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{{short description|People of Germany}}
{{references}}
{{About|the people of Germany|other uses|German (disambiguation){{!}}German}}
{{two other uses|the Germans as an ] (see also ])|information on citizens or nationals of Germany (who are also Germans as defined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany) and foreign residents|demographics of Germany|information on speakers of the language|German language}}
{{pp-move}}
:''In a context of antiquity (pre AD 500), "Germans" is used in the sense of ].''
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
], seat of the ]]]
'''Germans''' ({{Langx|de|Deutsche}}, {{IPA|de|ˈdɔʏtʃə|pron|De-Deutsche.ogg}}) are the natives or inhabitants of ], or sometimes more broadly as a sociolinguistic group of those with German descent or native speakers of the ].<ref name="Merriam-Webster">{{cite web|title=German Definition & Meaning|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/German|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113075927/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/German|archive-date=13 November 2020|access-date=25 November 2020|website=Merriam-Webster}}</ref><ref name="OED">{{cite book|date=2010|chapter=German|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=anecAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA733|title=Oxford Dictionary of English|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=anecAQAAQBAJ|publisher=]|page=733|isbn=978-0199571123|access-date=22 December 2020|archive-date=4 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204224602/https://books.google.com/books?id=anecAQAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> The ], implemented in 1949 following the end of ], defines a German as a ].<ref>{{cite book|title=Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany|editor-last=Bundesministerium der Justiz und für Verbraucherschutz|editor-link=Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection|url=https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_gg/englisch_gg.html#p0728|chapter=Article 116|quote=Unless otherwise provided by a law, a German within the meaning of this Basic Law is a person who possesses German citizenship or who has been admitted to the territory of the German Reich within the boundaries of 31 December 1937 as a refugee or expellee of German ethnic origin or as the spouse or descendant of such person.|access-date=3 June 2021|archive-date=7 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107162050/https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_gg/englisch_gg.html#p0728|url-status=live}}</ref> During the 19th and much of the 20th century, discussions on German identity were dominated by concepts of a common language, culture, descent, and history.<ref name="Moser_172">{{harvnb|Moser|2011|p=172}}. "German identity developed through a long historical process that led, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, to the definition of the German nation as both a community of descent (]) and shared culture and experience. Today, the German language is the primary though not exclusive criterion of German identity."</ref> Today, the German language is widely seen as the primary, though not exclusive, criterion of German identity.<ref>{{harvnb|Haarmann|2015|p=313}}. "After centuries of political fragmentation, a sense of national unity as Germans began to evolve in the eighteenth century, and the German language became a key marker of national identity."</ref> Estimates on the total number of Germans in the world range from 100 to 150 million, most of whom live in Germany.<ref name="Moser_171">{{harvnb|Moser|2011|p=171}}. "The Germans live in Central Europe, mostly in Germany... Estimates of the total number of Germans in the world range from 100 million to 150 million, depending on how German is defined, but it is probably more appropriate to accept the lower figure."</ref>


The history of Germans as an ] began with the separation of a distinct ] from the ] of the ] under the ] in the 10th century, forming the core of the ]. In subsequent centuries the political power and population of this empire grew considerably. It expanded eastwards, and eventually a substantial number of Germans migrated further eastwards into ]. The empire itself was politically divided between many small princedoms, cities and bishoprics. Following the ] in the 16th century, many of these states found themselves in bitter conflict concerning the rise of ].
{{Ethnic group
|group=Germans <br> Deutsche
|image=]<br/><div style="background-color:#fee8ab"><small><small> ''(left to right)'': ] • ] • ] • ]• </small></small></div>
|population = 80 - 160 million <ref>73 million is the minimal estimate, counting 68 million ethnic Germans, plus some 5-10 million primary ancestry, German-speaking ethnic Germans worldwide{{Fact|date=February 2007}}. 160 is the maximal estimate, counting all people claiming ethnic German ancestry in the USA, Brazil and elsewhere.</ref>
|regions = {{flagcountry|Germany}} {{nbsp|6}} 68 million


In the 19th century, the Holy Roman Empire dissolved, and ] began to grow. At the same time however, the concept of German nationality became more complex. The multiethnic ] ] most Germans into its ] in 1871, and a substantial additional number of Germans were in the multiethnic kingdom of ]. During this time, a large number of Germans also emigrated to the ], particularly to the ], especially to present-day ]. Large numbers also emigrated to ] and ], and they established sizable communities in ] and ]. The ] also included a substantial German population.
|region1 = {{flagcountry|United States}}
|pop1 = 60 million
|ref1 = <ref>According to the ] , there are some 45 million US citizens claiming German ancestry, including Swiss, Alsatian, Austrian and ] Germans, and 2.95% (c. 8 million) of the US population speak German natively. See also ], ].</ref>


Following the end of ], Austria-Hungary and the German Empire were partitioned, resulting in many Germans becoming ] in newly established countries. In the chaotic years that followed, ] became the dictator of ] and embarked on a genocidal campaign to unify all Germans under his leadership. His Nazi movement defined Germans in a very specific way which included ], ], eastern ], and so-called {{lang|de|]}}, who were ethnic Germans elsewhere in Europe and globally. However, this Nazi conception expressly excluded German citizens of ] or ] background. Nazi policies of military aggression and its persecution of those deemed non-Germans in ] led to ] in which the Nazi regime was defeated by ], led by the ], the ], and the former ]. In the aftermath of Germany's defeat in the war, the country was occupied and once again partitioned. Millions of Germans were ] from Central and Eastern Europe. In 1990, ] and ] were ]. In modern times, remembrance of the Holocaust, known as {{lang|de|]}} ("culture of remembrance"), has become an integral part of German identity.
|region2 = {{flagcountry|Brazil}}
|pop2 = 12 million
|ref2 = <ref>The <br>] reports 6 millions Brazilians with German "single-ancestry" and 12 million with partly German ancestry. See ]</ref>


Owing to their long history of political fragmentation, Germans are culturally diverse and often have strong regional identities. Arts and sciences are an integral part of ], and the Germans have been represented by many prominent personalities in a significant number of disciplines, including ] where Germany is ranked ] among countries of the world in the number of total recipients.
|region3 = {{flagcountry|Canada}}
|pop3 = 3 million
|ref3 = <ref> gives 2,742,765 total respondents stating their ''ethnic origin'' as partly German, with 705,600 stating "single-ancestry", see ].</ref>


==Names==
|region4 = {{flagcountry|Argentina}}
{{Further|List of terms used for Germans|Names of Germany}}
|pop4 = 1,200,000
The English term '']'' is derived from the ] '']'', which was used for ] in ancient times.{{sfn|Haarmann|2015|p=313}}<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hoad|first1=T. F.|date=2003|chapter=German|chapter-url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780192830982.001.0001/acref-9780192830982-e-6407|title=The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology|publisher=]|doi=10.1093/acref/9780192830982.001.0001|isbn=9780192830982|access-date=22 December 2020|archive-date=24 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924162222/https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780192830982.001.0001/acref-9780192830982-e-6407|url-status=live}}</ref> Since the early modern period, it has been the most common name for the Germans in English, being applied to any citizens, natives or inhabitants of Germany, regardless of whether they are considered to have German ethnicity.
|ref4 = <ref>According to the there are more than 1,200,000 descendants of Volga Germans in Argentina (figures do not include other German communities).</ref>


In some contexts, people of German descent are also called Germans.<ref name="OED"/><ref name="Merriam-Webster"/> In historical discussions the term "Germans" is also occasionally used to refer to the Germanic peoples during the time of the ].<ref name="Merriam-Webster"/><ref name="Columbia">{{cite web|url=https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Germans|title=Germans|year=2013|website=]|publisher=]|access-date=5 December 2020|archive-date=30 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130100500/https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Germans|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Drinkwater">{{cite book|last1=Drinkwater|first1=John Frederick|author-link1=John Frederick Drinkwater|date=2012|chapter=Germans|chapter-url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199545568.001.0001/acref-9780199545568-e-2831|editor1-last=Hornblower|editor1-first=Simon|editor1-link=Simon Hornblower|editor2-last=Spawforth|editor2-first=Antony|editor3-last=Eidinow|editor3-first=Esther|editor3-link=Esther Eidinow|title=]|edition=4|publisher=]|page=613|doi=10.1093/acref/9780199545568.001.0001|isbn=9780191735257|access-date=22 December 2020|archive-date=9 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609021237/https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199545568.001.0001/acref-9780199545568-e-2831|url-status=live}}</ref>
|region5 = The {{flagcountry|CIS}} <small>(mainly {{flagcountry|Russia}} and {{flagcountry|Kazakhstan}})</small>
|pop5 = 1 million
|ref5 = <ref>a result of ]; see </ref>


The German ] '']'' is derived from the ] term '']'', which means "ethnic" or "relating to the people". This term was used for speakers of West-Germanic languages in Central Europe since at least the 8th century, after which time a distinct German ethnic identity began to emerge among at least some them living within the Holy Roman Empire.{{sfn|Haarmann|2015|p=313}} However, variants of the same term were also used in the ], for the related dialects of what is still called ] in English, which is now a national language of the ] and ].
|region6 = {{flagcountry|Australia}}
|pop6 = 742,212
|ref6 = <ref>The {{PDFlink||424&nbsp;]<!-- application/pdf, 434335 bytes -->}} reports 742,212 people of German ancestry in the 2001 ]. German is spoken by ca. 135,000 , about 105,000 of them Germany-born, see ]</ref>


