{"slug": "german-empire", "label": "German Empire", "wikipedia": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Empire", "wikidata": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q43287", "qid": "Q43287", "description": "German nation-state in Central Europe from 1871 to 1918", "entries": 44, "years": 27, "span": [1871, 1919], "span_label": ["1871 CE", "1919 CE"], "topics": [{"title": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "count": 15}, {"title": "Conflict & Security", "count": 10}, {"title": "Technology & Infrastructure", "count": 5}, {"title": "Economy & Finance", "count": 4}, {"title": "Health & Medicine", "count": 3}, {"title": "Exploration & Expansion", "count": 2}, {"title": "Culture & Society", "count": 2}, {"title": "Religion & Belief", "count": 1}, {"title": "Science & Discovery", "count": 1}, {"title": "Deaths", "count": 1}], "also_known_as": ["Imperial Germany"], "related": [{"slug": "united-kingdom-of-great-britain-and-ireland", "label": "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland", "shared": 5}, {"slug": "russian-empire", "label": "Russian Empire", "shared": 4}, {"slug": "austria-hungary", "label": "Austria-Hungary", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "kingdom-of-italy", "label": "Kingdom of Italy", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "french-third-republic", "label": "French Third Republic", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "france", "label": "France", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "ottoman-empire", "label": "Ottoman Empire", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "venezuela", "label": "Venezuela", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "world-war-i", "label": "World War I", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "spain", "label": "Spain", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "pacific-ocean", "label": "Pacific Ocean", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "sweden", "label": "Sweden", "shared": 1}], "items": [{"year": 1871, "year_label": "1871 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "January 18", "text": "January 18 – Proclamation of the German Empire: The member states of the North German Confederation and the south German states unite into a single nation state, known as the German Empire. The King of Prussia is declared the first German Emperor as Wilhelm I of Germany, in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1368649173#January–March", "title": "1871", "revid": 1368649173, "section": "Events › January–March"}}, {"year": 1871, "year_label": "1871 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "February 8", "text": "February 8 – 1871 French legislative election elects the first legislature of the French Third Republic; monarchists (Legitimists and Orleanists) favourable to peace with the German Empire gain a large majority. The National Assembly meets in Bordeaux.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1368649173#January–March", "title": "1871", "revid": 1368649173, "section": "Events › January–March"}}, {"year": 1872, "year_label": "1872 CE", "section": "Health & Medicine", "date": "July 4", "text": "July 4 – The Society of Jesus is pronounced illegal in the German Empire.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371307490#July", "title": "1872", "revid": 1371307490, "section": "Events › July"}}, {"year": 1873, "year_label": "1873 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": null, "text": "The League of the Three Emperors is created. It links the conservative monarchs of Austria-Hungary, the German Empire and the Russian Empire in an alliance against radical movements.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1370305657#Date_unknown", "title": "1873", "revid": 1370305657, "section": "Events › Date unknown"}}, {"year": 1879, "year_label": "1879 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "October 7", "text": "October 7 – The Dual Alliance is formed by Germany and Austria-Hungary.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1365404244#October", "title": "1879", "revid": 1365404244, "section": "Events › October"}}, {"year": 1880, "year_label": "1880 CE", "section": "Economy & Finance", "date": "October 1", "text": "October 1 – German company Munich Re is founded in Munich.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371273111#October", "title": "1880", "revid": 1371273111, "section": "Events › October"}}, {"year": 1884, "year_label": "1884 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "July 5", "text": "July 5 – Germany takes possession of Togoland.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364372487#July", "title": "1884", "revid": 1364372487, "section": "Events › July"}}, {"year": 1886, "year_label": "1886 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": "March 16", "text": "March 16 – A law establishing the Kiel Canal is adopted in the German Empire.