Historical eventJanuary 181871
German Empire
The German Empire was formed by the unification of previously independent German states, under the rule of Kaiser Wilhelm I.
In context
- When
- Wednesday, January 18 1871155 years ago
- Category
- Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
- Era
- 19th century · 1870s
- Recorded from
- Wikipedia “On this day” feed
Russia, Greece and some other countries used the Julian calendar into the early 20th century, so local records may show a date up to 13 days earlier.
At a glance
Dates: From 1871.
What happened
The German Empire, also referred to as Imperial Germany or the Second Reich, was the period of the German Reich from the unification of Germany in 1871 until the November Revolution in 1918, when Germany changed its form of government to a republic. The German Empire consisted of 25 states, each with its own nobility: four constituent kingdoms, six grand duchies, five duchies, seven principalities, three free Hanseatic cities, and one imperial territory.
January 18 through the years
Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.
- 1871German Empire
- 20032003 Canberra bushfires
- 2005Airbus A380
- 20071999
- 2008Euphronios Krater
- 2012Protests against SOPA and PIPA
- 2018Samara
- 2019Tlahuelilpan pipeline explosion
- 20232023 Brovary helicopter crash
- 2025TikTok
- 20262026 Adamuz rail disaster
Also in 1871
- December 26Thespis (opera)Thespis, the first comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan, premiered at the Gaiety Theatre in London.
- October 26Edward James RoyeLiberian president Edward James Roye was overthrown in modern Africa's first coup d'état.
- December 24AidaAida, one of Giuseppe Verdi's most popular operas, made its debut in Cairo, Egypt.
- November 10Henry Morton StanleyJournalist and explorer Henry Morton Stanley (pictured) located missing missionary and explorer David Livingstone near Lake Tanganyika in…
- March 22William Woods HoldenWilliam Woods Holden, Governor of North Carolina, became the first U.S. state governor to be removed from office through impeachment.
- July 30Staten Island FerryThe boiler of the Staten Island Ferry Westfield II exploded at South Ferry in New York City, killing at least 45 people.
- October 8Great Chicago FireThe Great Chicago Fire (pictured), began and proceeded to destroy much of the city's central business district, killing 300 people and le…
- April 2Creatures of ImpulseCreatures of Impulse, by W. S. Gilbert (pictured), premiered at the Court Theatre in London.
Sources
- Wikipedia article (text, CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 for adapted text · how we source this
Cite this page
“German Empire”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/german-empire-1871-january-18, accessed October 28, 2026.
Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.
Questions about this entry
When did German Empire happen?
January 18 1871 — 155 years ago, on a Wednesday.
Where does this text come from?
Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.
How do I cite this page?
Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.
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