The German Empire It begins on January 18, 1871. The German monarchs gathered in Versailles recognized William I as Emperor of Germany. The new empire (Deustches-Reich also called Kaiserlich Deutsches Reich or simplyKaiserreich ), was formed by a Federal State of 28 states. During the 47 years of formation of the German Empire, it emerged as one of the most powerful industrial economies on the planet and a great power. The most important border states of the German Empire were the Russian Empire to the east, France to the west, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire to the south.
State powers of the German Empire
The constitution of the new Empire centralized the government in two powers:
The Executive Branch
Exercised by the Emperor, he was assisted by a Chancellor, Head of the Ministerial Cabinet, and supreme authority in the federal administration.
The Legislative Branch
Formed by a Federal Council was made up of delegates from the states, and the Reichstag, made up of deputies elected by the German people at the rate of one for every 100,000 inhabitants. The city of Berlin was declared the capital of the Empire.
William I, Emperor of the German Empire
Wilhelm I of Prussia, who was proclaimed Emperor (Kaiser) of Germany, ruled from 1871 to 1888. During this period, the direction of politics was entirely in the hands of Chancellor Bismarck, an energetic and authoritarian man who harshly combated the Catholics, such as , also to the opponents of his policy.
The fight waged against the Catholics, called Kulturkampf, which means Fight for culture or Fight for civilization , was revealed through persecution and expulsion from Catholic societies, as well as prohibitions that members of congregations of this same religious creed have access to teaching functions, etc. Nevertheless. Despite such measures, Bismarck failed to break the unity and power, as well as the prestige of Catholicism in Germany.
In foreign policy, Bismarck formed the Triple Alliance made up of Germany, Austria and Italy. On the other hand, he furthered his colonizing policy by establishing possessions in Africa and Oceania.
William II (1859—1941)
Guillermo I, who died in 1888, was succeeded by his son Federico III, who reigned for only a few months. Then the crown of the Empire fell to his son, William II, an autocratic and despotic monarch who, after violently dismissing Chancellor Bismarck, centralized all power in his hands and ruled, thus, in an absolutist manner.
Kaiser Wilhelm II, eager to make Germany one of the largest and most powerful nations in the world, was concerned with promoting the development of its navy, industry and trade, as well as colonial expansion. On the other hand, driven by an imperialist desire and also in search of vital space for his people, he made alliances with other European powers, while putting Germany on a war footing, a nation that once had the best army in the world. It was in this climate of belligerence that the First World War (1914-1918) broke out, an event that led to the defeat of Germany, the abdication of William II and the abolition of the monarchy.
The sovereigns of Prussia in the German Empire
Founded by the Prussian government and for its benefit, the German empire derived from this Prussian origin its special character; it was a military monarchy, in which the emperor, head of the army, remained the owner of power and sovereign by divine right.
From 1871 until the 1918 revolution, Germany had three emperors:Wilhelm I, Frederick III and Wilhelm II under the reign of the old Emperor Wilhelm I which lasted until 1888, power was in the hands of Chancellor Bismarck. Federico III, son of Guillermo I. dying at the advent of him, reigned 3 months (March-June 1888). His son Wilhelm II, twenty-nine years old. In 1890, after two years of conflict, he forced Bismarck to resign from him.
The Catholic position, The Kulturkampf
Bismarck was as Chancellor of the German Empire following the violent way that he had employed as a Prussian minister. He brutally combated all oppositions.
Bismarck detested the Catholics whom he reproached for always siding with Austria against Prussia: Catholicism and the enemy of Prussia, he said, are synonymous terms and he took advantage of the opportunity presented to him to combat them:a part of the German Catholics rejected the dogma of pontifical infallibility, proclaimed by the Council of 1879, for which they were attacked by other Catholics. They asked the imperial government for help and it was given. First, he forbade access to teaching functions to any member of a congregation; the Jesuits and several other orders were expelled (1872). The Pope having protested, the German embassy to the Vatican was abolished.
This and other violence did not produce any results. The Catholics organized themselves into a political party, remarkably disciplined, and whose rapid progress disconcerted their opponents. From the Kulturkampf fight for civilization , as the anti-Catholic struggle was called, nothing important remained, except for the strength acquired by the Catholic party which, since then, and thanks to its discipline, has not ceased to be in Germany, which is mostly Protestant, the preponderant element”.