existence till 1806. The Second Reich was created by Bismarck in 1871 and lasted till 1918.
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βˆ™ 12y ago
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βˆ™ 16y ago

First of all, this terminology was made up by the Nazis of the so-called "Third Reich" and it is not an official historical term. According to history there was only one Reich, the Germany from 1871-1945. This is due to its geographical expanse in that time allowing to use "Reich" (empire). The first two Reichs existed for much longer then the third, "12-year-Reich". The first Reich was the "Holy Roman Empire" which was seen as a successor of the Roman Empire but was mainly, beside Italy, situated in what is now Germany. This empire existed from around 962 AD to 1806 AD. After the Reformation and the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) the power of the Emperor was greatly reduced. The Second Reich (1871-1918) was the unification of about 39 miainly small German states in 1871 after the Franco-Prussian War. They were united under the Prussian King who then became Kaiser of the new Reich. It existed until the end of the 1st World War when the Republic was proclaimed, and about 15% of its territory was lost. Latest in 1949 the term "Reich" was deleted from official documents and therefore it doesn't exist in Germany as an official term any more. (The German Parliament uses the historic name "Reichstag" for the building only, not the Parliament itself).

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βˆ™ 13y ago

First = Holy Roman Empire (in its second, German incarnation), 962-1806

Second = German Empire, 1871-1918

Third - Nazi Germany, 1933-1945

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Q: What was the first and second Reich?
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