Germany/Germans: Development of a Nation
How Germany became Germany, and how the Germans became German.

How Germans as a people, and the country of Germany as a nation-state, evolved and materialized into current form, in terms of ancestral bloodlines, the German language, borders, culture, and even how they received their name.

Ancestral Background
Development of Language
Formation of Borders
Etymology (How Name Received)
Culture
Germany in 2008

German Ancestral Background:

1. From Scandinavia. German ancestry begins with the original European people of Scandinavia, mostly clustered in southern Norway and Sweden.
2. Mainland Europe. Original Scandinavians begin migrating to continental mainland in 850 BC (modern Denmark, Northern Germany, spreading West, East, South). Those on mainland soon develop a separate “identity”. Those on mainland are later referred to by Romans as Germanus (Latin), cementing a distinction between the Scandinavians that remained in Scandinavia, and the Scandinavians that now inhabited the mainland. The Germanic term would later be ascribed to those that remained in Scandinavia (forefathers to Norse and Swedes), since they were of the same origin as the Germanic peoples. The Mainland Germanics, as understood to be those in Central/Northern Europe would be the forefathers to the people we now consider to be “German”. They would primarily dominate the lands from the Rhine to the West, and the Danube to the south and east, stretching into Ukraine, residing along the northern border of the Roman Empire.
3. Migrations During Collapse of Rome. The Germanic tribes contributed to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire by infiltrating the Roman borders, invading and settling within Roman territories. Ironically, some of the most prominent Germanic tribes would migrate to other parts of Europe, not joining with the main body of Germanic peoples to form the Medieval German kingdom: The Holy Roman Empire – a confederation of German principalities. In which case, prominent tribes such as the Goths and Vandals would no longer be numbered among the German nation. The Ostrogoths would invade Italy, ruling it for a century until being driven out by the Byzantines. The Visigoths would invade Italy, before migrating to the Iberian Peninsula, where they would form the ruling class there, contributing to the ancestry of future Spanish and Portuguese peoples. The Franks would invade across the Rhine into Gaul (modern France), becoming the founders of the Frankish Kingdom, the predecessor to modern France. The Vandals would migrate to Iberia, where they would settle before being driven out by the Visigoths. They would then migrate to North Africa in the 5^th century, conquering it from the Roman Empire. But they would be defeated and destroyed by the Byzantines within a century. During this time, the main body of Germanic peoples, those who did not embark on long migrations to far-flung regions of Europe, would evacuate their traditional eastern territories ranging from modern Poland, to Hungary, Romania and Ukraine (including Slovakia). Barbaric peoples from the east (such as Huns) pushed them westward into territories containing significant “Romanized” Celt populations, such as modern Switzerland, southern/western Germany, and Austria, completely assimilating them into the Germanic nation. Absorbed Celt peoples contributed perhaps a minor portion to the Germanic seed.
4. New Homelands. After the Age of Migrations toward the end of the 5^th century and into the 6^th century, major groups of Germanic peoples had left the German “nation”, either assimilating with Celtic peoples in Gaul and Hispania. Franks and Visigoths, conquering Gaul and Hispania respectively, were no longer considered “Germanic”, as the Celtic genes were the dominant part of the genetic composition in these new, blended kingdoms, despite the fact the Germanics were the ruling class. The Franks and Visigoths would loose all ties to their German language, culture and identity. The bulk of the main body of Germanic peoples remained in Central Europe, now occupying the lands covering approximately modern Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Southern Denmark, Western Austria, and Western Czech Republic.
