What did the Third Reich stand for?
The Third Reich, meaning "Third Realm" or "Third Empire", alluded to the Nazi claim that Nazi Germany was the successor to the earlier Holy Roman Empire (800–1806) and German Empire (1871–1918). The Third Reich, which Hitler and the Nazis referred to as the Thousand Year Reich , [l] ended in May 1945 after just 12 years, when the Allies ...
What are the chances of a Fourth Reich?
The chances of a Fourth Reich manifesting with so many high-profile Nazis in hiding were minimal, and the Germans, meticulous and diligent as ever, knew that fact. Sacrifices had to be made. Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz (image right) , Second Führer of Nazi Germany , and his government had been legitimized by various countries around the world when Hitler’s death and Dönitz’s promotion were known.
What was the Third Reich based on?
“If ever a state merited being called totalitarian, then it was the Third Reich," concludes Evans. He writes on their attempts to form a 'people's community' based on the barbarity of 1930s race science and its relentless drive to a continental war. He writes, however, that many of the Nazis' beliefs - on an "Aryan" race and the glamorization
What does the Third Reich refer to?
In Germany, Third Reich ( Drittes Reich) means the third empire or the third realm. The Nazi government was basically the third in a row. The first Reich was the medieval Holy Roman Empire, which existed between 806 and 1806. The Second Reich was composed of the German Empire and its regime which lasted between 1871 and 1918.
What was the 2nd Reich of Germany?
German Empire, also called Second Reich, historical empire founded on January 18, 1871, in the wake of three short, successful wars by the North German state of Prussia. Within a seven-year span, Denmark, the Habsburg monarchy, and France had been vanquished.
What were the first two Reich?
He defined the Holy Roman Empire (800–1806) as the "First Reich", the German Empire (1871–1918) as the "Second Reich", while the "Third Reich" was a postulated ideal state including all German people, including Austria.
What did the Second Reich do?
The defeat of France during the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) established the unified German Empire, also known as the Second Reich. It was once part of the Holy Roman Empire until its dissolution in 1806. The unification of states in Germany brought them power during the 19th century.
What empire was considered the First Reich?
The Holy Roman EmpireThe Holy Roman Empire was the first of three Reichs in German history. The second was the Hohenzollerns' formidable, Prussian- dominated empire forged by Bismarck out of victory in the Franco-Prussian War.
What are the 3 Reichs of Germany?
The history of the nation-state known as the German Reich is commonly divided into three periods: German Empire (1871–1918) Weimar Republic (1918–1933) Nazi Germany (1933–1945)
What does the word Reich mean?
empire; realmnoun. (with reference to Germany) empire; realm; nation. the German state, especially during the Nazi period.
What was Germany called before Germany?
German Empire and Weimar Republic of Germany, 1871–1945 The official name of the German state in 1871 became Deutsches Reich, linking itself to the former Reich before 1806 and the rudimentary Reich of 1848/1849.
Who led the 2nd Reich?
German EmpireGerman Empire Deutsches Reich• 1888–1918Wilhelm IIChancellor• 1871–1890Otto von Bismarck• 1890–1894Leo von Caprivi49 more rows
What was Germany once called?
GermaniaBefore it was called Germany, it was called Germania. In the years A.D. 900 – 1806, Germany was part of the Holy Roman Empire. From 1949 to 1990, Germany was made up of two countries called the Federal Republic of Germany (inf. West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (inf.
Was the Holy Roman Empire the First Reich?
Beginning in 1923, early twentieth-century German nationalists and Nazi Party propaganda would identify the Holy Roman Empire as the "First" Reich (Erstes Reich, Reich meaning empire), with the German Empire as the "Second" Reich and what would eventually become Nazi Germany as the "Third" Reich.
What countries was Prussia?
Though itself one of Germany's many states, the kingdom of Prussia was comprised of: West Prussia, East Prussia, Brandenburg (including Berlin), Saxony, Pomerania, the Rhineland, Westphalia, non-Austrian Silesia, Lusatia, Schleswig-Holstein, Hanover, and Hesse-Nassau.
Who ended the First Reich?
