The German term Kulturkampf (literally, "culture struggle") refers to German policies in relation to secularity and the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, enacted from 1871 to 1878 by the Prime Minister of Prussia, Otto von Bismarck.

The Kulturkampf does not extend to the other German states such as Bavaria.

In 1871, the Catholic Church comprises 37% of the population of the German Empire.

In this newly founded Empire, Bismarck seeks to appeal to liberals and Protestants (61% of the population) by reducing the political and social influence of the Catholic Church.Priests and bishops who resist the Kulturkampf are arrested or removed from their positions.

By the height of anti-Catholic legislation, half of the Prussian bishops are in prison or in exile, a quarter of the parishes have no priest, half the monks and nuns have left Prussia, a third of the monasteries and convents are closed, 1800 parish priests are imprisoned or exiled, and thousands of laypeople are imprisoned for helping the priests.

Bismarck's program backfires, as it energizes the Catholics to become a political force in the Center party.

The Kulturkampf ends about 1880 with a new pope willing to negotiate with Bismarck, and with the departure of the anti-Catholic Liberals from his coalition.

By retreating, Bismarck wins over the Center party support on most of his conservative policy positions, especially his attacks against Socialism.