In the 1930s, as now, Deutsche Bank was the largest German bank whose economic power was the subject of debate and controversy. At that time, its full name was Deutsche Bank und Disconto-Gesellschaft.

Deutsche Bank had been founded in 1870, when a new law permitted the establishment of joint stock banks in Prussia. This was a few months before the unification of Germany and the creation of the German Empire. The bank's founders had a national-patriotic purpose in mind, which was indicated by the (rather ambitious) title they chose for their bank. It was supposed to challenge the preeminence of London in the financing of overseas trade.

In the first years of its existence, it very rapidly emerged as an energetically expanding international bank. It participated first in the establishment of the “German Bank of London” in 1871, and in 1873 then created its own London agency. In 1872 and 1873, it bought into New York and Paris banks, and in 1872, founded agencies in Shanghai and Yokohama. In 1874, it participated in a South American bank, and in 1886, created its own institution for South America, the Deutsche Übersee Bank (later Deutsche berseeische Bank or Banco Alemán Transatlántico). Besides trade finance, it carried out a number of important operations for the German government – including the sale in Asia of much of the Prussian stock of silver, as the empire prepared the transition from a silver – to a gold-based currency.