German Immigration

It is difficult to define the term "German" (and thus, "German" migration) because of the changing boundaries of the state of Germany and other Germanic nations. Germans are often defined as those individuals from areas where forms of German have traditionally been spoken, including today's Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, Bohemia, and parts of Switzerland, Poland, Hungary, and the former Yugoslavia.

During the mid-1800s, the part of Europe that is now considered "Germany" consisted of smaller German states controlled by princes. These princedoms were later controlled by empires that allowed little or no political power to remain in the hands of the princely leaders. By 1870s, a united German state was finally created by Otto von Bismarck, although in the years that followed the boundaries of this state would continue to change. Because of the difficulty that exists in defining the term "German" and the numerous boundaries changes that have occurred within Europe throughout history, the following information does not refer specifically to Germany, but to the German states.

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/Jam