Reich

:This article refers to the German word Reich, and in particular to its historical and political implications. For other uses for Reich, see Reich (disambiguation)

Historical usage

The term Reich was part of the German names for Germany for much of its history. The German name for the "Holy Roman Empire (of the German Nation)" (9th century–1806) is Heiliges Römisches Reich Deutscher Nation. However, it should be noted that Latin, not German, was the formal legal language of the mediaeval Empire, so English-speaking historians are more likely to use Latin imperium than German Reich as term for this period of German history.

Related Topics:
Holy Roman Empire - 9th century - 1806

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The unified Germany which arose under Chancellor Otto von Bismarck in 1871 was called in German the Deutsches Reich, and this remained the official name of Germany until 1945, although these years saw three very different political systems more commonly referred to as the German Empire (1871–1918), the Weimar Republic (1919–1933), and the Third Reich (the National Socialist period) (1933–1945).

Related Topics:
Otto von Bismarck - 1871 - 1945 - German Empire - 1918 - Weimar Republic - 1919 - 1933 - Third Reich - National Socialist period

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Nazis sought to legitimise their power historiographically by portraying their rule as a continuation of a Germanic past. They coined the term Das Dritte Reich ("The Third Empire" – usually rendered in English in the half-translation "The Third Reich"), counting the Holy Roman Empire as the first and the 1871 Empire as the second. They also used the political slogan Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer ("One people, one Reich, one leader"). Although the term "Third Reich" is in common use, the terms "First Reich" and "Second Reich" for the earlier periods are seldom found outside Nazi propaganda. To adopt them as some commentators did in the post-war years is generally frowned upon as accepting subversive Nazi historiography.

Related Topics:
Nazi - Political slogan - Volk - Führer

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A number of words used by the Nazis which earlier were neutral have later taken on a negative connotation in German (e.g. Führer or Heil); the word "Reich" is usually not one of them, although in certain contexts it does carry a connotation of German imperialism and/or strong nationalism. Since 1945, the word Reich has not been used in contemporary references, though it is still found in the name of the Reichstag building, which since 1999 houses the German federal parliament (Bundestag).

Related Topics:
Imperialism - Nationalism - Reichstag building - 1999 - Parliament - Bundestag

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~