Austrian Habsburgs led the German Empire for its last 369 years and dissolved the Empire in 1806, after its defeat by Napoleon at the Battle of Austerlitz.
Who led the 2nd Reich?
German EmpireGerman Empire Deutsches Reich• 1888–1918Wilhelm IIChancellor• 1871–1890Otto von Bismarck• 1890–1894Leo von Caprivi49 more rows
How long did the 2nd Reich last?
The book counted the Holy Roman Empire (962–1806) as the first Reich and the German Empire (1871–1918) as the second.
When did the Second Reich end?
August 11, 1919German Empire / Date dissolved
What was the German flag before ww2?
Weimar Republic (1918–1933) To form a continuity between the anti-autocratic movement of the 19th century and the new democratic republic, the old black-red-gold tricolour was designated as the national German flag in the Weimar Constitution in 1919.
What was the Third Reich?
The Third Reich was to have been a vastly extended German Empire, expunged of minorities and lasting for a thousand years, but it was removed in 1945 by a combined force of allied nations, which included Britain, France, Russia, and the US. The Nazi state proved to be dictatorial and expansionist, with goals of ethnic 'purity' that formed a stark contrast to the first reich's broad assortment of peoples and places.
How long did the Third Reich last?
The Third Reich was to have been a vastly extended German Empire, expunged of minorities and lasting for a thousand years, but it was removed in 1945 by a combined force of allied nations, which included Britain, France, Russia, and the US.
How many reichs did Germany have?
The history of modern Germany is often summarized as being 'three reichs and three democracies.'. This is broadly correct, as modern Germany did indeed evolve out of a series of three empires—as described above—interspersed with forms of democracy; however, this does not automatically make the institutions German.
How many Reichs were there before Hitler?
This misconception stems from the use of 'Reich' as a totalitarian nightmare, and not as an empire. As you can tell, there were two reichs before Hitler made his third, ...
What was the ideal state of the 19th century?
Historians and politicians of the mid 19th century theorized an ideal state, the Machtstaat as a centralized, authoritarian and militarized power state. This was, in part, a reaction to what they considered weaknesses in the old, fragmented, empire.
What does the word Reich mean?
Robert Wilde. Updated October 19, 2019. The German word 'reich' means 'empire ,' although it can also be translated as "government.". In 1930s Germany, the Nazi party identified their rule as a Third Reich and, in doing so, gave English speakers around the world a wholly negative connotation to the word. Some people are surprised to find that the ...
What is the meaning of the three Reichs?
Indeed, the phrase 'three reichs' refers to something more than simply three empires. Specifically, it refers to the concept of 'three empires of German history. '. This might not seem a great distinction, but it's a vital one when it comes to our understanding of modern Germany and what happened before and as that nation evolved.
What is the second Reich?
The second Reich is Deutsches Kaiserreich. The German Nation-state which is founded in 1871. It became strong in a very little time and it showed us what an unified Germany can do, and the mistake of Holy Roman Shit, which disintegrated slowly since its foundation. but sadly, The German Empire collapsed after WW1.
Who was the first emperor of the Second Reich?
It was founded when most German states were united by Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismark, forming the German Empire with Wilhelm I of Prussia as its first emperor.
How long did the First Reich last?
They go back into the history of Germany. Basically, the First Reich was the Holy Roman Empire, that lasted throughout the year 962 to 1806. The Second was at the unification of the german states, lasting through 1871 to 1919, at the end of the First World War. 2.5K views.
What is the first rool?