==History==
|region7 = {{flagcountry|Netherlands}}
{{See also|History of Germany}}
|pop7 = 386,200 {{Fact|date=January 2007}}
] of ], situated between the ] and ] rivers, a region which the early ] attempted to conquer and control]]
|ref7 =


===Ancient history===
|region8 = {{flagcountry|Spain}}
{{See also|Germania Antiqua|Limes Germanicus|Germanic peoples|Germania}}
|pop8 = 208,349
] in 972 (red line) and 1035 (red dots) with the ], including ], marked in blue]]
|ref8 = <ref></ref>
The first information about the peoples living in what is now Germany was provided by the Roman general and dictator ], who gave an account of his conquest of neighbouring ] in the 1st century BC. Gaul included parts of what is now Germany, west of the ] river. He specifically noted the potential future threat which could come from the related ] (''Germani'') east of the river. Archaeological evidence shows that at the time of Caesar's invasion, both Gaul and Germanic regions had long been strongly influenced by the ] ] ].<ref name="Heather"/> However, the ] associated with later Germanic peoples were approaching the Rhine area since at least the 2nd century BC.{{sfn|Minahan|2000|pp=288–289}} The resulting demographic situation reported by Caesar was that migrating Celts and Germanic peoples were moving into areas which threatened the Alpine regions and the Romans.<ref name="Heather"/>


The modern German language is a descendant of the Germanic languages which spread during the Iron Age and Roman era. Scholars generally agree that it is possible to speak of Germanic languages existing as early as 500 BCE.{{sfn|Steuer|2021|p=32}} These Germanic languages are believed to have dispersed towards the Rhine from the direction of the ], which was itself a Celtic influenced culture that existed in the ], in the region near the Elbe river. It is likely that ], which defines the Germanic language family, occurred during this period.{{sfn|Steuer|2021|p=89, 1310}} The earlier ] of southern Scandinavia also shows definite population and material continuities with the Jastorf Culture,{{sfn|Timpe|Scardigli|2010|p=636}} but it is unclear whether these indicate ethnic continuity.{{sfn|Todd|1999|p=11}}
|region9 = {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
|pop9 = 180-250,000 {{Fact|date=January 2007}}
|ref9 =


Under Caesar's successors, the Romans began to conquer and control the entire region between the Rhine and the Elbe which centuries later constituted the largest part of medieval Germany. These efforts were significantly hampered by the victory of a local alliance led by ] at the ] in 9 AD, which is considered a defining moment in German history. While the Romans were nevertheless victorious, rather than installing a Roman administration they controlled the region indirectly for centuries, recruiting soldiers there, and playing the tribes off against each other.<ref name="Heather"/>{{sfn|Moser|2011|p=172}} The early Germanic peoples were later famously described in more detail in '']'' by the 1st century Roman historian ]. He described them as a diverse group, dominating a much larger area than Germany, stretching to the ] in the east, and ] in the north.
|region10 = {{flagcountry|Chile}}
|pop10 = 150,000 - 200,000
|ref10 = <ref>Deutscher als die Deutschen </ref> <ref>Die soziolinguistische Situation von Chilenen deutscher Abstammung </ref>


===Medieval history===
|region11 = {{flagcountry|Paraguay}}
], also known as the German eastward settlement. The left map shows the situation in roughly 895 AD; the right map shows it about 1400 AD. Germanic peoples (left map) and Germans (right map) are shown in light red.]]
|pop11 = 160,000 {{Fact|date=January 2007}}
] after the ], 1648]]
|ref11 =
German ethnicity began to emerge in medieval times among the descendants of those ] who had lived under heavy Roman influence between the Rhine and Elbe rivers. This included ], ], ], ], ] and ] - all of whom spoke related dialects of ].<ref name="Heather">{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Germany/History#ref58082|title=Germany: Ancient History|last=Heather|first=Peter|author-link=Peter Heather|website=]|publisher=]|access-date=21 November 2020|quote=Within the boundaries of present-day Germany... Germanic peoples such as the eastern Franks, Frisians, Saxons, Thuringians, Alemanni, and Bavarians—all speaking West Germanic dialects—had merged Germanic and borrowed Roman cultural features. It was among these groups that a German language and ethnic identity would gradually develop during the Middle Ages.|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331232159/https://www.britannica.com/place/Germany/History#ref58082|url-status=live}}</ref>
These peoples had come under the dominance of the western Franks starting with ], who established control of the Romanized and Frankish population of Gaul in the 5th century, and began a process of conquering the peoples east of the Rhine. The regions long continued to be divided into "]", corresponding to the old ethnic designations.{{sfn|Minahan|2000|pp=288–289}} By the early 9th century AD, large parts of Europe were united under the rule of the Frankish leader ], who expanded the ] in several directions including east of the Rhine, consolidating power over the ] and ], and establishing the ]. Charlemagne was crowned emperor by ] in 800.{{sfn|Minahan|2000|pp=288–289}}


In the generations after Charlemagne the empire was partitioned at the ] (843), eventually resulting in the long-term separation between the states of ], ] and ]. Beginning with ], non-Frankish dynasties also ruled the eastern kingdom, and under his son ], East Francia, which was mostly German, constituted the core of the ].{{sfn|Haarmann|2015|pp=313–314}} Also under control of this loosely controlled empire were the previously independent kingdoms of ], ], and ]. The latter was a Roman and Frankish area which contained some of the oldest and most important old German cities including ], ] and ], all west of the Rhine, and it became another Duchy within the eastern kingdom. Leaders of the stem duchies which constituted this eastern kingdom — Lotharingia, ], ], ], ], and ] ― initially wielded considerable power independently of the king.{{sfn|Minahan|2000|pp=288–289}} German kings were elected by members of the noble families, who often sought to have weak kings elected in order to preserve their own independence. This prevented an early unification of the Germans.{{sfn|Haarmann|2015|p=314}}{{sfn|Minahan|2000|pp=289–290}}
|region12 = {{flagcountry|Poland}}
|pop12 = 150,000
|ref12 = <ref>mainly in ], see ].</ref>


A warrior nobility dominated the ] German society of the Middle Ages, while most of the German population consisted of peasants with few political rights.{{sfn|Minahan|2000|pp=288–289}} The church played an important role among Germans in the Middle Ages, and competed with the nobility for power.{{sfn|Moser|2011|p=173}} Between the 11th and 13th centuries, Germans actively participated in five ] to "liberate" the ].{{sfn|Moser|2011|p=173}} From the beginnings of the kingdom, its dynasties also participated in a push eastwards into Slavic-speaking regions. At the ] in the north, the ] east of the Elbe were conquered over generations of often brutal conflict. Under the later control of powerful German dynasties it became an important region within modern Germany, and home to its modern capital, Berlin. German population also moved eastwards from the 11th century, in what is known as the ].{{sfn|Minahan|2000|pp=289–290}} Over time, Slavic and German-speaking populations assimilated, meaning that many modern Germans have substantial Slavic ancestry.{{sfn|Haarmann|2015|pp=313–314}} From the 12th century, many Germans settled as merchants and craftsmen in the ], where they came to constitute a significant proportion of the population in many urban centers such as ].{{sfn|Haarmann|2015|pp=313–314}} During the 13th century, the ] began conquering the ], and established what would eventually become the powerful German state of ].{{sfn|Minahan|2000|pp=289–290}}
|region13 = {{flagcountry|Switzerland}}
|pop13 = 112,000 </small>(4.6 million including ] ])</small>
|ref13 = <ref>112,348 resident aliens (nationals or citizens) as of 2000 , see ]. The , identifies the 65% (4.9 million) Swiss German speakers as "ethnic Germans".</ref>


Further south, ] and ] developed as kingdoms with their own non-German speaking elites. The ] on the ] stopped expanding eastwards towards Hungary in the 11th century. Under ], Bohemia (corresponding roughly to modern Czechia) became a kingdom within the empire, and even managed to take control of Austria, which was German-speaking. However, the late 13th century saw the election of ] of the ] to the imperial throne, and he was able to acquire Austria for his own family. The Habsburgs would continue to play an important role in European history for centuries afterwards. Under the leadership of the Habsburgs the Holy Roman Empire itself remained weak, and by the late Middle Ages much of Lotharingia and Burgundy had come under the control of French dynasts, the ] and ]. Step by step, Italy, Switzerland, ], and ] were no longer subject to effective imperial control.
|region14 = {{flagcountry|Venezuela}}
|pop14 = 110,000 {{Fact|date=January 2007}}
|ref14 =


