Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Kleindeutschland
For the German Neighbourhood "Kleindeutschland" in New York see Little Germany, New York
Kleindeutschland (literally "Small Germany") was a 19th century political idea postulating the idea of a unified Germany led by Hohenzollern Prussia, with Berlin as capital, and excluding the Austrian Empire. It stands in contrast to the idea of an Austrian led Grossdeutschland (Greater Germany) with capital Vienna.
The German parliament elected after the early successes of the revolution of 1848 favoured a greater Germany led by Prussia.
Kleindeutschland was realized (after the Austro-Prussian Dualism had been decided in favor of Prussia in 1866) in 1871.
During the Third Reich, this policy was effectively reversed by Hitler's Anschluss (annexation) of Austria, when the German State (Deutsches Reich) was renamed Grossdeutsches Reich, partly in recognition of the earlier idea.
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