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1372679431#March", "title": "1886", "revid": 1372679431, "section": "Events › March"}}, {"year": 1888, "year_label": "1888 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "April 16", "text": "April 16 – The German Empire annexes the island of Nauru.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1372679419#April", "title": "1888", "revid": 1372679419, "section": "Events › April"}}, {"year": 1891, "year_label": "1891 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "January 1", "text": "January 1 – Germany takes formal possession of its new African territories.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369994059#January", "title": "1891", "revid": 1369994059, "section": "Events › January"}}, {"year": 1896, "year_label": "1896 CE", "section": "Economy & Finance", "date": "November 21", "text": "November 21 - The Hamburg dockworkers' strike of 1896-97 is considered one of the largest labour disputes in the German Empire.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364785538#November", "title": "1896", "revid": 1364785538, "section": "Events › November"}}, {"year": 1898, "year_label": "1898 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": "March 9", "text": "March 9 Kiautschou Bay concession leasing Qingdao to German Empire \"on 6 March 1898 the German Empire retreated from outright cession of the area and accepted a leasehold of the bay for 99 years, or until 1997\"", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1243749935#Events", "title": "1898 in China", "revid": 1243749935, "section": "Events"}}, {"year": 1899, "year_label": "1899 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "February 12", "text": "12 February – The majority of the Kingdom of Spain's remaining territories in the Pacific are sold to the German Empire through the German–Spanish Treaty.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1370476443#Events", "title": "1899 in Spain", "revid": 1370476443, "section": "Events"}}, {"year": 1900, "year_label": "1900 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "January 14", "text": "January 14 – The U.S. Senate accepts the British-German Treaty of 1899, in which the United Kingdom renounces its claims to the American Samoa portion of the Samoan Islands.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373317536#January", "title": "1900", "revid": 1373317536, "section": "Events › January"}}, {"year": 1900, "year_label": "1900 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": "July 2", "text": "July 2 – The first zeppelin airship flight, by Zeppelin LZ 1, is carried out over Lake Constance, near Friedrichshafen, Germany.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373317536#July", "title": "1900", "revid": 1373317536, "section": "Events › July"}}, {"year": 1900, "year_label": "1900 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": "July 12", "text": "July 12 – The new German cruise liner SS Deutschland breaks the record for the Blue Riband on her maiden transatlantic voyage with an average speed of 22.4 kn.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373317536#July", "title": "1900", "revid": 1373317536, "section": "Events › July"}}, {"year": 1901, "year_label": "1901 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "February 23", "text": "February 23 – The United Kingdom and Germany agree on the frontier between German East Africa and Nyasaland.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373318021#February", "title": "1901", "revid": 1373318021, "section": "Events › February"}}, {"year": 1901, "year_label": "1901 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "February 23", "text": "23 February – Germany agrees the frontier between German East Africa and the British colony of Nyasaland with the United Kingdom.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1360902170#Events", "title": "1901 in Germany", "revid": 1360902170, "section": "Events"}}, {"year": 1901, "year_label": "1901 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "March 1", "text": "March 1 – The United Kingdom, Germany and Japan protest the Sino-Russian agreement on Manchuria.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373318021#March", "title": "1901", "revid": 1373318021, "section": "Events › March"}}, {"year": 1901, "year_label": "1901 CE", "section": "Health & Medicine", "date": "November 25", "text": "November 25 – Auguste Deter is first examined by German psychiatrist Dr. Alois Alzheimer, leading to a diagnosis of the condition that will carry Alzheimer's name.