What had Germany got to do with the holy roman empire as of the 1st Reich?

Answer 1

The Holy Roman Empire was founded by Charlemagne who the French and the Germans both claim as their own. It existed until 1806, and all Roman kings (later: emperors) of the Empire were (loosely speaking, this is before a national "German" state) "Germans" (i.e. rulers over at least partially German speaking areas, from Luxembourg to Bohemia). From the 15th century on the name "Roman Empire" was given the addition "Of German Nation". later Empires such as the 2nd German empire from 1871 to 1918 and even Hitler's so-called "Third Reich" (German "Reich" = empire) were often seen as a continuation of the Holy Roman Empire.

Answer 2

I seem to recall the right wording was "Holy Roman-Germanic Empire". It was founded to the best of my knowledge by Charlemagne who was crowned Emperor in the year 800 (how convenient, isn't it?).

The Empire has remained to this day a kind of German myth having to do with a unified Germanic nation. In German, Reich is the word they use to express that notion. It simply means they refer to the first time they were One People, under One Rule, and possibly One Ruler.

Answer 3

From the Middle Ages onwards, "Roman Empire" was a sort of catch phrase, nothing more. It was all about legitimacy. The Roman Empire was a very well established government, one with tradition and legitimacy. For a new regime, to associate themselves with that name, implied power, stability, justice, and above all, a RIGHT to rule. It was propaganda, or its Medieval version.