Trade increased and there was a specialization of the arts and crafts.{{sfn|Moser|2011|p=173}} In the late Middle Ages the German economy grew under the influence of urban centers, which increased in size and wealth and formed powerful leagues, such as the ] and the ], in order to protect their interests, often through supporting the German kings in their struggles with the nobility.{{sfn|Minahan|2000|pp=289–290}} These urban leagues significantly contributed to the development of German commerce and banking. German merchants of Hanseatic cities settled in cities throughout Northern Europe beyond the German lands.{{sfn|Minahan|2000|p=290}}
|region15 = {{flagcountry|Austria}}
|pop15 = 74,000 </small>(7.9 million including ], if Austrians are regarded as Germans)</small>
|ref15 = <ref>0.9% of the population (German nationals or citizens only) , ; see also ]; ] are ethnically also included under "Germans", </ref><br />


===Modern history===
|region16 = {{flagcountry|Denmark}}
] in red, ] in blue, ] in yellow, and other member states in grey. Large parts of ] and some parts of ] did not belong to the German Confederation.]]
|pop16 = 15-20,000 </small>(border region)</small>
] in a mass grave at ]]]
|ref16 = <ref></ref>
] from ] in 1948]]
|langs=], ], ]
] during ] in 1989 in front of the ]]]
|rels=], ] (chiefly ]), secular, others}}
The Habsburg dynasty managed to maintain their grip upon the imperial throne in the ]. While the empire itself continued to be largely de-centralized, the Habsburgs own personal power increased outside of the core German lands. ] personally inherited control of the kingdoms of Hungary and Bohemia, the wealthy low countries (roughly modern Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands), the Kingdoms of Castile, Aragon, Sicily, Naples, and Sardinia, and the Dukedom of Milan. Of these, the Bohemian and Hungarian titles remained connected to the imperial throne for centuries, making Austria a powerful multilingual empire in its own right. On the other hand, the ] went to the Spanish crown and continued to evolve separately from Germany.


The introduction of printing by the German inventor ] contributed to the formation of a new understanding of faith and reason. At this time, the German monk ] pushed for reforms within the Catholic Church. Luther's efforts culminated in the ].{{sfn|Moser|2011|p=173}}
'''Germans''' ({{lang-de|Deutsche}}) are defined as an ], in the sense of sharing a common ], speaking the ] as a ] and being of ] ]. Germans are also defined by their ''national'' ], which had, in the course of ], varying relations to the above (]), according to the influence of ]s and ] in general (also refer to ], ] etc. and ''']'''). The Germans are most commonly defined as a Germanic people assimilated with minor ]ic, ], and ]ic elements.{{fact}}
While there are approximately 100 million native German speakers in the world, about 75 million consider themselves Germans.{{fact}} There are an additional 70 million people of German ancestry (mainly in the USA, Brazil, Argentina, Kazakhstan and Canada) who are not native speakers of German and who may still consider themselves ]s, so that the total number of Germans worldwide lies between 75 and 160 million, according to the criteria applied (native speakers, single-ancestry ethnic Germans or partial German ancestry). In the ] at least every fourth white American citizen is of German descent{{fact}}, more than any other ethnic group, according to the ] of 2000.


Religious schism was a leading cause of the ], a conflict that tore apart the Holy Roman Empire and its neighbours, leading to the death of millions of Germans. The terms of the ] (1648) ending the war, included a major reduction in the central authority of the Holy Roman Emperor.{{sfn|Moser|2011|pp=173–174}} Among the most powerful German states to emerge in the aftermath was Protestant ], under the rule of the ].{{sfn|Minahan|2000|pp=290–291}} Charles V and his Habsburg dynasty defended Roman Catholicism.
==History of the term==
] in 1512]]
The English term as used today translates German ''Deutsch''. It is derived from Latin '']'' and has used since the 16th century synonymously with "Teuton", after ''teutonicus'' used in Latin since the 9th century to refer to the German language, from the name of the ]. Before the 16th century, the terms used in English were ''Almain'', from the name of the ], or ''Dutch'', an imitation of both ] "'']''" (meaning "]") and the ] cognate "''deutsch''" (meaning: "German"). The diffuse nature of the term mirrors the heterogeneous nature of the ], from the 16th century also known as "Holy Roman Empire of the German nation".


In the 18th century, German culture was significantly influenced by the ].{{sfn|Moser|2011|pp=173–174}}
== Ethnic Germans ==
The term '']s'' may be used in several ways. It may serve to distinguish Germans from those who may have citizenship in the German state but are not Germans; or it may indicate Germans living as minorities in other nations. In English usage, but less often in German, ''Ethnic Germans'' may be used for ] descendants of German emigrants.


After centuries of political fragmentation, a sense of German unity began to emerge in the 18th century.{{sfn|Haarmann|2015|p=313}} The Holy Roman Empire continued to decline until being ] altogether by ] in 1806. In central Europe, the Napoleonic wars ushered in great social, political and economic changes, and catalyzed a ] among the Germans. By the late 18th century, German intellectuals such as ] articulated the concept of a German identity rooted in language, and this notion helped spark the ] movement, which sought to unify the Germans into a single ].{{sfn|Haarmann|2015|p=314}} Eventually, shared ancestry, culture and language (though not religion) came to define German nationalism.{{sfn|Moser|2011|p=172}} The ] ended with the ] (1815), and left most of the German states loosely united under the ]. The confederation came to be dominated by the Catholic ], to the dismay of many German nationalists, who saw the German Confederation as an inadequate answer to the ].{{sfn|Minahan|2000|pp=290–291}}
]


Throughout the 19th century, Prussia continued to grow in power.{{sfn|Moser|2011|p=174}} ], German revolutionaries set up the temporary ], but failed in their aim of forming a united German homeland. The Prussians proposed an ] of the German states, but this effort was torpedoed by the Austrians through the ] (1850), recreating the German Confederation. In response, Prussia sought to use the ] customs union to increase its power among the German states.{{sfn|Minahan|2000|pp=290–291}} Under the leadership of ], Prussia expanded its sphere of influence and together with its German allies defeated ] in the ] and soon after ] in the ], subsequently establishing the ]. In 1871, the Prussian coalition decisively defeated the ] in the ], annexing the German speaking region of ]. After taking Paris, Prussia and their allies ] the formation of a united ].{{sfn|Haarmann|2015|p=314}}
]s form an important minority group in several countries in ] and ] (], ], ], ]) as well as in ], southern ] (]), ], ] and ].


In the years following unification, German society was radically changed by numerous processes, including industrialization, rationalization, secularization and the rise of capitalism.{{sfn|Moser|2011|p=174}} German power increased considerably and numerous overseas colonies were established.{{sfn|Minahan|2000|pp=291–292}} During this time, the German population grew considerably, and many emigrated to other countries (mainly North America), contributing to the growth of the ]. Competition for colonies between the Great Powers contributed to the outbreak of ], in which the German, Austro-Hungarian and ]s formed the ], an alliance that was ultimately defeated, with none of the empires comprising it surviving the aftermath of the war. Under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, the German and Austro-Hungarian Empires were both dissolved and partitioned, resulting in millions of Germans becoming ethnic minorities in other countries.{{sfn|Haarmann|2015|pp=314–315}} The monarchical rulers of the German states, including the German emperor ], were overthrown in the ] which led to the establishment of the ]. The Germans of the ] side of the ] proclaimed the ], and sought to be incorporated into the German state, but this was forbidden by the ] and ].{{sfn|Minahan|2000|pp=291–292}}
Some groups may be noted as Ethnic Germans despite no longer having German as their mother tongue or belonging to a distinct German culture. Until the 1990s, two million Ethnic Germans lived throughout the former Soviet Union, especially in ] and ].


What many Germans saw as the "humiliation of Versailles",{{sfn|Haarmann|2015|p=316}} continuing traditions of authoritarian and ] ideologies,{{sfn|Moser|2011|p=174}} and the ] all contributed to the rise of Austrian-born ] and the Nazis, who after coming to power democratically in the early 1930s, abolished the Weimar Republic and formed the totalitarian ]. In his quest to subjugate Europe, six million ] were murdered in ]. WWII resulted in widespread destruction and the deaths of tens of millions of soldiers and civilians, while the German state was partitioned. About 12 million Germans ] from Eastern Europe.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Troebst|first=Stefan|title=The Discourse on Forced Migration and European Culture of Remembrance|journal=The Hungarian Historical Review|volume=1|number=3/4|year=2012|pages=397–414|jstor=42568610}}</ref> Significant damage was also done to the German reputation and identity,{{sfn|Haarmann|2015|pp=314–315}} which became far less nationalistic than it previously was.{{sfn|Haarmann|2015|p=316}}
In the ] 1990 census, 57 million people are fully or partly of German ancestry, forming the largest single ethnic group in the country. Most Americans of German descent live in the ] (especially ]) and the northern ] (especially in ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and eastern ]), but historically Germanic immigrant enclaves can be found in many other states (e.g., the ]s).


The German states of ] and ] became focal points of the ], but were ] in 1990. Although there were fears that the reunified Germany might resume nationalist politics, the country is today widely regarded as a "stablizing actor in the heart of Europe" and a "promoter of democratic integration".{{sfn|Haarmann|2015|p=316}}
Notable Ethnic German populations also exist in other ] countries such as ] (approx. 9% of the population) and ] (approx. 4% of the population).