5. Frankish Empire. During the 8^th century, the Frankish Kingdom conquers all of the Germanic people, Christianizing them. When the kingdom was split up among Louis’ three sons in 843, modern Germany, Denmark, part of Austria/Czech Rep formed into the Eastern Realm, forefather to the eventual German nation. The Eastern Realm gained the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Northern Italy from the defunct Central Realm in 870. The Gallic-Frank population (predecessor to the French) would remain largely separate from the main body of Germanic peoples they conquered in Central Europe, who now comprised the population of the Eastern Realm, or East Francia. It is the Germanic peoples in the Eastern Realm who are the predecessors to modern Germans.
6. German Kingdom. The Frankish Kingdom would break down into various principalities and duchies after centralized rule comes to an end in 888. The German peoples would unify into a loosely consolidated German Kingdom.
7. Holy Roman Empire (HRE). In 953, the German Kingdom becomes the Holy Roman Empire (HRE), after entering into a partnership with the Pope in Rome. The King of the Germans is  recognized as Holy Roman Emperor by Rome in exchange for guaranteed independence of Papal States (centered around Rome – rule by Church). The Holy Roman Empire was a collection of German duchies, principalities and other entities that offered at least token loyalty to the partnership of the Emperor and the Pope. The Emperor and Pope formed (at least in theory) a secular-ecclesiastic partnership in governing the empire. In reality, the two offices were often at odds, even directing acts of hostility toward one another. The German princes, dukes, etc. of member states within the HRE typically operated with autonomy, cooperating with the emperor when unifying causes arose, such as military campaigns to expand or protect the empire. Other nationalities were brought under HRE-rule throughout history, such as Italy and Burgundy (French). Many German entities eventually broke away from the Holy Roman Empire to form their own distinct nations, such as the Dutch, Swiss and Austrians.
8. Separation of Austria. In 976, March of Austria was created by the HRE to form a buffer against Slavs in the east. It is raised to the status of Duchy in 1156. At some point during this time, Germans living in this march/duchy became known as Austrians (Based on Latin name for “Eastern Realm”). They were known as Austrians, as those in the Duchy of Bavaria were known as Bavarians, those in Duchy of Swabia known as Swabians, and so on. But as was the case with each, they were considered Germans first. As Austria continued to evolve into its own empire, Austrians would eventually become identified as separate nation, no longer simply “German”, although throughout history, and to this day, their German heritage is still widely acknowledged. The secession of the Austrians from the "German" nation further defined the modern German nationality.
9. Separation of the Dutch. Between 1000 and 1433, those in the “Burgundian Netherlands” (modern Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg) began to operate independently, as they were at the outer reaches of the HRE, or Kingdom of the Germans. They began to refer to themselves as “Dutch”, the English pronunciation for their German language (Deutsch). They would come under Austrian rule in 1477. Annexed by Spain in 1549. By then, the Dutch were considered separate from the pan-German nation (which were broken into various principalities under the HRE banner). Their distinct identity was cemented when they achieved independence from Spain during the 80-Years War ending in 1648. The secession of the Dutch from the "German" nation further defined the modern German nationality.
10. Separation of the Swiss. In 1499, those in the mountainous region comprising modern Switzerland (the Old Swiss Confederation) won independence from the HRE, becoming separate from their fellow Germans. They would take upon themselves the Swiss name, distinguishing themselves from the Germans. Switzerland would become an independent nation in 1848.
11. Austria Formally Separated. In 1866, Austrians evicted from German Confederation by the Prussians as part of the Austro-Prussian War, formally beginning Austria’s status as its own nation, separate from the rest of the German peoples. Thus, Austrians were now clearly identified as a distinct people/nation, separate from the “Germans”. Prussia would establish the North German Confederation, the predecessor to the German Empire established in 1871. This Prussian-led German Empire would be the first fully consolidated German nation, and those belonging to this nation (or subsequent successor states following WWI and WWII), or who trace their roots to this nation constitute the modern nationality of "Germans".

