Show 1st ast 2nd and 3rd ard reich the first reich was unified germany more properly the german empire which was born amidst the throes of the franco prussian war of 1871 and which lasted until 1919 the second reich was the german republic under the weimar constitution adopted by the national assembly july 31 1919 after the abdication of the german emperor the third reich is the present germany governed under the enabling act of march 24 1933 which virtually set aside the weimar constitution by giving absolute power to adolf hitler and his cabinet |