1878 German Federal Election

30 July 1878 · The Imperial Reichstag · 397 seats, 199 for a majority

A federal election for the fourth Reichstag of the German Empire was held on 30 July 1878. It took place 18 months ahead of schedule after two unsuccessful assassination attempts against Emperor Wilhelm I led Chancellor Otto von Bismarck to request an early dissolution of the Reichstag that had been elected in January 1877.

Chancellor before

Otto von Bismarck

Independent

Chancellor (continued)

Otto von Bismarck

Independent

Largest force

NlP

97 of 397 seats

Turnout

63.3%

The result

Sort by

NlP

Rudolf von Bennigsen · 22.4% of votes · -30 seats

seats

Centre

Ludwig Windthorst · 22.8% of votes · +1 seats

seats

DKP

Otto von Helldorff · 12.8% of votes · +19 seats

seats

DRP

Viktor I, Duke of Ratibor · 13.6% of votes · +19 seats

seats

DFP

6.9% of votes · -8 seats

seats

Polish Party

3.8% of votes · 0 seats

seats


NlP	Rudolf von Bennigsen	97	-30	1.291.161	22.4%	-4.3
Centre	Ludwig Windthorst	94	+1	1.315.720	22.8%	-2.0
DKP	Otto von Helldorff	59	+19	736.826	12.8%	+3.2
DRP	Viktor I, Duke of Ratibor	57	+19	785.631	13.6%	+5.8
DFP	—	26	-8	395.065	6.9%	-0.8
Polish Party	—	14	0	216.148	3.8%	-0.3

50 further seats went to parties and independents outside the main contenders listed above.