Save as much as 70% on select National Geographic merchandise!

Development of German Language:

1. The original inhabitants of Scandinavia, who have been retroactively named “Germanics”, shared a common language, also retroactively named “German” (see etymology). This became the basis for the German language, and the wide variety of dialects that would develop in the numerous duchies and principalities of Germanic peoples throughout the Middle Ages and beyond. It is a direct branch off of the genesis language of Europe: Proto-Indo-European.
2. Due to the large number of dialects, German scholars maintained a standardized written language during the Middle Ages which served as the closest resemblance to a “German” standard.
3. When Martin Luther printed the Bible in German during the 16^th century, as part of the Protestant Reformation, he used this “Standard German”, which became the new standard, although not 100% thorough.
4. After the Prussians unified the German states in 1871, it commissioned the project of completely codifying Standard German, making it the official language of the new German Empire. From this point forward, nearly all German speakers would adhere to this new standard. Even nations of Germanic lineage would adhere to this new standard, such as Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein.

Geman Language Learning Software - 10 Levels - 2,000 Hours

Formation of German Borders:

1. Original Scandinavians migrate to continental Europe, spreading throughout modern Germany, establishing this region as their homeland.
2. German lands conquered by Franks in 8^th century.
3. Frankish Kingdom subdivided in 843, with modern Germany constituting the “Eastern Realm”, the predecessor to modern Germany.
4. Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Northern Italy from the defunct Central Realm added to the Eastern Realm in 870.
5. Eastern Realm becomes decentralized in 888, becoming a collection of affiliated German duchies and principalities, encompassing the lands that were previously known as the Eastern Realm, with one of the dukes being recognized as King of the Germans.
6. The Holy Roman Empire (HRE) established in 953, with the collection of affiliated German duchies and principalities under the banner of the protectorate of the Roman Catholic Church.
7. 976 – March of Austria established (a frontier territory at the southeastern fringe of the HRE).
8. 13^th century, Germans would expand east (Prussia – Northern Poland), while reasserting control over N. Italy.
9. By 1433, Burgundian Netherlands become independent from Holy Roman Empire (HRE).
10. 1477 – Austria gains Burgundian Netherlands.
11. 1499 – Independence of Old Swiss Confederation from HRE.
12. 1525 – Duchy of Prussia established by Holy Roman Empire (no longer under Teutonic control) in northeast corner of HRE.
13. 1701 – Duchy of Prussia becomes Kingdom of Prussia, now a major force within the Holy Roman Empire.
14. Napoleonic Wars: 1806 – Independent German States within the Holy Roman Empire are conquered by France, which reconstitutes them as the Confederation of the Rhine, bringing an end to the Holy Roman Empire. At the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815, the German duchies and principalities that comprised the French-puppet state of the Confederation of the Rhine become liberated. They join Prussia and Austria in the newly-formed German Confederation, a replacement to the now obsolete Holy Roman Empire. Prussia regains all territory lost to France during the course of the Napoleonic Wars and more.
15. 1865 – The German Confederation gained Schleswig from Denmark in the Second War of Schleswig. Schleswig is the territory comprising the southern section of the Denmark peninsula. The war initiated over a controversy concerning Denmark’s desire annex the fief of Schleswig into a centralized Denmark, as opposed to leaving it loosely affiliated with German Holstein, as had long been the case. Prussia would assume complete control of Schleswig after its victory in Austro-Prussian War the following year.
16. 1866 – Austro-Prussian War, causing Austria to be evicted from the German Confederation, now dominated solely by Prussia. Consequently, the German Confederation was dissolved and reconstituted as the North German Confederation. With this, Austria was permanently partitioned from the rest of the German world. Austria then joined Hungary in forming the new nation of Austria-Hungary in 1867.
17. 1871 – Franco-Prussian War, Prussia gains the territory of Alsace-Lorraine in victory over France. The war compelled the independent German states to consolidate into a unified German nation - the German Empire.
18. 1918 – Upon Germany's defeat at the end of WWI, Alsace-Lorraine was returned to France. Germany also lost western Prussia, separating eastern Prussia from the rest of Germany, forming the Polish Corridor.
19. 1920 – Allies conduct a referendum in Northern Schleswig, finding the majority preferred to be annexed into Denmark, as opposed to remaining part of Germany, moving the Denmark-German border south at the expense of German territory, permanently fixing the Danish/German border.
20. 1923 – Lithuania takes possession of the Klaipeda Region, long part of Prussia.
21. 1938 – Nazis annex Austria.
22. Nazi forces Lithuania to return Klaipeda Region to Germany in 1939.
23. Nazis invade Poland in 1939, annexing Western Prussia and Danzig, creating a new province by the name of Danzig-West Prussia.
24. 1945 – Upon its defeat in WWII, Germany loses East Prussia and large portions of eastern territories to form the modern German-Polish border. Germany was also forced to return Danzig-West Prussia to Poland. USSR annexed Konigsberg, renaming it Kaliningrad Oblast, which now rests on the Baltic shore between Lithuania and Poland, disconnected from the rest of Russia. Russia assigned the Klaipeda Region back to Lithuania. Allies captured Austria in 1945, withdrawing in 1955, making it a sovereign nation again. With this, the current German borders were achieved.
25. 1949 – Partition of Germany into East and West. Berlin Wall in 1961.
26. 1990 – German unification.

