German: Germans Outside of Germany

Optional Course Print Materials: German: Germans Outside of Germany

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

Since the 19th century (or earlier), Germans have migrated to other countries to make their home. Whether  evacuating for the sake of safety (seeking asylum), moving into countries where other family members resided, or simply emigrating to remove themselves from the homeland, researching these individuals means considering various types of records found in the country they called home.

This course explores the German migration out of Germany as late as the mid-20th century and includes settlements in some locations as early as pre-15th century while others will focus on 19th and 20th centuries only. The countries addressed are those where significant populations of Germans have been or are still found. In some locations, the region has not been perceived as “German” (i.e., German has not been an officially recognized language). These locations will include the UK and Ireland; Oceania (Australia and New Zealand); North America (US, Canada, and Mexico); European Countries (where German is not an official language); Latin American Countries (Central and South America and the Dominican Republic); Africa (select countries with German populations, past or present), Asia, and India. We'll explore why Germans left Germany and where they went. 

We'll explore records that document your German ancestor in their new homeland as well as where to find these records. We'll also explore German communities and the records they left behind, including histories, periodicals, and compiled sources. Each module ends with resources for social media websites and groups where researchers may connect with their German relatives. 

Course Length: 8 weeks