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373318021#November", "title": "1901", "revid": 1373318021, "section": "Events › November"}}, {"year": 1902, "year_label": "1902 CE", "section": "Economy & Finance", "date": "December", "text": "December–February 1903 – Venezuelan crisis: Britain, Germany and Italy sustain a naval blockade on Venezuela, in order to enforce collection of outstanding financial claims. This prompts the development of the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373318639#December", "title": "1902", "revid": 1373318639, "section": "Events › December"}}, {"year": 1902, "year_label": "1902 CE", "section": "Economy & Finance", "date": "December", "text": "December–February 1903 – Venezuelan crisis, in which Britain, Germany and Italy sustain a naval blockade on Venezuela to enforce collection of outstanding financial claims. This prompts the development of the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1331893867#Events", "title": "1902 in Germany", "revid": 1331893867, "section": "Events"}}, {"year": 1903, "year_label": "1903 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": "March 5", "text": "March 5 – The Ottoman Empire and the German Empire sign an agreement to build the Constantinople–Baghdad Railway.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373319317#March", "title": "1903", "revid": 1373319317, "section": "Events › March"}}, {"year": 1905, "year_label": "1905 CE", "section": "Culture & Society", "date": "June 6", "text": "6 June – In Germany's last royal wedding, Crown Prince Wilhelm, son of Kaiser Wilhelm II and heir to the throne, marries Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin in Berlin.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1331894499#Events", "title": "1905 in Germany", "revid": 1331894499, "section": "Events"}}, {"year": 1906, "year_label": "1906 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": "January 16", "text": "January 16–April 7 – The Algeciras Conference convenes, to resolve the First Moroccan Crisis between France and Germany.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373343237#January–February", "title": "1906", "revid": 1373343237, "section": "Events › January–February"}}, {"year": 1909, "year_label": "1909 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": "October 13", "text": "October 13 – An agreement by Germany, Italy and Switzerland gives the Germans and Italians access to the Gotthard Rail Tunnel.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373420847#September–October", "title": "1909", "revid": 1373420847, "section": "Events › September–October"}}, {"year": 1910, "year_label": "1910 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": "June 22", "text": "June 22 – DELAG Zeppelin dirigible Deutschland makes the first commercial passenger flight, from Friedrichshafen to Düsseldorf in Germany; the flight takes 9 hours.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373495790#June", "title": "1910", "revid": 1373495790, "section": "Events › June"}}, {"year": 1910, "year_label": "1910 CE", "section": "Science & Discovery", "date": "June 22", "text": "22 June – The DELAG Zeppelin dirigible, Deutschland, makes the first commercial passenger flight from Friedrichshafen to Düsseldorf in Germany. The flight takes nine hours.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1338650375#Events", "title": "1910 in Germany", "revid": 1338650375, "section": "Events"}}, {"year": 1913, "year_label": "1913 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "October 28", "text": "October 28–December 2 – Zabern Affair: Acts of aggression by the Prussian garrison at Zabern, Alsace-Lorraine provoke political debate across the German Empire.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1362190088#Events", "title": "1913 in Germany", "revid": 1362190088, "section": "Events"}}, {"year": 1914, "year_label": "1914 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "August 1", "text": "August 1 – The German Empire declares war on the Russian Empire, following Russia's military mobilisation in support of Serbia; Germany also begins mobilisation.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373518346#August", "title": "1914", "revid": 1373518346, "section": "Events › August"}}, {"year": 1914, "year_label": "1914 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "August 2", "text": "August 2 – A secret treaty between the Ottoman Empire and German Empires secures Ottoman neutrality.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373518346#August", "title": "1914", "revid": 1373518346, "section": "Events › August"}}, {"year": 1914, "year_label": "1914 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "August 4", "text": "August 4 – World War I: German invasion of Belgium – At 08:02 (local time) Imperial German Army troops enter Belgium, bringing the July Crisis to a climax. At 23:00 (GMT) the British entry into World War I takes place when King George V in London declares war on Germany for this violation of Belgian neutrality (protected by the Treaty of London (1839)) and especially to defend France. This means a declaration of war by the whole British Empire against the German Empire. The United States declares neutrality.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373518346#August", "title": "1914", "revid": 1373518346, "section": "Events › August"}}, {"year": 1914, "year_label": "1914 CE", "section": "Culture & Society", "date": "October 4", "text": "October 4 – The Manifesto of the Ninety-Three is signed by prominent academics supporting the early German war effort.