Since 1815, the German states had belonged to the German Confederation. Its territory was defined essentially after the Holy Roman Empire. Some member states belonged to the confederation only with a part of their territories, such as Prussia and especially Austria. The territory within the confederation was called "bundeszugehörig" (belonging to the confederation), the other "bundesfremd" (foreign to the confederation). Only "Bundesgebiet" (federal territory = territory within the boundaries of the confederation) was protected by the military provisions of the German Confederation.