Term length of chancellors in the German Empire 1871-1918

Otto von Bismarck was the first Chancellor Germany, and was in office for over 18 years. In addition to overseeing Germany's unification as a nation state and empire, Bismarck played a key role in determining the politics of the Reich, including the founding of Germany's social welfare state, the expansion of Germany's overseas Empire (notably in Africa and the Pacific), as well as the country's rapid industrialization and economic growth at the time. Bismarck's four immediate successors oversaw further expansion of German influence and economic growth, although the ascension of Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1888 saw their power wean. Wilhelm II had forced Bismarck into retirement, and took a much more autocratic approach to governance. The last German Chancellor to see more than a year in office was Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg, who was in office during Germany's entry into the First World War. Bethmann Hollweg was eventually ousted as Chancellor during the war, as he was considered too resistant to many of the more extreme measures taken by the military command. As Germany's domestic and military situation deteriorated in the war's final 18 months, three separate Chancellors were in office during this time - the final Chancellor, Max von Baden, served just five days in office before the Empire of Germany collapsed in November 1918.