The First Reich is another name for the Holy Roman Empire. The Holy Roman Empire was a state that existed from 800–1806. The French philosopher Voltaire famously remarked that the Holy Roman Empire was neither holy, nor Roman, nor an Empire. In truth, the HRE was mainly composed of German states and was less of an empire and more of a decentralized, loose confederation of kingdoms, principalities, duchies, counties, prince-bishoprics, Free Imperial Cities, and other domains. At its peak, its territory included Germany, North Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, Burgundy, Bohemia, and various other territories. The HRE was initiated in 800 when Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne as Emperor of the Romans, more than three centuries after the Fall of Western Rome. After Charlemagne’s death, infighting between his heirs caused the empire to break apart. However, it was revived again in 962 when Otto I conquered the breakaway states of the HRE and was crowned emperor, declaring himself as Charlemagne's heir and beginning the continuous existence of the HRE for around 10 centuries. The HRE was an elective monarchy, meaning that its emperor was selected by special electors, which were usually the leaders of the strongest states in the HRE. The empire was dissolved on 6 August 1806, when Francis II abdicated, following a military defeat by the French under Napoleon at the Battle of Austerlitz, thus ending the 1006-year-old Empire.
How long did Hitler hope to resist?
Most likely Hitler looked at numbers like the ones above and hoped the Empire he was trying to make was going to resist at least 1000 years. Personally, I believe Hit
What was the Holy Roman Empire?
Continue Reading. The First Reich is another name for the Holy Roman Empire. The Holy Roman Empire was a state that existed from 800–1806. The French philosopher Voltaire famously remarked that the Holy Roman Empire was neither ...
Where were the boarders in the Holy Roman Empire?
As you can see, it had boarders in present day Northern Italy, and Southern France, even extending as far south as Rome, all of which were part of the old Roman Empire, so this is probably the reason for the Roman part in its name.
What was the second Reich?
The Second Reich was the Hohenzollern Germany , and it was the period after the unification of Germany following the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871). This period ended with the German defeat in the First World War and the abdication of Wilhelm II in 1919.
What was the first Reich?
The First Reich was the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation (Heiliges Römisches Reich deutscher Nation) which should not be mistaken with ancient Roman Empire. On Christmas day, 800 A.D., Charlemagne (Charles the Great) was crowned emperor by Pope Leo III of a territory that covered much of central and western Europe. The strength and politics of this Empire, would continue to rise for more than a thousand years until its abolishment in 1806 by Emperor Francis II.
What was the Third Reich?
Nazi Germany, the state often referred to as the Third Reich, which lasted from the Enabling Act in 1933 until the end of World War II in Europe in 1945. It continued to use the official name, Deutsches Reich, until 1943, when it was renamed to the Großdeutsches Reich (Greater German Reich).
Where does the word Reich come from?
The German noun Reich is derived from Old High German: rīhhi, which together with its cognates in Old English: rīce, Old Norse: ríki, and Gothic: reiki is from a Common Germanic * rīkijan . The English noun is obsolete, but persists in composition, for example in bishopric .
What is the German word for the Reich?
The term Reich was part of the German names for Germany for much of its history. Reich was used by itself in the common German variant of the Holy Roman Empire, ( Heiliges Römisches Reich (HRR) ). Der rîche was a title for the Emperor. However, Latin, not German, was the formal legal language of the medieval Empire ( Imperium Romanum Sacrum ), so English-speaking historians are more likely to use Latin imperium than German Reich as a term for this period of German history. The common contemporary Latin legal term used in documents of the Holy Roman Empire was for a long time regnum ("rule, domain, empire", such as in Regnum Francorum for the Frankish Kingdom) before imperium was in fact adopted, the latter first attested in 1157, whereas the parallel use of regnum never fell out of use during the Middle Ages.
What was the German Empire?
the German Empire ( Deutsches Reich or Deutsches Kaiserreich ), which lasted from the unification of Germany in 1871 until its collapse after World War I, during the German Revolution of 1918–1919; the Weimar Republic of 1919–1933 continued to use Deutsches Reich as its official name;
What does Reich mean?
Reich ( / ˈraɪk /; German: [ˈʁaɪç] ( listen), English: Riche) is a German word analogous in meaning to the English word " realm ". The terms Kaiserreich (literally "realm of an emperor") and Königreich (literally "realm of a king") are used in German to refer to empires and kingdoms respectively. The Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary ...
What is the name of the kingdom of Charlemagne?
Frankenreich or Fränkisches Reich is the German name given to the Frankish Kingdom of Charlemagne. Frankenreich came to be used of Western Francia and medieval France after the development of Eastern Francia into the Holy Roman Empire . The German name of France, Frankreich, is a contraction of Frankenreich used in reference to the kingdom of France from the late medieval period.
