⟪Anthem⟫
"Heil dir im Siegerkranz" in English "Hail to Thee in the Victor's Crown" was the royal anthem of the Kingdom of Prussia (1701-1918) from 1795 to 1918 and one of three unofficial anthems, this was considered as an imperial anthem of the German Empire (1871-1918) from 1871 to 1918.
It was sung on patriotic occasions associated with the emperor, such as throne jubilees and anniversaries of birth and death, as well as holidays.
The lyrics were written by Heinrich Harries in 1790 in honor of King Christian VII of Denmark. The original text was later adapted by Balthasar Gerhard Schumacher in 1793 for use in the Kingdom of Prussia, later it was used in the German Empire.
⟪History⟫
On December 10, 1870, the Reichstag of the North German Confederation renamed the Confederation the "German Empire" and gave the title of German Emperor to Wilhelm I, King of Prussia, as the Bundespräsidium of the Confederation. The new constitution (Constitution of the German Confederation) and the title of emperor came into force on January 1, 1871. During the Siege of Paris on January 18, 1871, Wilhelm agreed to be proclaimed emperor in the Hall of Mirrors of the Palace of Versailles.
The Proclamation of the German Empire (in German, Deutsche Reichsgründung) took place on January 18, 1871, after the joint victory of the German states in the Franco-Prussian War.
The creation of the Empire under Prussian leadership was a victory for the Kleindeutschland (smaller Germany) concept over the Großdeutschland concept. This meant that Austria-Hungary, a multi-ethnic empire with a sizeable German-speaking population, would remain outside the German nation-state. Bismarck's policy was to seek a diplomatic solution. The effective alliance between Germany and Austria played an important role in Germany's decision to enter World War I in 1914.
Bismarck announced that there would be no more territorial additions to Germany in Europe, and his diplomacy after 1871 focused on stabilizing the European system and preventing any war. He succeeded, and only after his departure from office in 1890 did diplomatic tensions begin to rise again.
On March 9, 1888, William I died shortly before his 91st birthday, leaving his son Frederick III as the new emperor. Frederick was a liberal and an admirer of the British constitution, while his ties to Great Britain were further strengthened by his marriage to Princess Victoria, Queen Victoria's eldest daughter. With his accession to the throne, many hoped that Frederick's reign would lead to a liberalization of the Reich and an increase in the influence of parliament in the political process. The dismissal of Robert von Puttkamer, the very conservative Prussian Minister of the Interior, on June 8 was a sign of the expected direction and a blow to the Bismarck administration.
By the time of his accession, however, Federico had developed incurable laryngeal cancer, which had been diagnosed in 1887. He died on the 99th day of his rule, June 15, 1888. he William II became emperor.
In 1914 following the assassination of Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Gavrilo Princip, the Kaiser offered Emperor Franz Joseph full support for Austro-Hungarian plans to invade the Kingdom of Serbia, which Austria-Hungary blamed for the assassination.
Many Germans wanted an end to the war, and a growing number began to associate with the political left, such as the Social Democratic Party and the more radical Independent Social Democratic Party, which demanded an end to the war. The entry of the United States into the war in April 1917 further tipped the long-term balance of power in favor of the Allies.
At the end of October 1918, in Kiel, in northern Germany, the German Revolution of 1918-1919 began. German Navy units refused to sail for one last large-scale operation in a war they saw as lost, igniting the uprising. On November 3, the revolt spread to other cities and states in the country, in many of which workers' and soldiers' councils were established. Meanwhile, Hindenburg and the high-ranking generals lost confidence in the Kaiser and his rule.
On November 9, the Social Democrat Philipp Scheidemann proclaimed a republic. The new government led by the German Social Democrats asked for and received an armistice on November 11. It was succeeded by the Weimar Republic. Those who opposed it, including disgruntled veterans, joined a diverse set of paramilitary and underground political groups such as the Freikorps, the Organization Consul, and the communists.