germany-history

German Empire Map (1871-1918) Wiki 150 years ago, on January 18th, 1871, the German Empire was founded. The German Empire, also known as Second Reich, was founded in the wake of three short, successful wars by the North German state of Prussia. Prussia, occupying more than three-fifths of the area of Germany and having approximately three-fifths of the population, remained the dominant force in the empire until it’s demise at the end of World War I.