How did the Nazis legitimize their power?
The Nazis sought to legitimize their power historiographically by portraying their ascendancy to rule as the direct continuation of an ancient German past. They adopted the term Drittes Reich ("Third Empire" – usually rendered in English in the partial translation "the Third Reich "), first used in a 1923 book entitled Das Dritte Reich by Arthur Moeller van den Bruck, that counted the medieval Holy Roman Empire (which nominally survived until the 19th century) as the first and the 1871–1918 monarchy as the second, which was then to be followed by a "reinvigorated" third one. This ignored the previous 1918–1933 Weimar period, which the Nazis denounced as a historical aberration, contemptuously referring to it as " the System ". In the summer of 1939 the Nazis themselves actually banned the continued use of the term in the press, ordering it to use expressions such as nationalsozialistisches Deutschland ("National Socialist Germany"), Großdeutsches Reich (" Greater German Reich "), or simply Deutsches Reich ( German Reich) to refer to the German state instead. It was Adolf Hitler's personal desire that Großdeutsches Reich and nationalsozialistischer Staat (" [the] National Socialist State") would be used in place of Drittes Reich. Reichskanzlei Berchtesgaden (" Reich Chancellery Berchtesgaden "), another nickname of the regime (named after the eponymous town located in the vicinity of Hitler's mountain residence where he spent much of his time in office) was also banned at the same time, despite the fact that a sub-section of the Chancellery was in fact installed there to serve Hitler's needs.
What was the Third Reich called?
Weimar Republic (1918–1933) Nazi Germany (1933–1945) The Nazi regime has often been called the " Third Reich ", counting the Holy Roman Empire as the first and the 1871 German Empire as the second, and ignoring the Weimar Republic; this usage was sometimes contemporaneous, but mostly retrospective and applied by non-Germans.
What happened to the Third Reich?
The declaration asserted the complete legal extinction of the Third Reich following death of Adolf Hitler on 30 April 1945, but the continued subsequent existence of a German people and a German national territory; although subject to the four signatory powers also asserting their authority to determine the future boundaries of Germany.
What is the German Empire of 1871-1918 called?
The word Kaiserreich is applied to denote an empire with an emperor; hence the German Empire of 1871–1918 is termed Deutsches Kaiserreich in standard works of reference.
What was the Allied occupation of Germany?
At the Potsdam Conference, Allied-occupied Germany was defined as comprising "Germany as a whole"; and was divided into British, French, American and Soviet occupation zones; while the Allied Powers exercised the state authority assumed by the Berlin Declaration in transferring the former eastern territories of the German Reich east of the Oder–Neisse line to the Republic of Poland and the Soviet Union .
What is the German Empire?
To refer to the entire period 1871–1945, the partially translated " German Reich " ( /- ˈraɪk /) is applied by historians in formal contexts, although in common English usage this state was and is known simply as Germany, the English term "German Empire" being reserved to denote the German state between 1871 and 1918.
When did Germany become a German empire?
However, this translation was not used throughout the full existence of the German Reich. Historically, only Germany from 1871 to 1918—when Germany was under the rule of an emperor ( Kaiser )—is known in English as the "German Empire" ( Deutsches Kaiserreich in German historiography), while the term "German Reich" describes Germany ...
What was the first attempt to establish a German Empire?
The first attempt to establish a "German Empire" during the 1848 March Revolution by the Frankfurt Constitution ultimately failed: it was aborted by the monarchs of the German Confederation, especially by the King of Prussia, fighting German nationalism, which then was tied to the idea of popular sovereignty .
The First Reich: The Holy Roman Empire
The Second Reich: The German Empire
- The dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, combined with a growing feeling of German nationalism, led to repeated attempts at unifying the multitude of German territories before a single state was created almost solely by the will of Prussian aristocrat Otto von Bismarck (1818–1898). Between 1862 and 1871, this great Prussian politician used a combi...