==History== ==Language==
[[File:Legal statuses of German in Europe.svg|thumb|right|
=== Origins ===
The ] in Europe:
{{main|Germanic peoples}}
<small>{{legend|#ffcc00|'''German''' ''''']''''': German is the official language (de jure or de facto) and first language of most of the population.}}
The Germans are a ] which as an ethnicity emerged in southern ] in the centuries leading up to the ], where they were in contact with other peoples, including ] inhabitants of Scandinavia to the north, ] peoples to the east and ] to the south. Later in history, Germanic peoples — as most other European people — mixed with bordering ethnic groups such as ]s and ].
{{legend|#d98575|German is a co-official language but not the first language of most of the population.}}
For the global genetic make-up of the Germans and other peoples, see also the {{PDFlink||386&nbsp;]<!-- application/pdf, 395644 bytes -->}} and the
{{legend|#7373d9|German (or a German dialect) is a legally recognized minority language (squares: geographic distribution too dispersed/small for map scale).}}
{{legend|#30efe3|German (or a variety of German) is spoken by a sizeable minority but has no legal recognition.}}</small>]]
{{Main|German language}}
{{Further|Geographical distribution of German speakers}}
] is the native language of most Germans. It is the key marker of German ethnic identity.{{sfn|Haarmann|2015|p=313}}{{sfn|Moser|2011|p=172}} German is a ] language closely related to ] (in particular ] and ]), ], ], ], and ].{{sfn|Haarmann|2015|p=313}} Modern ] is based on ] and ], and is the first or second language of most Germans, but notably not the ].{{sfn|Minahan|2000|p=288}}


], which is often considered to be a distinct language from both German and Dutch, was the historical language of most of northern Germany, and is still spoken by many Germans, often as a second language.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}
], is here assumed to be Germanic, others consider it to have been Slavic, or mixed]]
In the course of the ], ] expanded westwards at the same time as Germans expanded eastwards. The result was German ] as far East as ], and Slavic colonization as far west as present-day ] (at the ]), ] (connected to the ]), and along the river ] and its tributary ] further South.


==Geographic distribution==
===Middle Ages===
{{See also|German diaspora}}
A "German" as opposed to generically "Germanic" ethnicity emerges in the course of the Middle Ages, under the influence of the unity of ] from the 9th century.{{Fact|date=May 2007}} The process is gradual and lacks any clear definition.


It is estimated that there are over 100 million Germans today, most of whom live in Germany, where they constitute the majority of the population. {{sfn|Moser|2011|pp=171–172}} There are also sizable populations of Germans in Austria, Switzerland, the United States, Brazil, France, Kazakhstan, Russia, Argentina, Canada, Poland, Italy, Hungary, Australia, South Africa, Chile, Paraguay, and Namibia.<ref name="Haarmann_Populations">{{harvnb|Haarmann|2015|p=313}}. "Of the 100 million German speakers worldwide, about three quarters (76 million) live in Germany, where they account for 92 percent of the population. Populations of Germans live elsewhere in Central and Western Europe, with the largest communities in Austria (7.6 million), Switzerland (4.2 million), France (1.2 million), Kazakhstan (900,000), Russia (840,000), Poland (700,000), Italy (280,000), and Hungary (250,000). Some 1.6 million U.S. citizens speak German as their first language, the largest number of German speakers overseas."</ref><ref name="Moser_Populations">{{harvnb|Moser|2011|pp=171–172}}. "The Germans live in Central Europe, mostly in Germany... The largest populations outside of these countries are found in the United States (5 million), Brazil (3 million), the former Soviet Union (2 million), Argentina (500,000), Canada (450,000), Spain (170,000), Australia (110,000), the United Kingdom (100,000), and South Africa (75,000). "</ref>
After ], the superior organization of the ] lent the upper hand for a German expansion at the expense of the Slavs, giving the ] '']'' as a result. At the same time, naval innovations led to a German domination of trade in the Baltic Sea and Central–Eastern Europe through the ]. Along the trade routes, Hanseatic trade stations became centers of Germanness where German urban law ''(])'' was promoted by the presence of large, relatively wealthy German populations and their influence on the worldly powers.


==Culture==
This means that people whom we today often consider "Germans", with a common culture and ] very different from that of the surrounding ] peoples, colonized as far north of present-day Germany as ] (in ]), ] (in ]), and ] (now in ]). At the same time, it is important to note that the Hanseatic League was not exclusively German in any ethnic sense. Many towns who joined the league were outside of the Holy Roman Empire, which wasn't by far entirely German itself, and some of them ought not at all be characterized as ''German.''
{{See also|Culture of Germany}}
] in ]; remembering ] is an essential part of modern German culture.{{sfn|Moser|2011|p=174}}]]
The Germans are marked by great regional diversity, which makes identifying a single German culture quite difficult.{{sfn|Moser|2011|pp=176–177}} The arts and sciences have for centuries been an important part of German identity.{{sfn|Waldman|Mason|2005|pp=334–335}} The ] and the ] saw a notable flourishing of German culture. Germans of this period who contributed significantly to the arts and sciences include the writers ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and the ], the philosopher ], the architect ], the painter ], and the composers ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].{{sfn|Moser|2011|pp=176–177}}


Popular German dishes include ] and ]. Germans consume a high amount of ], particularly beer, compared to other European peoples. Obesity is relatively widespread among Germans.{{sfn|Moser|2011|pp=176–177}}
It is only in the late 15th century that the German empire comes to be called ], and even this was not in any way exclusively German, notably including a sizeable ] minority.
The ] confirmed the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, and the ] gave it its ]''.


] (German: ''Karneval'', ''Fasching'', or ''Fastnacht'') is an important part of German culture, particularly in ] and the ]. An important German festival is the ].{{sfn|Moser|2011|pp=176–177}}
=== The Divided Germany ===


A steadily shrinking majority of Germans are ]. About a third are ], while one third adheres to ]. Another third does not profess any religion.{{sfn|Moser|2011|p=172}} Christian holidays such as ] and ] are celebrated by many Germans.{{sfn|Moser|2011|p=176}} The number of ]s is growing.{{sfn|Moser|2011|p=176}} There is also a notable ] community, which was decimated in ].{{sfn|Minahan|2000|p=174}} Remembering the Holocaust is an important part of German culture.{{sfn|Moser|2011|p=174}}
The idea that Germany is a divided nation is not new and not peculiar. Foreign powers had long interceded in German affairs, pitting one German principality against the other. Since the ], Germany has been "one nation split in many countries". The ]n&ndash;]n split, confirmed when Austria remained outside of the 1871 created ], was only the most prominent example. The initial unification of Germany came as a great shock to these foreign powers, who had been trying to undo Germany as a national entity for many years. Most recently, the division between ] and ] kept the idea alive.


==Identity==
The beginnings of the divided Germany may be traced back much further;{{fact}} to a ] occupied ] in the west and to ''Free Germania'' in the east. Starkly different ideologies have many times been developed due to conquerors and occupiers of sections of Germany. Poets talked of ''Zwei Seelen in einem Herz'' (Two souls in one heart).
{{Further|German nationalism|Pan-Germanism}}
A German ethnic identity began to emerge during the ].<ref name="Haarmann_313">{{harvnb|Haarmann|2015|p=313}} "Germans are a Germanic (or Teutonic) people that are indigenous to Central Europe... Germanic tribes have inhabited Central Europe since at least Roman times, but it was not until the early Middle Ages that a distinct German ethnic identity began to emerge."</ref> These peoples came to be referred to by the High German term ''diutisc'', which means "ethnic" or "relating to the people". The German endonym '']'' is derived from this word.{{sfn|Haarmann|2015|p=313}} In subsequent centuries, the German lands were relatively decentralized, leading to the maintenance of a number of strong regional identities.{{sfn|Haarmann|2015|p=314}}{{sfn|Minahan|2000|pp=289–290}}


The German nationalist movement emerged among German intellectuals in the late 18th century. They saw the Germans as a people united by language and advocated the unification of all Germans into a single nation state, which was partially achieved in 1871. By the late 19th and early 20th century, German identity came to be defined by a shared descent, culture, and history.<ref name="Moser_172"/> '']'' elements identified Germanness with "a shared Christian heritage" and "biological essence", to the exclusion of the notable Jewish minority.{{sfn|Rock|2019|p=32}} After the Holocaust and the downfall of Nazism, "any confident sense of Germanness had become suspect, if not impossible".{{sfn|Rock|2019|p=33}} East Germany and West Germany both sought to build up an identity on historical or ideological lines, distancing themselves both from the Nazi past and each other.{{sfn|Rock|2019|p=33}} After German reunification in 1990, the political discourse was characterized by the idea of a "shared, ethnoculturally defined Germanness", and the general climate became increasingly xenophobic during the 1990s.{{sfn|Rock|2019|p=33}} Today, discussion on Germanness may stress various aspects, such as commitment to pluralism and the German constitution (]),{{sfn|Rock|2019|pp=33–34}} or the notion of a ''Kulturnation'' (nation sharing a common culture).{{sfn|Rock|2019|p=34}} The German language remains the primary criterion of modern German identity.<ref name="Moser_172"/>
In the 19th century, after the ] and the fall of the ], ] and ] would emerge as two opposite poles in Germany, trying to re-establish the divided German nation. In 1870, Prussia attracted even ] <!-- the old ally of France --> in the ] and the creation of the ] as a German ], effectively excluding the multi-ethnic Austrian ].


