"Reich" ?

[Paul der Cherusker]

What does the term "Reich" actually mean? It is always given a sinister implication. I am under the impression it is a rather vague term with no specific meaning. If a monarchy, a democracy and a right wing dictatorship can all use the term, it's meaning must be rather broad. I am under the impression it simply means "nation" or "country" or something like that.

[Lamprecht]

It basically means empire or realm.

1st Reich: HRE
2nd Reich: German empire from 1871 until WW1 loss
3rd Reich: Seems as though Hitler wanted to "make Germany great again"

[Hektor]

What does the term "Reich" actually mean? It is always given a sinister implication. I am under the impression it is a rather vague term with no specific meaning. If a monarchy, a democracy and a right wing dictatorship can all use the term, it's meaning must be rather broad. I am under the impression it simply means "nation" or "country" or something like that.

In German "Reich" can mean both Regnum and Imperium. So it can mean empire, but it doesn't quite strike the meaning. The term 'reich' also means rich. Regnum/Reich is perhaps better translated with commonwealth. The Weimar Republic still used the term "Deutsches Reich" for itself. Meanwhile the term 'Reich' has been heavily associated with National Socialism. In the bigger context that isn't even warranted.

It does however demonstrate the establishments obsession with 'National Socialism'.

[Paul der Cherusker]

The way I see it ----

1st Reich - Holy Roman Empire
2nd Reich - Imperial Germany 1871 - 1918
3rd Reich - "Weimar Republic"
4th Reich - The Hitler years
5th Reich - West Germany
6th Reich - East Germany
7h Reich - reunified Germany

Am I crazy ?

Those endless anti German "4th Reich" novels are way behind !

[Hektor]

The way I see it ----

1st Reich - Holy Roman Empire
2nd Reich - Imperial Germany 1871 - 1918
3rd Reich - "Weimar Republic"
4th Reich - The Hitler years
5th Reich - West Germany
6th Reich - East Germany
7h Reich - reunified Germany

Am I crazy ?

Those endless anti German "4th Reich" novels are way behind !

After WW2 the term "Reich" has been rejected. Any of the stooge states that followed assigned the term 'Republic" to itself.
The issue with 'Reich' is actually that it stems from a Christian, Monarchical view of politics. The post WW2 polities were all secular and proclaimed democracy for themselves. Of course that isn't the argument, the argument is more of the "But 'Reich' is associated with Hitler/Nazism"... That spares people the anxious issue that this is actually about Christianity and traditional European views on politics. They know that they depend on Christians and Conservatives for their power.

[Paul der Cherusker]

I fully realize that none of the post war entities would ever use the term "reich". I am just saying they COULD use the term if they wanted. After all, the " Weimar Republic" used both the term "Republic" and "Reich".

[Paul der Cherusker]

I was wrong,East Germany DID use the term,at least on a limited basis. They referred to the East German railway system as the "Reichsbahn". So even the the Commies didn't think it had a bad meaning.