The Third Reich: Nazi Germany
- In 1933, President Paul von Hindenburg appointed Adolf Hitleras Chancellor of the German State, which, at that point, had been a democracy. Dictatorial powers and sweeping changes soon followed, as democracy disappeared and the country militarized. The Third Reich was to have been a vastly extended German Empire, expunged of minorities and lasting for a thousand years…
A Complication
- When using the standard definition of the term, The Holy Roman, Kaiserreich, and Nazi states were certainly reichs, and you can see how they might have been tied together in the minds of 1930s Germans: from Charlemagne to the Kaiser to Hitler. But you'd be right to also ask, how connected were they, really? Indeed, the phrase 'three reichs' refers to something more than sim…
Three Reichs of German History?
- The history of modern Germany is often summarized as being 'three reichs and three democracies.' This is broadly correct, as modern Germany did indeed evolve out of a series of three empires—as described above—interspersed with forms of democracy; however, this does not automatically make the institutions German. While 'The First Reich' is a useful name for histo…
Three Different Reichs
- The summaries given above may be very brief, but they are enough to show how these three empires were very different types of state; the temptation for historians has been to try and find some sort of linked progression from one to another. Comparisons between the Holy Roman Empire and the Kaiserreich began before this latter state was even formed. Historians and politi…
Modern Use
- An understanding of the nature and relationship of these three reichs is necessary for more than historical study. Despite a claim in the Chambers Dictionary of World History that "The term [Reich] is no longer used" (Dictionary of World History, ed. Lenman and Anderson, Chambers, 1993), politicians and others are fond of describing modern Germany, and even the European uni…
Sources and Further Reading
- Kainz, Howard P. "Political Milestones: Three Romes, Three Reichs, Three Kingdoms, and a 'Holy Roman Empire." In: Democracy and the 'Kingdom of God'." Studies in Philosophy and Religion17. Dordrech...
- Vermeil, Edmond. "Germany's Three Reichs." Trans, Dickes, W. E. London: Andrew Dakers, 1945.
- Kainz, Howard P. "Political Milestones: Three Romes, Three Reichs, Three Kingdoms, and a 'Holy Roman Empire." In: Democracy and the 'Kingdom of God'." Studies in Philosophy and Religion17. Dordrech...
- Vermeil, Edmond. "Germany's Three Reichs." Trans, Dickes, W. E. London: Andrew Dakers, 1945.
- Wilson, Peter H. "Prussia and the Holy Roman Empire 1700–40." German Historical Institute London Bulletin36.1 (2014).
Overview
Reich is a German word whose meaning is analogous to the meaning of the English word "realm". The terms Kaiserreich (literally the "realm of an emperor") and Königreich (literally the "realm of a king") are respectively used in German in reference to empires and kingdoms. The Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary indicates that in English usage, the term "the Reich" refers to "Germany during the period of Nazi control from 1933 to 1945".
Usage throughout German history
Frankenreich or Fränkisches Reich is the German name given to the Frankish Kingdom of Charlemagne. Frankenreich came to be used of Western Francia and medieval France after the development of Eastern Francia into the Holy Roman Empire. The German name of France, Frankreich, is a contraction of Frankenreich used in reference to the kingdom of France from the late medieval period.
Etymology
The German noun Reich is derived from Old High German: rīhhi, which together with its cognates in Old English: rīce, Old Norse: ríki, and Gothic: reiki is derived from a Common Germanic *rīkijan. The English noun survives only in the compounds bishopric and archbishopric.
The German adjective reich, on the other hand, has an exact cognate in English rich. Both the noun (*rīkijan) and the adjective (*rīkijaz) are derivations based on the Common Germanic *rīks "ruler, ki…
Usage in related languages
The cognate of the word Reich is used in all the Scandinavian languages with the identical meaning, i.e. "realm". It is spelled rige in Danish and older Norwegian (before the 1907 spelling reform) and rike in Swedish and modern Norwegian. The word is traditionally used for sovereign entities, generally simply means "country" or "nation" (in the sense of a sovereign state) and does not have any special or political connotations. It does not imply any particular form of governme…
See also
• Germany
• German Reich
• Imperium
• Reich (disambiguation)