German Empire

German Empire was an empire in Central Europe (Europe) that lasted from 1871 to 1918 CE, about 47 years. Its people spoke Germanic languages (Gothic, Frankish, English, German, Dutch, Norse).

Proclaimed at Versailles in 1871 under the Prussian king, it became Europe's leading industrial power and gained colonies in Africa and the Pacific. Defeat in 1918 ended the monarchy.

See German Empire on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

1871 to 1918 CE

Duration

47 years

Type

Empire

Region

Central Europe, Europe

Language family

Germanic

Capital

Berlin

Came from

• Kingdom of Prussia 1701 to 1918 CE

Became

• Weimar Republic 1918 to 1933 CE

Events in Europe during its time

• 1871 Unification of Germany
• 1914 First World War begins
• 1917 Russian Revolution

Neighbours in Europe

• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE
• Portuguese Empire 1415 to 1999 CE
• United Kingdom 1801 CE to the present
• Russian Empire 1721 to 1917 CE
• Kingdom of Portugal 1139 to 1910 CE
• Kingdom of Bohemia 1198 to 1918 CE
• Kingdom of Sweden 1721 CE to the present
• Kingdom of Prussia 1701 to 1918 CE
• Kingdom of the Netherlands 1815 CE to the present
• Kingdom of Spain (1814 to 1931) 1814 to 1931 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Ethiopian Empire (Solomonic dynasty) 1270 to 1974 CE, North and West Africa
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Middle East
• Kingdom of Kongo c. 1390 to 1914 CE, Central and Southern Africa
• Qing dynasty 1636 to 1912 CE, East Asia
• United States 1776 CE to the present, North America
• Haiti 1804 CE to the present, Mesoamerica and Caribbean
• Dutch East Indies 1800 to 1949 CE, Southeast Asia
• Commonwealth of Australia 1901 CE to the present, Oceania
• British Raj 1858 to 1947 CE, South Asia
• Zulu Kingdom 1816 to 1897 CE, Central and Southern Africa

Questions