==See also==
The dissolution of the ] after ] led to a strong desire of the population of the new ] to be integrated into Germany. This was, however, prevented by the ].
{{Portal|Germany|Austria|Switzerland|Luxembourg}}
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*'']'', ZDF's documentary television series
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==Notes==
Trying to overcome the shortfall of Chancellor ]'s creation, the ] attempted to unite "all Germans" in one realm. This was welcomed among ethnic Germans in ], ], ], ] and Western ], but met resistance among the ] and the ], who mostly were perfectly content with their perception of separate nations established in 1648. The Dutch, in particular, had never even spoken a form of the German language.
{{Notelist}}


==References==
Before ], most ] considered themselves German{{fact}} and denied the existence of a distinct Austrian ethnic identity.{{fact}} It was only after the defeat of ] in World War II that this began to change.{{fact}} After the War, the Austrians increasingly saw themselves as a nation distinct from the other German-speaking areas of Europe; today, some polls have indicated that no more than 10% of the German-speaking Austrians see themselves as part of a larger German nation linked by blood or language.{{Fact|date=January 2007}}
{{Reflist}}


==Bibliography==
== Ethnic nationalism ==
{{refbegin|30em}}
{{main|Völkisch movement}}
*{{cite book|last1=Haarmann|first1=Harald|author-link1=Harald Haarmann|year=2015|chapter=Germans|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vf4TBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA313|editor1-last=Danver|editor1-first=Steven|editor1-link=Steven L. Danver|title=Native Peoples of the World: An Encyclopedia of Groups, Cultures and Contemporary Issues|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vf4TBwAAQBAJ|publisher=]|pages=313–316|isbn=978-1317464006|access-date=22 June 2018|archive-date=14 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014091223/https://books.google.com/books?id=vf4TBwAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}
The reaction evoked in the decades after the Napoleonic Wars was a strong ] that emphasized, and sometimes overemphasized, the cultural bond between Germans. Later alloyed with the high standing and world-wide influence of German science at the end of the 19th century, and to some degree enhanced by ] military successes and the following 40 years of almost perpetual economic boom (the '']),'' it gave the Germans an impression of cultural supremacy, particularly compared to the ].
*{{cite book|last1=Moser|first1=Johannes|author-link=Johannes Moser (ethnologist)|year=2011|chapter=Germans|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wlth0GRi0N0C&pg=PA171|editor1-last=Cole|editor1-first=Jeffrey|editor1-link=Jeffrey Cole|title=Ethnic Groups of Europe: An Encyclopedia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wlth0GRi0N0C|publisher=]|pages=171–177|isbn=978-1598843026|access-date=25 October 2015|archive-date=10 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110202848/https://books.google.com/books?id=Wlth0GRi0N0C|url-status=live}}
*{{cite book|last1=Minahan|first1=James|year=2000|chapter=Germans|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NwvoM-ZFoAgC&pg=PA287|title=One Europe, Many Nations: A Historical Dictionary of European National Groups|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NwvoM-ZFoAgC|publisher=]|pages=287–294|isbn=0313309841|access-date=11 March 2016|archive-date=21 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321014815/http://books.google.com/books?id=NwvoM-ZFoAgC|url-status=live}}
*{{cite book|last=Steuer|first=Heiko|title=Germanen aus Sicht der Archäologie: Neue Thesen zu einem alten Thema|publisher=de Gruyter|year=2021}}
*{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Timpe|first1=Dieter|last2=Scardigli|first2=Barbara|display-authors=etal|title=Germanen, Germania, Germanische Altertumskunde|encyclopedia=Germanische Altertumskunde Online|year=2010|orig-year=1998|pages=363–876|url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/database/GAO/entry/RGA_1884/html|access-date=22 April 2023|archive-date=17 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817192455/https://www.degruyter.com/document/database/GAO/entry/RGA_1884/html|url-status=live}}
*{{Cite book|last=Todd|first=Malcolm|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p5QdmV3zNpIC|title=The Early Germans|year=1999|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-1-4051-3756-0|edition=2009|author-link=Malcolm Todd|access-date=22 April 2023|archive-date=23 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423122528/https://books.google.com/books?id=p5QdmV3zNpIC|url-status=live}}
*{{cite book|last1=Waldman|first1=Carl|last2=Mason|first2=Catherine|year=2005|chapter=Germans|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kfv6HKXErqAC&pg=PA330|title=Encyclopedia of European Peoples|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kfv6HKXErqAC|publisher=]|pages=330–335|isbn=1438129181|access-date=22 December 2020|archive-date=28 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151128103819/https://books.google.com/books?id=kfv6HKXErqAC|url-status=live}}
{{Refend}}


== Religion == ==Further reading==
{{refbegin|20em}}
The ] started in the German cultural sphere, when in 1517, ] posted his ] to the door of the ''Schlosskirche'' ("castle church") in ]. Today, the German identity includes both Protestants and ]. The groups are about equally represented in Germany, contrary to the belief that it is mostly Protestant. Among ], the ] are well represented by the Germans, while ] are historically only to be found near the ] border and in a few cities like ] and ]. The late 19th century saw a strong movement among the ]ry in Germany and Austria to assimilate and define themselves as ''à priori'' Germans, i.e. as Germans of ] (a similar movement occurred in Hungary). In conservative circles, this was not always embraced, and, for the Nazis, it was unacceptable. The Nazi rule led to the expulsion of almost all of the relatively small number of domestic Jews. Today Germany attempts to successfully integrate the '']'' and later arrived ]s from ex-], who often are ]s.
*{{cite book|last1=Craig|first1=Gordon Alexander|author-link1=Gordon Alexander Craig|year=1983|title=The Germans|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_UGx5zKqjQcC|publisher=]|isbn=0452006228|access-date=23 December 2020|archive-date=27 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527125700/https://books.google.com/books?id=_UGx5zKqjQcC|url-status=live}}

*{{cite book|last1=Elias|first1=Norbert|author-link1=Norbert Elias|year=1996|title=The Germans|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MBS7wAEACAAJ|publisher=]|isbn=0231105630|access-date=23 December 2020|archive-date=27 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527125701/https://books.google.com/books?id=MBS7wAEACAAJ|url-status=live}}
== Minorities ==
*{{cite book|last1=James|first1=Harold|author-link1=Harold James (historian)|year=2000|title=A German Identity|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QFd2QgAACAAJ|edition=2|publisher=]|isbn=1842122045|access-date=23 December 2020|archive-date=27 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527125703/https://books.google.com/books?id=QFd2QgAACAAJ|url-status=live}}
In recent years, the German-speaking countries of Europe have been confronted with demographic changes due to decades of immigration. These changes have led to renewed debates (especially in the Federal Republic of Germany) about who should be considered German. Non-ethnic Germans now make up more than 8% of the German population, mostly the descendants of guest workers who arrived in the 1960s and 1970s. ], ], ], and people from the ] in ] form the largest single groups of non-ethnic Germans in the country.
*{{cite book|last=Mallory|first=J. P.|author-link=J. P. Mallory|year=1991|chapter=Germans|title=In Search of the Indo-Europeans: Language Archeology and Myth|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lENVpwAACAAJ|publisher=]|pages=84–87|access-date=23 December 2020|archive-date=3 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303031629/https://books.google.com/books?id=lENVpwAACAAJ|url-status=live}}

*{{cite book|last1=Rock|first1=Lena|author-link1=Lena Rock|year=2019|title=As German as Kafka: Identity and Singularity in German Literature around 1900 and 2000|publisher=]|jstor=j.ctvss3xg0|doi=10.2307/j.ctvss3xg0|isbn=9789462701786|s2cid=241563332}}
In addition, a significant number of German citizens (close to 5%), although traditionally considered ], are in fact foreign-born and thus often retain the cultural identities and languages or their native countries in addition to being Germans, a fact that sets them apart from those born and raised in Germany. Of course, the idea of foreign-born repatriates is not unique to Germany. The English and British equivalent legal term is ], which is exactly the same principle- that citizenship is inherited by the child from his/her parents. It has nothing to do with ethnicity.
*{{cite book|last1=Todd|first1=Malcolm|author-link1=Malcolm Todd|year=2004a|title=The Early Germans|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZxXltwAACAAJ|publisher=]|isbn=9781405117142|access-date=23 December 2020|archive-date=5 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805062110/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZxXltwAACAAJ|url-status=live}}

*{{cite book|last=Wells|first=Peter S.|author-link=Peter S. Wells|year=2011|chapter=The Ancient Germans|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fS4XmwEEsRkC&pg=PA211|editor-last=Bonfante|editor-first=Larissa|editor-link=Larissa Bonfante|title=The Barbarians of Ancient Europe|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fS4XmwEEsRkC|publisher=]|pages=211–232|isbn=978-0-521-19404-4|access-date=23 December 2020|archive-date=27 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527125702/https://books.google.com/books?id=fS4XmwEEsRkC|url-status=live}}
Ethnic German repatriates from the former Soviet Union are a separate case and constitute by far the largest such group and the second largest ethno-national minority group in Germany. The repatriation provisions made for ethnic Germans in Eastern Europe are unique and have historical basis, since these were areas where Germans traditionally lived. A controversial example of repatriation involves the ], descendents of ethnic Germans who settled in Russia during the 18th century, who have been able to claim German citizenship even though neither they nor their ancestors for several generations have ever been to Germany. In contrast, persons of German descent in North America, South America, Africa, etc. do not have an automatic right of return and must actually prove their eligibility for German citizenship according to the clauses pertaining to the ]. Other countries with post-Soviet Union repatriation programs include ], ] and ].
{{Refend}}

Unlike these ethnic German repatriates, some non-German ethnic minorities in the country, including some who were born and raised in the Federal Republic, choose to remain non-citizens. Although citizenship laws have been recently relaxed to allow such individuals to become nationalized citizens, many choose not to give up allegiance to the countries of their ethnic roots and continue to live in Germany under an ambiguous status of an alien resident or a guest worker, especially since this status, though lacking certain political rights, often does not impede one's ability to work, get free public higher education and travel abroad.

