The North German Confederation (German: Norddeutscher Bund) 1866–71, is a federation of 22 independent states of northern Germany, with nearly 30 million inhabitants.

It is the first German modern nation state and the basis for the later German Empire, when several south German states such as Bavaria join.

According to modern scholars, the Confederation and the Empire are identical as a state, although technically the Empire is a new foundation.After several unsuccessful proposals from several sides, to reform the German Confederation (founded in 1815), the North German major power Prussia leabes the German Confederation with some allies.

It comes to war between those states and others, most important of these being Austria.

After a quick decision in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, Prussia and its allies found the North German Federation.

It is initially a military alliance between independent states (August-Bündnis), but already with the intention to form later a federation or confederation with a constitution.

This is realized in 1867.

The North German Confederation is historically important for the economic and judicial unification of Germany, many of its laws are adopted by the German Empire.