Third Reich

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Partial calque of German Drittes Reich (literally “third empire, third realm”). The first “Reich” in this reckoning is the Holy Roman Empire and the second is the German Empire. The Weimar Republic, although officially called Deutsches Reich as well, was rejected by the National Socialists and therefore not counted in.

Proper noun

the Third Reich

  1. (historical) Synonym of Nazi Germany.

Usage notes
  • Reich in German does not have all of the same connotations as empire does in English. Notably, it does not imply the existence of a monarchy.

Translations

Further reading
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