As a result, close to 10 million people permanently living in the Federal Republic today distinctly differ from the majority of the population in a variety of ways such as race, ethnicity, religion, language and culture, yet often fail to be recognized as minorities in official statistical sources due to the fact that such sources traditionally survey only German citizens, and under the so called '']'' system, that has been in effect in Germany since the 19th century, and has only recently been partially replaced by the alternative '']'' system. This situation contributes to the invisibility of Germany's minorities making Germany technically one of the most ethnically homogeneous nation in the world, whereas in all practicality the Federal Republic is today one of the most ethnically diverse countries in Europe.

== Historical persons and institutions ==

There is a lack of international consensus in regard to the characterization of certain historical persons and institutions, like for instance ], ] or the ]. Many, particularly Germans{{fact}}, but also others{{fact}}, would hold that they belong to the German culture, which is what decides if someone is considered a German or not{{fact}}. On the other hand, e.g. Poles, Austrians and others often prefer to see certain persons as Polish, or Austrian. Many people all over Europe see them quite simply as European.{{fact}} Particularly, ], ] and ] - who spent most of their lives in what is Austria today - may be considered to have been central within the German culture but may nevertheless, sometimes often be characterized as Austrians, but ''not'' as Germans. Many people also consider them Austrian and German at once, like e.g. the U.S. State Departement does on its report on current Austria, describing it as inhabited by Austrian nationals of which 98% are ethnic Germans.

==See also==
]s are common in the US. Light blue indicates counties that are predominately German ancestry.]]
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==External links== ==External links==
{{Commons category|Germans}}
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{{Wikiquote}}
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==References==
<references/>


{{German people}}
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Latest revision as of 21:48, 23 December 2024

People of Germany This article is about the people of Germany. For other uses, see German.

The Reichstag, seat of the German Parliament

Germans (German: Deutsche, pronounced [ˈdɔʏtʃə] ) are the natives or inhabitants of Germany, or sometimes more broadly as a sociolinguistic group of those with German descent or native speakers of the German language. The constitution of Germany, implemented in 1949 following the end of World War II, defines a German as a German citizen. During the 19th and much of the 20th century, discussions on German identity were dominated by concepts of a common language, culture, descent, and history. Today, the German language is widely seen as the primary, though not exclusive, criterion of German identity. Estimates on the total number of Germans in the world range from 100 to 150 million, most of whom live in Germany.

The history of Germans as an ethnic group began with the separation of a distinct Kingdom of Germany from the eastern part of the Frankish Empire under the Ottonian dynasty in the 10th century, forming the core of the Holy Roman Empire. In subsequent centuries the political power and population of this empire grew considerably. It expanded eastwards, and eventually a substantial number of Germans migrated further eastwards into Eastern Europe. The empire itself was politically divided between many small princedoms, cities and bishoprics. Following the Reformation in the 16th century, many of these states found themselves in bitter conflict concerning the rise of Protestantism.

In the 19th century, the Holy Roman Empire dissolved, and German nationalism began to grow. At the same time however, the concept of German nationality became more complex. The multiethnic Kingdom of Prussia incorporated most Germans into its German Empire in 1871, and a substantial additional number of Germans were in the multiethnic kingdom of Austria-Hungary. During this time, a large number of Germans also emigrated to the New World, particularly to the United States, especially to present-day Pennsylvania. Large numbers also emigrated to Canada and Brazil, and they established sizable communities in New Zealand and Australia. The Russian Empire also included a substantial German population.

Following the end of World War I, Austria-Hungary and the German Empire were partitioned, resulting in many Germans becoming ethnic minorities in newly established countries. In the chaotic years that followed, Adolf Hitler became the dictator of Nazi Germany and embarked on a genocidal campaign to unify all Germans under his leadership. His Nazi movement defined Germans in a very specific way which included Austrians, Luxembourgers, eastern Belgians, and so-called Volksdeutsche, who were ethnic Germans elsewhere in Europe and globally. However, this Nazi conception expressly excluded German citizens of Jewish or Roma background. Nazi policies of military aggression and its persecution of those deemed non-Germans in the Holocaust led to World War II in which the Nazi regime was defeated by allied powers, led by the United States, the United Kingdom, and the former Soviet Union. In the aftermath of Germany's defeat in the war, the country was occupied and once again partitioned. Millions of Germans were expelled from Central and Eastern Europe. In 1990, West Germany and East Germany were reunified. In modern times, remembrance of the Holocaust, known as Erinnerungskultur ("culture of remembrance"), has become an integral part of German identity.

Owing to their long history of political fragmentation, Germans are culturally diverse and often have strong regional identities. Arts and sciences are an integral part of German culture, and the Germans have been represented by many prominent personalities in a significant number of disciplines, including Nobel prize laureates where Germany is ranked third among countries of the world in the number of total recipients.

Names

Further information: List of terms used for Germans and Names of Germany

The English term Germans is derived from the ethnonym Germani, which was used for Germanic peoples in ancient times. Since the early modern period, it has been the most common name for the Germans in English, being applied to any citizens, natives or inhabitants of Germany, regardless of whether they are considered to have German ethnicity.

In some contexts, people of German descent are also called Germans. In historical discussions the term "Germans" is also occasionally used to refer to the Germanic peoples during the time of the Roman Empire.

The German endonym Deutsche is derived from the Old High German term diutisc, which means "ethnic" or "relating to the people". This term was used for speakers of West-Germanic languages in Central Europe since at least the 8th century, after which time a distinct German ethnic identity began to emerge among at least some them living within the Holy Roman Empire. However, variants of the same term were also used in the Low Countries, for the related dialects of what is still called Dutch in English, which is now a national language of the Netherlands and Belgium.

History

See also: History of Germany
A map depicting the short-lived Roman province of Germania Antiqua, situated between the Rhine and Elbe rivers, a region which the early Roman Empire attempted to conquer and control

Ancient history

See also: Germania Antiqua, Limes Germanicus, Germanic peoples, and Germania
The Holy Roman Empire in 972 (red line) and 1035 (red dots) with the Kingdom of Germany, including Lotharingia, marked in blue

The first information about the peoples living in what is now Germany was provided by the Roman general and dictator Julius Caesar, who gave an account of his conquest of neighbouring Gaul in the 1st century BC. Gaul included parts of what is now Germany, west of the Rhine river. He specifically noted the potential future threat which could come from the related Germanic peoples (Germani) east of the river. Archaeological evidence shows that at the time of Caesar's invasion, both Gaul and Germanic regions had long been strongly influenced by the celtic La Tène culture. However, the Germanic languages associated with later Germanic peoples were approaching the Rhine area since at least the 2nd century BC. The resulting demographic situation reported by Caesar was that migrating Celts and Germanic peoples were moving into areas which threatened the Alpine regions and the Romans.

The modern German language is a descendant of the Germanic languages which spread during the Iron Age and Roman era. Scholars generally agree that it is possible to speak of Germanic languages existing as early as 500 BCE. These Germanic languages are believed to have dispersed towards the Rhine from the direction of the Jastorf culture, which was itself a Celtic influenced culture that existed in the Pre-Roman Iron Age, in the region near the Elbe river. It is likely that first Germanic consonant shift, which defines the Germanic language family, occurred during this period. The earlier Nordic Bronze Age of southern Scandinavia also shows definite population and material continuities with the Jastorf Culture, but it is unclear whether these indicate ethnic continuity.

Under Caesar's successors, the Romans began to conquer and control the entire region between the Rhine and the Elbe which centuries later constituted the largest part of medieval Germany. These efforts were significantly hampered by the victory of a local alliance led by Arminius at the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 AD, which is considered a defining moment in German history. While the Romans were nevertheless victorious, rather than installing a Roman administration they controlled the region indirectly for centuries, recruiting soldiers there, and playing the tribes off against each other. The early Germanic peoples were later famously described in more detail in Germania by the 1st century Roman historian Tacitus. He described them as a diverse group, dominating a much larger area than Germany, stretching to the Vistula in the east, and Scandinavia in the north.

