German Influence on

American Culture

GERMANY AMERICA

Spring, 2008
C.N. “Ferdinand I”, Bacau

~Oana- Mar ia
 Intro ducti ve f acts
Causes of Emigration:
– Political reasons were naturally tied to economic and
reasons
– Germans left to pursue the “American Dream” of land
ownership.
– encouraged to immigrate through idealized depictions of
life in the new world

German-Americans
• The term became commonly heard in the middle of 19th
century
• It refers to immigrants from German-speaking areas and
their descendants
• The settled in Ohio (Cincinnati), Missouri, Michigan.
Emigration process Number of German Americans
1200000 1600000
1000000 1400000
1200000
800000
1000000
600000 800000
400000 600000
400000
200000
200000
0 0
1820-29 1830-39 1840-49 1850-59 1850 1860
 German Names-in America
-Names were often Americanized

In an English-speaking environment it is very difficult hang on to a German

name, because people always tend to anglicize it. Compare: Huber/Hoover,
Pfoerschin/Pershing, Schultz/Shults, Kunz, Koons, Klein/Cline,
Tischler/Tishler, Heilemann/Heileman and Freeouf from Frühauf.

Germanic First Names

Albert, Daniel
Frank, Freddi(y)
Rudolf, Helmut
Adele, Eva
Edith, Elisabeth
Gisela, Doris
 German Influence on
American Food
• German food is often
equated with Sauerkraut
and Bratwurst, German
Chocolate Cake,
Knackwurst, Schnitzel,
Knödel
• A BRATWURST is a
sausage composed of pork,
beef, and sometimes veal.
• In the United States,
bratwurst (colloquially
known as "brats") are
usually eaten on a hot dog,
with Sauerkraut, pickles or
condiments.
• The city of
 Ger man Bee r i n Amer ica

• Beer came along with the

European settlers
• Ale was the first type of
beer widely spread in
America
• Later came Lager-this
type was revolutionary
because it was made
with yeast which sinks
to the bottom during the
fermentation and the
beer was no longer
cloudy…
German Influence on America’s Automobile Industry
• German-American involvement in
automobile companies was
substantial
• Duesenberg and Stutz are only
two German immigrans, who
successfully designed cars.
• The Duesenberg name is
synonymous with excellence
 OKTOBERFEST in America

• Next to the Christmas tree, Oktoberfest is the most

popular German custom that Germany has ever
exported to the rest of the world
• In The USA there are hundreds of Oktoberfest
celebrations. Those in the North of the country are the
most representative.
• Few follow the schedule of the one in Germany...and
in Cincinnati (OH) there are even two annual
Oktoberfests
TOP OKTOBERFESTS
5. Columbus (OH) – German Village
6. Cincinnati (OH)
 Christmas traditions I
The Tre e – Lancaster the home of Christmas tree in
America. It is probably the most popular Christmas tradition.
World Germans decorated their tree "with stars, angels,
toys, gilded nuts, and candies wrapped in bright papers.
Later they added tinsel and lighted candles."
The “ Pu tz” - is a group of wooden figures, under the
Christmas Tree. There may be stars in the sky and angels
suspended with black thread. The middle and foreground
include the manger scene, often a cave, figures, animals,
moss, religious figures. "The aim is to depict a rolling
countryside, a hillside town, and a lonely stable."
 Christmas traditions II
Candle s – represent the
glory and beauty of the
stars above Bethlehem.
These candles are put in the
windows to light to way of
Christ Child.

“Belz ni cke l”
(S t Nicho las) –
from this character
the modern Santa
Claus evolved
America’s German VIPs
German settlers in America have been
influential in almost every field (science,
architecture, entertainment, some set
intellectual landmarks, others are prominent
celebrities.
Most Americans are still not aware of how
much Germans have contributed to
Hollywood
They all made their dream come true in
Hollywood.
 Successful German movie
directors
Roland Emmerich – The
day after tomorrow, Wolfgang Petersen – Troy, In
Independence Day, the 13-th the line of Fire, Air force one,
floor Uprising
 Bild Lilli - The Barbie doll has German origins
Bar bie h as ro ots i n t he The original Barbie wore a striped
Fed era l Rep ub lic , where
bathing suit, heavy eye make-up and
in 1956 the first “Bild-
Lilly” doll appeared, based sunglasses and sold for three dollars.
on a comic strip character Collectors say with her original
from the magazine Bild. The packaging she is now worth DM
U.S. toy manufacturer Mattel 15,000 (U.S. $8,300).
took over the patent rights
for the doll shortly after
its debut.
 Barbie, produced by Mattel. Ruth Handler, one of the company's
founders, bought some of the Lilli dolls when she was on a trip to
Europe. Back home she reworked the design of the doll and re-
named her Barbie, who debuted at the New York toy fair on March
9, 1959. Barbie had rooted hair and her shoes and earrings were
not molded - apart from that she was a lookalike of Lilli.
AMERICA’S MOST GERMAN–AMERICAN
TOWN: MILWAUKEE
• 48 percent of the metro area's residents claimed at least some German
heritage. That tops 44 percent for Cincinnati and 41 percent for St. Louis--
two other capitals of German settlement
• Milwaukee actually has more Schmidts, in all the variations of that name,
than it has Smiths.
• Milwaukee is the only place in which I found that the Americans concern
themselves with learning German, and where the German language and
German ways are bold enough to take a foothold.
• The second impact of German culture can be summed up in a single word:
Gemütlichkeit. Although Milwaukee has big-city resources (and big-city
problems), its people preserve the pace and many of the pleasures of a
much smaller community.
• Milwaukee boasts three of the oldest and finest German restaurants in the
country. Mention John Ernst's, Mader's, or Karl Ratzsch's and the eyes of
normally stoic citizens are known to fill with tears.
 John Ernst

Karl Ratzsch
Mader
 CONCLUSIONS
• There is no doubt that although it must have
been hard for a civilization to stand out, in a
country like America, considering the
cultural diversity that exist there, Germans
succeeded in bringing forth their customs
traditions and culture.
• Even more German personalities achieved
successfully to America's development, their
influence being beneficial and recognized.
•