Württemberg

Former kingdom (1805-1918) in southwest Germany that joined the German Reich in 1870. Its capital was Stuttgart. Divided in 1946 between the West German Länder (administrative regions) of Württemberg-Baden and Württemberg-Hohenzollern, from 1952 it was part of the Land of Baden-Württemberg.

Württemberg was bounded on the east by Bavaria and on the west by Baden. Hohenzollern formed an enclave in the southwest of its territory. It was colonized by Celts, Suevi, Romans, and Alemanni. The Counts of Württemberg obtained possessions in Swabia and in 1495 Württemberg became a duchy. In 1806 Napoleon created a kingdom of Württemberg, which lasted until 1918 when William II of Württemberg abdicated and a republic was proclaimed. Under the National Socialist regime it was governed by a Statthalter. After World War II, part of it was combined with Baden to form the Land of Württemberg-Baden in the American zone of occupation; the remainder was combined with Hohenzollern to form the Land of Württemberg-Hohenzollern in the French zone. In 1952 these two Länder became part of the new Land of Baden-Württemberg.