The European Origins of German-American Diversity
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THE EUROPEAN ORIGINS OF GERMAN-AMERICAN DIVERSITY oth the official motto of the United tion today. Yet much of the common her- States, e pluribus unum ("One out of itage is ageless, since many customs, beliefs Bmany"), and the motto expressed in and traditions are derived from the misty the German national anthem, "Einigkeit und past of pagan times and transcend both Recht und Freiheit" ("Unity, Justice and present national borders and specific tribal Freedom") betray the degree to which affiliations, fully justifying historian Fried- diversity has been a given in the history of rich Meinecke's concept of a "deutsche both nations. Yet each has pursued the goal Kulturnation" [Germanic cultural unity] of unifying its diverse elements differently. which encompasses the German-speaking The United States—the foremost countries and regions of central Europe "Nation of Immigrants," to quote John F. allowing diversity and commonality to co- Kennedy's book title—has shaped its identi- exist. The industrial age, the concomitant ty through a continuous process of assimila- growth of cities, increased mobility, and tion and integration involving some 140 dif- ease of communication have encouraged the ferent nationalities, with the goal of forming a process of homogenization, of course. political and socio-economic whole out of a populace of different ethnic backgrounds Especially in the second half of the twenty- and religious creeds. The quest for unity in eth century, the gradual urbanization of German-speaking lands, on the other hand, even the smallest villages has been con- has been predicated largely on the mainte- stantly chiseling away at some of the most nance of a variety of diverse tribal affilia- tenacious of the individual tribal character- tions, reaching back into antiquity but istics. But despite the inevitable leveling bound together by a common history, an effect, much of the diversity has been overarching ethno-linguistic culture, and retained or is being preserved for genera- dynastic interests. tions yet unborn. Given that today's German-speaking This essay can, of course, treat only culture area is only about one-twentieth the some aspects of the variety within the con- size of the United States the uninitiated cept generally known as German culture might expect more cultural homogeneity and civilization. We will focus accordingly than diversity in German-speaking coun- on tribal and geographic origins and linguis- tries. At close range, however, these lands tic differences between German-speaking reveal a multitude of distinct cultural vari- regions. Along the way we will consider the eties that in part reach back more than 1500 dynastic-political and religious influences at years to the settlement of certain areas by work in various areas and look at customs individual tribes. Germanic tribesmen, early Christian missionaries, knights and noble- and traditions in various locales, consider- men, peasants and burghers, religious ing particularly the question of how certain reformers and writers—all helped shape the folkways were transferred from the Old to composite which we know as German tradi- the New World. European Origins________________ GEOGRAPHICAL ORIGINS Migrate, They Carry Their Selves Along," th the late Gunter Moltmann pointed out that The year 1983, which marked the 300 while immigrants of necessity adapted to anniversary of German group immigration the lay of the land, the climate, and the to North America, generated a renewed resources available, they did not give up interest in what the 1990 United States their customary ways. Census showed to be the largest ethnic ele- Most people migrating from one ment of the country. Tracing the geographic country to another do not shake off origins of that group is, however, not as sim- their old clothes in a hurry and put ple as putting a finger on a present-day map. on new ones suited to their future One must take into account that borders environment—at least not immedi- ately upon arrival.... Along with the changed frequently, thus causing a fluctuat- things necessary for their physical ing incongruence between ethno-linguistic existence, the immigrants' baggage population groups and dynastic-political includes their cultural heritage, their territories. The former are characterized by mother tongue, their ways of life, cohesiveness and a great degree of perma- their personal concepts, their value systems and preconceived plans for nence through common ancestry, language future, their hopes and expecta- (tribal dialect), behavioral patterns and tra- tions.1 ditions in general, whether its members are The immigrants' sense of identity in inhabitants of their own state or have been the New World thus continued to mirror annexed to another. Territorial configura- their tribal and regional roots. Striking evi- tions, on the other hand, came about through dence of the tendency of immigrants to con- the exercise of power, princely marriage and gregate and settle in areas where