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373518346#October", "title": "1914", "revid": 1373518346, "section": "Events › October"}}, {"year": 1915, "year_label": "1915 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "January 31", "text": "January 31 – WWI: Battle of Bolimów – Germany's first large-scale use of poison gas as a weapon occurs, when 18,000 artillery shells containing liquid xylyl bromide tear gas are fired on the Imperial Russian Army, on the Rawka River west of Warsaw; however, freezing temperatures prevent it being effective.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373518749#January", "title": "1915", "revid": 1373518749, "section": "Events › January"}}, {"year": 1915, "year_label": "1915 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "April 26", "text": "April 26 – A secret pact, the Treaty of London or London Pact (Patto di Londra), is signed between the Triple Entente (the United Kingdom, France, and the Russian Empire) and the Kingdom of Italy. According to the pact, Italy was to leave the Triple Alliance and join the Triple Entente. Italy was to declare war against Germany and Austria-Hungary within a month in return for territorial concessions at the end of the war to fulfil Italy’s irredentist claims.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369974115#April", "title": "1915 in Italy", "revid": 1369974115, "section": "Events › April"}}, {"year": 1915, "year_label": "1915 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "May 9", "text": "May 9 – WWI – Second Battle of Artois: German and French forces fight to a standstill; German forces defeat the British at the Battle of Aubers Ridge.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373518749#May", "title": "1915", "revid": 1373518749, "section": "Events › May"}}, {"year": 1915, "year_label": "1915 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": "October 12", "text": "October 12 – WWI: British nurse Edith Cavell is executed by a German firing squad, for helping Allied soldiers escape from Belgium.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373518749#October", "title": "1915", "revid": 1373518749, "section": "Events › October"}}, {"year": 1916, "year_label": "1916 CE", "section": "Health & Medicine", "date": null, "text": "Due to the outbreak of World War I, the 1916 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, is cancelled.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373519106#Sport", "title": "1916", "revid": 1373519106, "section": "Sport"}}, {"year": 1917, "year_label": "1917 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "February 1", "text": "February 1 – WWI: Atlantic U-boat Campaign: Germany announces its U-boats will resume unrestricted submarine warfare, rescinding the Sussex Pledge'.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373519608#February", "title": "1917", "revid": 1373519608, "section": "Events › February"}}, {"year": 1917, "year_label": "1917 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "November 13", "text": "November 13 – The ANZAC Mounted Division (Desert Mounted Corps) successfully fights the Battle of Ayun Kara, in the aftermath of the Battle of Mughar Ridge against strong German rearguards.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373519608#November", "title": "1917", "revid": 1373519608, "section": "Events › November"}}, {"year": 1918, "year_label": "1918 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "January 4", "text": "January 4 – The Finnish Declaration of Independence is recognized by Soviet Russia, Sweden, Germany and France.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373520023#January", "title": "1918", "revid": 1373520023, "section": "Events › January"}}, {"year": 1918, "year_label": "1918 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "March 21", "text": "March 21–July 18 – WWI: The Spring Offensive by the German Army along the Western Front fails to make a breakthrough, despite large losses on each side, including nearly 20,000 British Army dead on the first day, Operation Michael, on the Somme.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373520023#March", "title": "1918", "revid": 1373520023, "section": "Events › March"}}, {"year": 1918, "year_label": "1918 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "November 3", "text": "November 3 – German Revolution: Kiel mutiny by sailors in the German fleet at Kiel while throughout northern Germany soldiers and workers begin to establish revolutionary councils on the Russian soviet model.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373520023#November", "title": "1918", "revid": 1373520023, "section": "Events › November"}}, {"year": 1919, "year_label": "1919 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "June 28", "text": "June 28 – The Treaty of Versailles ends the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1321604886#June", "title": "1919 in Italy", "revid": 1321604886, "section": "Events › June"}}]}