Medieval history

Maps depicting the Ostsiedlung, also known as the German eastward settlement. The left map shows the situation in roughly 895 AD; the right map shows it about 1400 AD. Germanic peoples (left map) and Germans (right map) are shown in light red.
The Holy Roman Empire after the Peace of Westphalia, 1648

German ethnicity began to emerge in medieval times among the descendants of those Germanic peoples who had lived under heavy Roman influence between the Rhine and Elbe rivers. This included Franks, Frisians, Saxons, Thuringii, Alemanni and Baiuvarii - all of whom spoke related dialects of West Germanic. These peoples had come under the dominance of the western Franks starting with Clovis I, who established control of the Romanized and Frankish population of Gaul in the 5th century, and began a process of conquering the peoples east of the Rhine. The regions long continued to be divided into "Stem duchies", corresponding to the old ethnic designations. By the early 9th century AD, large parts of Europe were united under the rule of the Frankish leader Charlemagne, who expanded the Frankish empire in several directions including east of the Rhine, consolidating power over the Saxons and Frisians, and establishing the Carolingian Empire. Charlemagne was crowned emperor by Pope Leo I in 800.

In the generations after Charlemagne the empire was partitioned at the Treaty of Verdun (843), eventually resulting in the long-term separation between the states of West Francia, Middle Francia and East Francia. Beginning with Henry the Fowler, non-Frankish dynasties also ruled the eastern kingdom, and under his son Otto I, East Francia, which was mostly German, constituted the core of the Holy Roman Empire. Also under control of this loosely controlled empire were the previously independent kingdoms of Italy, Burgundy, and Lotharingia. The latter was a Roman and Frankish area which contained some of the oldest and most important old German cities including Aachen, Cologne and Trier, all west of the Rhine, and it became another Duchy within the eastern kingdom. Leaders of the stem duchies which constituted this eastern kingdom — Lotharingia, Bavaria, Franconia, Swabia, Thuringia, and Saxony ― initially wielded considerable power independently of the king. German kings were elected by members of the noble families, who often sought to have weak kings elected in order to preserve their own independence. This prevented an early unification of the Germans.

A warrior nobility dominated the feudal German society of the Middle Ages, while most of the German population consisted of peasants with few political rights. The church played an important role among Germans in the Middle Ages, and competed with the nobility for power. Between the 11th and 13th centuries, Germans actively participated in five Crusades to "liberate" the Holy Land. From the beginnings of the kingdom, its dynasties also participated in a push eastwards into Slavic-speaking regions. At the Saxon Eastern March in the north, the Polabian Slavs east of the Elbe were conquered over generations of often brutal conflict. Under the later control of powerful German dynasties it became an important region within modern Germany, and home to its modern capital, Berlin. German population also moved eastwards from the 11th century, in what is known as the Ostsiedlung. Over time, Slavic and German-speaking populations assimilated, meaning that many modern Germans have substantial Slavic ancestry. From the 12th century, many Germans settled as merchants and craftsmen in the Kingdom of Poland, where they came to constitute a significant proportion of the population in many urban centers such as Gdańsk. During the 13th century, the Teutonic Knights began conquering the Old Prussians, and established what would eventually become the powerful German state of Prussia.

Further south, Bohemia and Hungary developed as kingdoms with their own non-German speaking elites. The Austrian March on the Middle Danube stopped expanding eastwards towards Hungary in the 11th century. Under Ottokar II, Bohemia (corresponding roughly to modern Czechia) became a kingdom within the empire, and even managed to take control of Austria, which was German-speaking. However, the late 13th century saw the election of Rudolf I of the House of Habsburg to the imperial throne, and he was able to acquire Austria for his own family. The Habsburgs would continue to play an important role in European history for centuries afterwards. Under the leadership of the Habsburgs the Holy Roman Empire itself remained weak, and by the late Middle Ages much of Lotharingia and Burgundy had come under the control of French dynasts, the House of Valois-Burgundy and House of Valois-Anjou. Step by step, Italy, Switzerland, Lorraine, and Savoy were no longer subject to effective imperial control.

Trade increased and there was a specialization of the arts and crafts. In the late Middle Ages the German economy grew under the influence of urban centers, which increased in size and wealth and formed powerful leagues, such as the Hanseatic League and the Swabian League, in order to protect their interests, often through supporting the German kings in their struggles with the nobility. These urban leagues significantly contributed to the development of German commerce and banking. German merchants of Hanseatic cities settled in cities throughout Northern Europe beyond the German lands.

Modern history

Boundaries of the German Confederation in red, Prussia in blue, Austria in yellow, and other member states in grey. Large parts of Austria and some parts of Prussia did not belong to the German Confederation.
Victims of the Holocaust in a mass grave at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
Germans expelled from Poland in 1948
People standing on top the Berlin Wall during its fall in 1989 in front of the Brandenburg Gate

The Habsburg dynasty managed to maintain their grip upon the imperial throne in the early modern period. While the empire itself continued to be largely de-centralized, the Habsburgs own personal power increased outside of the core German lands. Charles V personally inherited control of the kingdoms of Hungary and Bohemia, the wealthy low countries (roughly modern Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands), the Kingdoms of Castile, Aragon, Sicily, Naples, and Sardinia, and the Dukedom of Milan. Of these, the Bohemian and Hungarian titles remained connected to the imperial throne for centuries, making Austria a powerful multilingual empire in its own right. On the other hand, the low countries went to the Spanish crown and continued to evolve separately from Germany.

The introduction of printing by the German inventor Johannes Gutenberg contributed to the formation of a new understanding of faith and reason. At this time, the German monk Martin Luther pushed for reforms within the Catholic Church. Luther's efforts culminated in the Protestant Reformation.

Religious schism was a leading cause of the Thirty Years' War, a conflict that tore apart the Holy Roman Empire and its neighbours, leading to the death of millions of Germans. The terms of the Peace of Westphalia (1648) ending the war, included a major reduction in the central authority of the Holy Roman Emperor. Among the most powerful German states to emerge in the aftermath was Protestant Prussia, under the rule of the House of Hohenzollern. Charles V and his Habsburg dynasty defended Roman Catholicism.

In the 18th century, German culture was significantly influenced by the Enlightenment.

After centuries of political fragmentation, a sense of German unity began to emerge in the 18th century. The Holy Roman Empire continued to decline until being dissolved altogether by Napoleon in 1806. In central Europe, the Napoleonic wars ushered in great social, political and economic changes, and catalyzed a national awakening among the Germans. By the late 18th century, German intellectuals such as Johann Gottfried Herder articulated the concept of a German identity rooted in language, and this notion helped spark the German nationalist movement, which sought to unify the Germans into a single nation state. Eventually, shared ancestry, culture and language (though not religion) came to define German nationalism. The Napoleonic Wars ended with the Congress of Vienna (1815), and left most of the German states loosely united under the German Confederation. The confederation came to be dominated by the Catholic Austrian Empire, to the dismay of many German nationalists, who saw the German Confederation as an inadequate answer to the German Question.

Throughout the 19th century, Prussia continued to grow in power. In 1848, German revolutionaries set up the temporary Frankfurt Parliament, but failed in their aim of forming a united German homeland. The Prussians proposed an Erfurt Union of the German states, but this effort was torpedoed by the Austrians through the Punctation of Olmütz (1850), recreating the German Confederation. In response, Prussia sought to use the Zollverein customs union to increase its power among the German states. Under the leadership of Otto von Bismarck, Prussia expanded its sphere of influence and together with its German allies defeated Denmark in the Second Schleswig War and soon after Austria in the Austro-Prussian War, subsequently establishing the North German Confederation. In 1871, the Prussian coalition decisively defeated the Second French Empire in the Franco-Prussian War, annexing the German speaking region of Alsace-Lorraine. After taking Paris, Prussia and their allies proclaimed the formation of a united German Empire.

In the years following unification, German society was radically changed by numerous processes, including industrialization, rationalization, secularization and the rise of capitalism. German power increased considerably and numerous overseas colonies were established. During this time, the German population grew considerably, and many emigrated to other countries (mainly North America), contributing to the growth of the German diaspora. Competition for colonies between the Great Powers contributed to the outbreak of World War I, in which the German, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires formed the Central Powers, an alliance that was ultimately defeated, with none of the empires comprising it surviving the aftermath of the war. Under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, the German and Austro-Hungarian Empires were both dissolved and partitioned, resulting in millions of Germans becoming ethnic minorities in other countries. The monarchical rulers of the German states, including the German emperor Wilhelm II, were overthrown in the November Revolution which led to the establishment of the Weimar Republic. The Germans of the Austrian side of the Dual Monarchy proclaimed the Republic of German-Austria, and sought to be incorporated into the German state, but this was forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles and Treaty of Saint-Germain.

What many Germans saw as the "humiliation of Versailles", continuing traditions of authoritarian and antisemitic ideologies, and the Great Depression all contributed to the rise of Austrian-born Adolf Hitler and the Nazis, who after coming to power democratically in the early 1930s, abolished the Weimar Republic and formed the totalitarian Third Reich. In his quest to subjugate Europe, six million Jews were murdered in the Holocaust. WWII resulted in widespread destruction and the deaths of tens of millions of soldiers and civilians, while the German state was partitioned. About 12 million Germans had to flee or were expelled from Eastern Europe. Significant damage was also done to the German reputation and identity, which became far less nationalistic than it previously was.