others inheritance—hence the tendency toward from their home territory in Europe had shifting borders. Another, often overlooked established themselves can be found in J. point with regard to the geographic origins Richey's Directory of the German- of the German element in America is the American Societies in the USA, 1988. Of the once formidable presence of millions of more than 800 organizations listed, a signif- Germans in the eastern and southeastern icant number show a tribal or regional ori- countries of Europe. entation. In fact, three of the approximately Immigrants from the German-speaking ten most frequently occurring names refer areas of Europe have been coming to specifically to original tribal groups: the America since 1608, bringing with them not Saxons, the Bavarians, and the Swabians. just their trunks full of utensils and clothes, A recent example of an attempt to pre- but their dialects, their customs and tradi- serve the German cultural heritage can be tions, their values and beliefs. This "cultur- found in the first issue of the "Neues Blatt" al baggage" provided them with continuity [Feb.1, 1997], the Newsletter of the Ost- and a sense of stability which found expres- friesen Heritage Society in Iowa. The sion in the founding of German towns and "Goals of the Society" are: neighborhoods often based on the common 1. To preserve the knowledge of the regional origin of the settlers. A second gen- emigrants, their names, customs, eration of settlers from the same region usu- foods and land of origin through genealogy, celebrations, and lan- ally followed the first in a type of "chain guage classes. migration." In his essay, "When People —18— ___________________Reichmann 2. To use and enjoy the Platt lan- ed to his or her new country by adapting guage for the two generations familiar ways to the strange land. In doing which still speak this ancient so, German-speaking immigrants enriched Friesen language of the low coastal lands of Germany. the American continent in a variety of ways, ranging from the introduction of effective 3. To preserve records of the lan- guage through cassettes and agricultural practices and technical know- video of the Plattdeutsch theater how—sausage-making and beer-brewing— and music at our festivities. to Grimm's fairy tales. Today German 4. To provide activities with Platt Christmas customs, festival planning, Theater and German music. kindergartens, music appreciation and phys- 5. To form an Ostfriesen Genea- ical education have all become part of the logical Resource/Research Center American mainstream. Of course, much has at the Wellsburg Library, for this been adapted to suit the dominant central pan of Iowa and all Anglophone culture with its tastes and whose ancestors first settled in mores. Hohenschwanstein, the castle of the Grundy County and surrounding areas. Bavarian King Ludwig II, has now become the castle of "Sleeping Beauty;" the 6. To bring performing groups from Ostfriesland, Germany, and for Christmas tree is trimmed with artificial our people to perform in Ger- lights; and "Stille Nacht" and "O many and research their roots in Tannenbaum" are sung in English, as are the land of the ancestors. Martin Luther's hymns. And then there are Dat Pommersche Blatt [Jan. 1997], certain restrictions on the sale and the Newsletter of the Pommersche Verein Central strength of beer—a livable compromise Wisconsin, states: "Our Verein [sic., i.e., with the temperance spirit of the new society or organization] has chosen the American homeland. Jamunder Tracht for our Tracht (folk cos- TRIBAL ORIGINS tume)." In regard to language the newsletter Now let us reach way back to the tribal reports the following: "Since the formation origins of our German ancestors. During the of our Verein, we have gathered and pub- Volkerwanderung (migration of nations) lished information about the German dialect between the fourth and sixth centuries, cen- spoken by our forefathers. At our meetings tral Europe became the domain of the we attempt to state resolutions brought from Frisians, Saxons, Franconians, Alemanni, the floor in 'Platt'..." Thuringians and Bavarians—to name but The few examples mentioned here are the most powerful original Germanic tribes but a small number of the myriad manifes- or tribal groups. Through subsequent colo- tations of the truth of Moltmann's observa- nization eastward beyond the Elbe and Oder tion. In molding a new identity in their rivers in the ninth to the thirteenth centuries, adoptive homeland, German immigrants the new tribes of the Mecklenburgers, drew upon the "cultural baggage" they had Pommeranians, Brandenburgers, Silesians, brought with them. Practices and traditions West- and East Prussians were formed. determined largely by tribal and linguistic Interaction with various natural phenomena, affiliations were a vital part of an immi- from the North Sea and the Baltic to the grant's identity, and each individual adjust- Alps, as well as the interplay of certain —19— European Origins________________ events in human history encouraged the divide communities along different lines.