North German Confederation

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Norddeutscher Bund
North German Confederation

Confederation

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1867 – 1871

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Flag	Coat of arms

Map of the North German Confederation

Capital

Berlin
52°31′N, 13°24′E

Political structure

Confederation

Presidency

Prussia (William I)

Chancellor

Otto von Bismarck

History

- Constitution tabelled

April 16, 1867

- Confederation formed

July 1, 1867

- Elevation to empire

January 18, 1871

The North German Federation (in German, Norddeutscher Bund) came into existence in 1867, following the dissolution of the German Confederation. Formed by 22 states of northern Germany, it was effectively a transitional grouping, lasting only until the founding of the German Empire in 1871. However, it cemented Prussian control over northern Germany, and emanated that same control via the Zollverein (Customs Union) and secret peace treaties (agreed with the southern states the day before the Peace of Prague) into southern Germany. Notably, the Confederation excluded both Austria and Bavaria. Although it ceased to exist after the creation of the German empire, 1871, it was the building block for the German constitution of 1871. This constitution gave huge powers to the new Chancellor, Bismarck who was appointed by the President of the Bundersrat (Prussia). This was because, the constitution made the chancellor 'responsible' however not accountable to the Reichstag. This therefore allowed him the benefit of being the link between the Emperor and the people. The constitution however bar universal was relatively conservative. The Chancellor retained powers over the military budget, after the constitutional crisis that engulfed Wilhelm I in 1862. Laws also prevented certain civil servants becoming members of the Reichstag, those who were Bismarck's main opposition in the 1860's.

The Federation came into being after Prussia defeated Austria in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. Otto von Bismarck created the constitution, which came into force on 1 July 1867, with the King of Prussia, Wilhelm I, as its President, and Bismarck as Chancellor. The states were represented in the Bundesrat (Federal Council) with 43 seats (of which Prussia held 17). Most notably, Bismarck introduced universal manhood suffrage into the confederation for elections to the Reichstag. The Bundesrat membership was extended before 1871 with the creation of the Zollverein Parliament in 1867, an attempt to create closer unity with the southern states by permitting representatives to be sent to the Bundersrat.

Following Prussia's defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War of 1871, Bavaria, Württemberg, and Baden (together with parts of the Grand Duchy of Hesse which had not originally joined the Federation), now grouped together with the various states of the Federation to form the German Empire, with Wilhelm I taking the new title of German Emperor (rather than Emperor of Germany as Austria was not included).

[edit] Postage stamps

One of the functions of the Federation was to handle the mail and issue postage stamps, which it began doing on 1 January 1868. To accommodate the different monetary systems in use by the various states, it issued a series valued in groschen for the Northern District, and another using kreuzer for the Southern District, distinguishing them by framing the value number in a circle for the groschen stamps, and in an oval for the kreuzers. All of these stamps were inscribed "NORDDEUTSCHER POSTBEZIRK".

In addition, there was a special quarter-schilling stamp for Hamburg, with the additional inscription "STADTPOSTBRIEF HAMBURG".

Early in 1869 the stamps were issued with perforations, the previous issues having been rouletted. On 1 March, 10 gr and 30 gr values were issued, notable for being printed on goldbeater's skin, a scheme to prevent reuse of these high-value stamps.

Federation stamps were superseded on 1 January 1872 by the first issues of the German Empire.

[edit] List of member states

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