The German Empire existed from 1871 to 1945, although it dates back to the empire of Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Empire. Created by the will of the "iron chancellor" Bismarck, it united the scattered German lands into a strong state that defeated France and captured a number of colonies. Subsequently, the Third Reich, under the leadership of Hitler, was able to subjugate almost all of Europe. But having attacked Russia, he signed a death sentence for himself. So for less than a century, the German nation, which dreamed of ruling the world, due to fascist ideology, was overthrown from its former heights.