The German states of West Germany and East Germany became focal points of the Cold War, but were reunified in 1990. Although there were fears that the reunified Germany might resume nationalist politics, the country is today widely regarded as a "stablizing actor in the heart of Europe" and a "promoter of democratic integration".

Language

The German language in Europe:   German Sprachraum: German is the official language (de jure or de facto) and first language of most of the population.   German is a co-official language but not the first language of most of the population.   German (or a German dialect) is a legally recognized minority language (squares: geographic distribution too dispersed/small for map scale).   German (or a variety of German) is spoken by a sizeable minority but has no legal recognition.
Main article: German language Further information: Geographical distribution of German speakers

German is the native language of most Germans. It is the key marker of German ethnic identity. German is a West Germanic language closely related to Frisian (in particular North Frisian and Saterland Frisian), Luxembourgish, English, Dutch, and Low German. Modern Standard German is based on High German and Central German, and is the first or second language of most Germans, but notably not the Volga Germans.

Low German, which is often considered to be a distinct language from both German and Dutch, was the historical language of most of northern Germany, and is still spoken by many Germans, often as a second language.

Geographic distribution

See also: German diaspora

It is estimated that there are over 100 million Germans today, most of whom live in Germany, where they constitute the majority of the population. There are also sizable populations of Germans in Austria, Switzerland, the United States, Brazil, France, Kazakhstan, Russia, Argentina, Canada, Poland, Italy, Hungary, Australia, South Africa, Chile, Paraguay, and Namibia.

Culture

See also: Culture of Germany
A Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin; remembering the Holocaust is an essential part of modern German culture.

The Germans are marked by great regional diversity, which makes identifying a single German culture quite difficult. The arts and sciences have for centuries been an important part of German identity. The Age of Enlightenment and the Romantic era saw a notable flourishing of German culture. Germans of this period who contributed significantly to the arts and sciences include the writers Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Friedrich Schiller, Johann Gottfried Herder, Friedrich Hölderlin, E. T. A. Hoffmann, Heinrich Heine, Novalis and the Brothers Grimm, the philosopher Immanuel Kant, the architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel, the painter Caspar David Friedrich, and the composers Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joseph Haydn, Johannes Brahms, Franz Schubert, Richard Strauss and Richard Wagner.

Popular German dishes include brown bread and stew. Germans consume a high amount of alcohol, particularly beer, compared to other European peoples. Obesity is relatively widespread among Germans.

Carnival (German: Karneval, Fasching, or Fastnacht) is an important part of German culture, particularly in Southern Germany and the Rhineland. An important German festival is the Oktoberfest.

A steadily shrinking majority of Germans are Christians. About a third are Roman Catholics, while one third adheres to Protestantism. Another third does not profess any religion. Christian holidays such as Christmas and Easter are celebrated by many Germans. The number of Muslims is growing. There is also a notable Jewish community, which was decimated in the Holocaust. Remembering the Holocaust is an important part of German culture.

Identity

Further information: German nationalism and Pan-Germanism

A German ethnic identity began to emerge during the early medieval period. These peoples came to be referred to by the High German term diutisc, which means "ethnic" or "relating to the people". The German endonym Deutsche is derived from this word. In subsequent centuries, the German lands were relatively decentralized, leading to the maintenance of a number of strong regional identities.

The German nationalist movement emerged among German intellectuals in the late 18th century. They saw the Germans as a people united by language and advocated the unification of all Germans into a single nation state, which was partially achieved in 1871. By the late 19th and early 20th century, German identity came to be defined by a shared descent, culture, and history. Völkisch elements identified Germanness with "a shared Christian heritage" and "biological essence", to the exclusion of the notable Jewish minority. After the Holocaust and the downfall of Nazism, "any confident sense of Germanness had become suspect, if not impossible". East Germany and West Germany both sought to build up an identity on historical or ideological lines, distancing themselves both from the Nazi past and each other. After German reunification in 1990, the political discourse was characterized by the idea of a "shared, ethnoculturally defined Germanness", and the general climate became increasingly xenophobic during the 1990s. Today, discussion on Germanness may stress various aspects, such as commitment to pluralism and the German constitution (constitutional patriotism), or the notion of a Kulturnation (nation sharing a common culture). The German language remains the primary criterion of modern German identity.

See also

Notes

References

  1. ^ "German Definition & Meaning". Merriam-Webster. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  2. ^ "German". Oxford Dictionary of English. Oxford University Press. 2010. p. 733. ISBN 978-0199571123. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  3. Bundesministerium der Justiz und für Verbraucherschutz (ed.). "Article 116". Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2021. Unless otherwise provided by a law, a German within the meaning of this Basic Law is a person who possesses German citizenship or who has been admitted to the territory of the German Reich within the boundaries of 31 December 1937 as a refugee or expellee of German ethnic origin or as the spouse or descendant of such person.
  4. ^ Moser 2011, p. 172. "German identity developed through a long historical process that led, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, to the definition of the German nation as both a community of descent (Volksgemeinschaft) and shared culture and experience. Today, the German language is the primary though not exclusive criterion of German identity."
  5. Haarmann 2015, p. 313. "After centuries of political fragmentation, a sense of national unity as Germans began to evolve in the eighteenth century, and the German language became a key marker of national identity."
  6. Moser 2011, p. 171. "The Germans live in Central Europe, mostly in Germany... Estimates of the total number of Germans in the world range from 100 million to 150 million, depending on how German is defined, but it is probably more appropriate to accept the lower figure."
  7. ^ Haarmann 2015, p. 313.
  8. Hoad, T. F. (2003). "German". The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acref/9780192830982.001.0001. ISBN 9780192830982. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  9. "Germans". Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia. Columbia University Press. 2013. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  10. Drinkwater, John Frederick (2012). "Germans". In Hornblower, Simon; Spawforth, Antony; Eidinow, Esther (eds.). The Oxford Classical Dictionary (4 ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 613. doi:10.1093/acref/9780199545568.001.0001. ISBN 9780191735257. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  11. ^ Heather, Peter. "Germany: Ancient History". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2020. Within the boundaries of present-day Germany... Germanic peoples such as the eastern Franks, Frisians, Saxons, Thuringians, Alemanni, and Bavarians—all speaking West Germanic dialects—had merged Germanic and borrowed Roman cultural features. It was among these groups that a German language and ethnic identity would gradually develop during the Middle Ages.
  12. ^ Minahan 2000, pp. 288–289.
  13. Steuer 2021, p. 32.
  14. Steuer 2021, p. 89, 1310.
  15. Timpe & Scardigli 2010, p. 636.
  16. Todd 1999, p. 11.
  17. ^ Moser 2011, p. 172.
  18. ^ Haarmann 2015, pp. 313–314.
  19. ^ Haarmann 2015, p. 314.
  20. ^ Minahan 2000, pp. 289–290.
  21. ^ Moser 2011, p. 173.
  22. Minahan 2000, p. 290.
  23. ^ Moser 2011, pp. 173–174.
  24. ^ Minahan 2000, pp. 290–291.
  25. ^ Moser 2011, p. 174.
  26. ^ Minahan 2000, pp. 291–292.
  27. ^ Haarmann 2015, pp. 314–315.
  28. ^ Haarmann 2015, p. 316.
  29. Troebst, Stefan (2012). "The Discourse on Forced Migration and European Culture of Remembrance". The Hungarian Historical Review. 1 (3/4): 397–414. JSTOR 42568610.
  30. Minahan 2000, p. 288.
  31. Moser 2011, pp. 171–172.
  32. Haarmann 2015, p. 313. "Of the 100 million German speakers worldwide, about three quarters (76 million) live in Germany, where they account for 92 percent of the population. Populations of Germans live elsewhere in Central and Western Europe, with the largest communities in Austria (7.6 million), Switzerland (4.2 million), France (1.2 million), Kazakhstan (900,000), Russia (840,000), Poland (700,000), Italy (280,000), and Hungary (250,000). Some 1.6 million U.S. citizens speak German as their first language, the largest number of German speakers overseas."
  33. Moser 2011, pp. 171–172. "The Germans live in Central Europe, mostly in Germany... The largest populations outside of these countries are found in the United States (5 million), Brazil (3 million), the former Soviet Union (2 million), Argentina (500,000), Canada (450,000), Spain (170,000), Australia (110,000), the United Kingdom (100,000), and South Africa (75,000). "
  34. ^ Moser 2011, pp. 176–177.
  35. Waldman & Mason 2005, pp. 334–335.
  36. ^ Moser 2011, p. 176.
  37. Minahan 2000, p. 174.
  38. Haarmann 2015, p. 313 "Germans are a Germanic (or Teutonic) people that are indigenous to Central Europe... Germanic tribes have inhabited Central Europe since at least Roman times, but it was not until the early Middle Ages that a distinct German ethnic identity began to emerge."
  39. Rock 2019, p. 32.
  40. ^ Rock 2019, p. 33.
  41. Rock 2019, pp. 33–34.
  42. Rock 2019, p. 34.

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