In 1871, the German national state, the German Empire, appeared on the map of Europe. This event is inextricably linked with the name of one of the most prominent statesmen of the 19th century - the "iron chancellor" Otto von Bismarck. "Bismarck Empire," "Bismarck era," "Bismarck era" - this is how the period of German history from 1871 to 1890 is usually called today.