The term "German Reich" has a complicated history and many synonyms have been used to describe it over time. Some of the most common synonyms include the Third Reich, Nazi Germany, Greater Germany, and the German Empire. The Third Reich referred specifically to the period of Nazi control in Germany from 1933-1945, while Nazi Germany emphasized the role of the fascist party in the country's government. Greater Germany was used to describe the expansion of German borders under the Nazi regime, and the German Empire referred to the period from 1871-1918 when Germany was ruled by a Kaiser. While each of these synonyms has its own connotations and nuances, they all refer in some way to Germany as a political entity.