Which earlier German states were called the First Reich and the Second Reich?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

The term "Reich" (German for "empire") was used by the Nazi regime to frame their government as the historical successor to two previous German states.12

  • The First Reich: This refers to the Holy Roman Empire, which existed from the 9th or 10th century until 1806.123
  • The Second Reich: This refers to the German Empire led by the Prussian Hohenzollern dynasty, which lasted from 1871 to 1918.12

The Nazi regime adopted the designation "Third Reich" to establish a sense of historical continuity and legitimacy for their own rule, which lasted from 1933 to 1945.12