General Political History
The First Reich: Germanic Tribes and the Holy Roman Empire
Early Germany was home to several tribes, most prominently the Franks and the Saxons. In 800 CE, the Frankish king, Charlemagne, founded the Carolingian Empire, but it was not long before it was divided. The Eastern portion of the Carolingian Empire became the Holy Roman Empire, also known as the First Reich. The Holy Roman Empire was founded by another Germanic king, Otto the Great. The Holy Roman Empire expanded and thrived until Martin Luther posted his ninety-five theses in the sixteenth century. The religious conflict led to the Thirty Years War and ultimately the division of the Holy Roman Empire. After the 1740s Germany was controlled by Prussia and the Habsburg Empire.
The Second Reich: German Confederation and German Empire |
Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Empire
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The German Confederation was formed following the end of the Napoleonic Era. In 1814, the Congress of Vienna found the German Confederation, which was a loose confederation of thirty-nine states. Political disputes between the states did not allow the government to be stable for long, and Prussia, led by Wilhelm I, successfully united Germany through a military conquest. In 1871, Prussia became the German Empire, also called the Second Reich. Emperor Wilhelm I continued his reign with the Chancellor, Otto van Bismark, until he died in 1888, leaving his son Frederick III to be Emperor. Frederick III, however, only reigned for a few months before his death, where he in turn, left his son, Wilhelm II, to become emperor. Shortly before World War I, Wilhelm II and the regime itself, were losing popularity. A bitter end to the Great War ensured the end of the German Empire.
The Third Reich: Weimar Republic and the Rise of Nazism
To many Germans, the Treaty of Versailles seemed unfair and was humiliating. That, combined with a strong economic downturn, caused the development of strong sentiments for extremest political parties such as Communism and Fascism, to gain popularity in the elections. The Nazis, under the leadership and persuasive oratory skills of Adolf Hitler took advantage of the situation as Hitler was elected into office. In 1933, the Reichstag erupted into flames and an emergency decree took away the basic rights of the citizens. Hitler was given unrestricted power after a bill was passed in Parliament with little opposition because the Communists had already been imprisoned. Germany started to reclaim land that was lost due to the Treaty of Versailles. In 1939, Germany invaded Poland and started World War II and the Holocaust. Quickly, Hitler and his allies gained control of most of Europe.
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However, in 1941, Germany ended the non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union by invading it. Then, Germany declared war on the United States after the attack on Pearl Harbor. By battling on multiple fronts, Germany stretched its forces too thin and began to falter in 1942 after the loss in Stalingrad. In 1943, Italy surrendered which left Germany to defend the Italian front as well. By 1945, Germany was worn out. The Soviet Union occupied Berlin and Germany finally surrendered. The aftermath of the War lead to an occupation of Germany by France, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and the United States.
Occupied GermanyDue to the similar Democratic views of the Western Occupying Forces, three of the four occupied zones were consolidated into the Federal Republic of Germany. The FRG was a Parliamentary Republic, and through a free market, grew its economy very quickly with its citizens enjoying high standards of living. As a result, West Germany established itself as a world power. The East, however, was a Communist Regime due to the heavy influence of the Soviets. Its command economy stalled the growth of the economy, so the living standards were low. As the disparity between the Federal German Republic and the German Democratic Republic grew, so did immigration from the East to the West. In 1961, the situation became so extreme that the Communists erected the Berlin Wall to separate the two countries. In 1989, due to the weakening of the Soviet Union, the continued emigration from the East, and pressure from the United States among other countries, the Wall fell. This led to the reunification of Germany.
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The Rise of Nazi Germany
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1990-Present
Germany faced issues of improving the former GDR living standard and economy and providing jobs for the East, while maintaining growth overall. Germany was able to do this successfully over time. While the eastern region of Germany is still not quite as economically sound as the west, It is close enough so that it is not Germany's most important issue. Germany's government is a stable democracy led by the first female Chancellor, Angela Merkel, who happens to also be the first person from East Germany to lead the country.