Maps.com - The World's Largest Maps Store!

Germany Etymology (How Name Received):

From Latin word Germani, which literally means “seed”, with the connotation of being “related”. The Romans apparently gave the German peoples this name, since they were correctly perceived to be of a common lineage, part of the same “nation”. Even when under Frankish rule, the German tribes considered themselves to be “German”.

German Culture:

German culture originated in pre-Roman times, when Germans worshiped a pantheon of gods, including Thor. Germans had a strong tendency toward mysticism. After being conquered by the Frankish Empire, Germans converted to Roman Catholicism en masse, beginning a strong Catholic tradition. This tradition continued throughout the Dark Ages, as the German nation (known as the Holy Roman Empire) was generally considered the protectorate of the church.

Germany would also serve as the birthplace of Protestantism, being virtually equally divided between Catholicism and Protestantism, resulting in frequent warfare in the centuries following the Protestant Reformation during the Renaissance era. To this day, German's substantial Christian population is nearly equally divided between the two denominations.

However, Germanic peoples were still very tribal, resisting Roman law and scholarship, even after becoming the ruling class throughout most of Western and Central Europe following the fall of Rome. This disregard for education and sophisticated order which pervaded the Roman Empire contributed to the onset of the Dark Ages.

Despite their simplistic, tribal tendencies, German peoples were adept at organizing into a very capable fighting force, as the Romans discovered before abandoning the idea of conquering the German peoples after every other nation of barbaric people previously encountered had succumbed.

During the Middle Ages, German peoples were a step behind many surrounding nations in pioneering socio-political systems, such as capitalism, democracy, centralized rule, and naval technology. But they did outpace their rivals in their prowess in ground warfare, as generally possessing the most feared army on the continent throughout most of the Medieval period, through World War I.

Germany in 2008:

Economy: Europe’s largest economy. Still strong in manufacturing (traditional strength, since 19th century), while also developing strong service sector. East Germany, which was far behind West Germany economically after the 1990 reunification of German, has been a drag on overall economy, but in past few years, growth has begun to improve again.
Government: Democratic Federal Republic (Federal meaning individual states maintain political sovereignty, consistent with tradition of autonomous principalities during the German "Holy Roman Empire" of the Middle Ages).
Religion: Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%. More religious than France and the United Kingdom, but on secularist trend. Survey: 47% believe in God, 25% in some other form of intelligent design, and 25% do not believe in any intelligent design or God.
Demographics: 91.5% German, vast majority of remaining population of European descent outside of Germany.
Foreign Policy: Focuses on strong relations with other European nations, especially France and Russia, in light of their series of devastating wars during the 19th and 20th centuries with each. Supported Afghanistan War, but not Iraq War.
Population: 82,369,548 (2008)

Genealogy Search:

Individual    First Name Last Name For females, use maiden name (last name before marriage) Father    First Name Last Name   Mother    First Name Last Name Visit OneGreatFamily.com