Empress of Germany

German Empire
Deutsches Reich
1871–1918
Flag Coat of arms
Motto Gott mit uns "God is with us"
Anthem Heil dir im Siegerkranz (official, imperial) "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 (Prussia 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, Prussian United) Minorities:  35.8% Roman Catholic, 1.1% Jewish
Government		Federal constitutional monarchy (until October 1918) Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy (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/First World War
•	Unification	18 January 1871
•	Constitution adopted	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
•	1910	540,857.54 km2 (208,826.26 sq mi)
Population
•	1871 est.	40,050,792
•	1910 est.	64,925,993
Density		120/km2 (311/sq mi)
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  Netherlands  Czech Republic
Area and population not including colonial possessions Area source: Population source:

The German Empire (German: Deutsches Kaiserreich, officially Deutsches Reich) 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 Wilhelm I, King of Prussia from the Hohenzollern dynasty was proclaimed the German Emperor in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles. Berlin became its capital with the Berlin Palace as the Emperor's official residence. Its constitution then entered into force, and Otto von Bismarck became the first Chancellor. As these events occurred, the Prussian-led North German Confederation and its southern German allies were still engaged in the Franco-Prussian War. The state was founded with the notable exclusion of Austria and, as such, represented the so-called Lesser German solution (Kleindeutsche Lösung).

The German Empire consisted of 26 constituent territories, most of them ruled by royal 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 became one of several kingdoms in the new realm, it contained most of Germany's population and territory, thus remaining a powerhouse with the major say in imperial affairs. Its influence also helped define modern German culture.