German Unification 1871: The States That Formed the Empire

The German Empire (1871–1918) was forged from 25 German states (kingdoms, grand duchies, duchies, principalities, free cities) plus the Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine. The dominant partners were:

Major Kingdoms

• Prussia (60% territory, 65% population) — King = Emperor.
• Bavaria — Retained own army, postal, rail, diplomatic corps.
• Saxony
• Württemberg

Grand Duchies

• Baden, Hesse (Darmstadt), Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Oldenburg, Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach.

Duchies & Principalities

• Anhalt, Brunswick, Lippe, Reuss (elder/younger), Schaumburg-Lippe, Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, Waldeck-Pyrmont.

Free Hanseatic Cities

• Bremen, Hamburg, Lübeck.

Unification Process

1. 1866: Austro-Prussian War → North German Confederation (Prussia + 21 states north of Main).
2. 1870–71: Franco-Prussian War → South German states (Bavaria, Württemberg, Baden, Hesse-Darmstadt) join.
3. Jan 18, 1871: Proclamation in Versailles Hall of Mirrors.

Aftermath

Weimar Republic (1919) retained federal structure. Nazi era centralized. 1949: FRG (West) / GDR (East). 1990: Reunification → 16 modern Bundesländer.