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Because there had been a First Reich, the Holy Roman Empire. That was theoretically speaking a continuation of the ancient Western Roman Empire, but in practice a loose confederation of States on German soil that elected an "Roman" Emperor whenever the old one had died. The Emperor had much status but very little executive power outside of his own territories . The First Reich had existed since 962 AD and ended in 1806 when Napoleon had defeated or deposed all the German rulers.

The Second Reich came into being when the King of Prussia was elevated to Emperor of all Germany in Versailles, in 1871.

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9y ago

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