The Third Reich

[starone]

This is probably elementary. So, why the third reich? What were the first and second and what happened to them? Always wondered.

[jno]

Holy Roman Empire first
1871 (unification of Germany) to 1918 (collapse after WW1) 2nd

[DJHawkes]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reich

reich means realm

[B00]

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090113184136AADeLli

[starone]

Thanks very much everyone. I found that extremely interesting.

[Peter Pedant]

good question starone

I always wondered about France's five republics.....

[Mosaic]

Reich means empire, not realm.