American Oktoberfest: Cincinnati, Ohio

According to the 2000 census, more than four in 10 Ohioans claim German ancestry. But go to Cincinnati, known to the German-American community as Zincinnati, and the proportion rises to one half. Along with Milwaukee and St. Louis, Cincinnati forms part of the “German triangle” of German-Americana.

The sister city Cincinnati, home to the largest U.S. Oktoberfest, is Munich.

What began in 1788 with the arrival of Major Benjamin Steitz (Stites) and Matthias Denmann and continued with the Danube Swabian immigration of the 1950's, flourishes today as a vibrant pride in German-American heritage. Cincinnati boasts more than 20 German-American societies, a bilingual school, a German language newspaper, a sprawling May festival, and the largest Oktoberfest outside of Munich, Cincinnati’s sister city.

The “elbow” formed by the Miami and Erie Canal, nicknamed the “Rhine,” now forms the Central Parkway, the spine of the city that splits the city in half. The area known today as “over-the-Rhine” was once the German district.

Of all the buildings in Over-the-Rhine, the one that expresses the German-American love for culture and learning and the arts is the Germania building, with a statue of a women who embodies Germany, with books, a globe, and a palette at her feet. During the Anti-German sentiment of World War I, she was renamed “Columbia” and draped with a black cape.
But the most impressive embodiment of German culture in Cincinnati, is by far, its annual Oktoberfest, where 80,500 bratwurst, 64,000 sauerkraut balls, 56,000 sausages, and 24,000 potato pancakes are consumed each year.

Source: The Week in Germany

German heritage Texas style: New Braunfels

New Braunfels, Texas, wears its German heritage on its sleeve. A proud mishmash of both Texas grit and German gemütlichkeit, it was founded by Prussian Prinz Karl of Solms Braunfels on Good Friday in 1845. The prince had been negotiating with authorities to bring German immigrants to the area.

A local folk festival serves the best in Bratwurst.

New Braunfels, known as the "City of a Prince," had a major impact upon the immediate area as well as opening West Texas to a civilized economy. The many artisans and craftsmen among the 6,000 settlers generated industry and commerce for the entire central Texas area. In addition to economic growth this early colony brought religion, organized public education, and other socioeconomic benefits to the area.

But it wasn’t until the 1960’s that New Braunfels began to recognize the value and actively promote its German heritage. Determined to preserve the remaining German sites in the city, historians set out to revitalize the Sophienburg Museum and Archives, the Ferdinand Lindheimer Home, Conservation Plaza, and the Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture, all of which were of vital import to the German community.

Source: The Week in Germany

The “German Athens:” Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The government of Wisconsin played an active role in attracting German immigrants to the state. In 1852, Wisconsin established a Commission of Immigration with a resident commissioner in New York whose duty it was to distribute pamphlets extolling Wisconsin's attributes.

This lovely card invites German immigrants to join the Milwaukee Turnverein.

Disbanded in 1855, it was re-established in 1867 during the second great wave of German immigration. But the greatest motivation for German settlers was the firsthand accounts of friends and family members who attested to the quality of their new lives in the state, where land was relatively easy to come by and the German community had firmly established itself.

German organizations and clubs were instrumental in creating a German consciousness in Wisconsin. Much of German social life revolved around the many musical and athletic societies, freedom of thought organizations, horticultural societies, cultural clubs, socialist groups, and religious organizations.

A strong German-language press and the informal institution of the beer hall also played key roles in keeping with the traditions of the homeland while assimilating to their new home. All of these gave Milwaukee the nickname “the German Athens.”

One of these was the Turnverein, or Turner Society, a group suppressed by then prince Metternich of Austria because it focused on an atmosphere of congenial, lively debate. The Turners, who were primarily gymnasts but also interested in disseminating political theory, became active in many German-American communities. Milwaukee’s Turnverein is perhaps the most famous.

Today, Milwaukee citizens play an active part in revitalizing and celebrating German culture in their city. Milwaukee is now home to the largest German Fest in the United States, in its 25th year in 2005.

Source: The Week in Germany

German Fest Milwaukee kicks off today

Thousands will converge on the Milwaukee shore of Lake Michigan this Friday for the kick-off of the largest German Fest in the United States. The festival, celebrating its 26th year, runs through Sunday, July 30.

German food is authentic and tasty at the German Fest.

The Milwaukee German Fest has been a staple of summer fun for a quarter of a century, having become one of the most important cultural events for the German-American community in the Midwest.

Wisconsin, along with Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska, comprise an area of the Midwest with the highest concentration of German ancestry in the country. In these states, as many as one half of all people claim German heritage.

But the visitors who flock to Milwaukee in celebration of German culture are not necessarily German-Americans in search of their roots. Visitors of all stripes come to enjoy a unique mix of food, drink and fun.

Coordinated by several area German-American associations and staffed by 3,000 volunteers, the festival attracts most of its visitors from out of town.

After days filled with beer, parades, dances, and activities for children, each evening ends with a fireworks display with Lake Michigan as its backdrop. On Sunday, the program concludes with a performance of Carmina Burana by the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.

Authentic German foods such as Bratwurst, Strudel and Sauerkraut are prepared fresh each day, with over 20,000 Bratwursts and 10,000 pounds of potatoes and sauerkraut to be consumed over the course of the three-day festival. A wine-tasting will offer the best in imported German wines, while 35,000 pieces of pastry from Torten to Strudel will fulfill the German tradition of Kaffee und Kuchen.

On ten entertainment stages, eleven European bands and twelve musical and dance groups from Wisconsin will perform, among them the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, yodeler Edith Prock, the Schlossberg Quintet, and Die Sandler.

The largest selection of German goods outside of Germany will be at the festival this year, including fabulous displays of imported German gifts and one-of-a-kind collectibles in a European market setting.

Festival organizers will also raffle off several grand prizes, including a car, continental airline tickets from Midwest Airlines and a selection of wine from a local German wine distributor.

Source: The Week in Germany

Widespread praise following World Cup

Germany has won the hearts of millions of people around the world thanks to its spectacularly successful soccer World Cup.

All told, an estimated two million foreign visitors traveled to Germany during the month-long soccer extravaganza with matches in 12 cities including Berlin, Dortmund, Hamburg, Cologne and Munich. dpa photo

British Prime Minister Tony Blair spoke for many when he said that the tournament had “exceeded all expectations” and helped Germany change its image abroad for the better.

"The old clichés have been replaced by a new, positive and more fair image of Germany," Blair said in a column for the Bild am Sonntag tabloid.

In the United States, Americans called and wrote the German Embassy to convey their thanks, with one soccer fan from New York saying: “Germany should be very proud of the amazing show it put on for the rest of the world.”

All told, an estimated two million foreign visitors traveled to Germany during the month-long soccer extravaganza with matches in 12 cities including Berlin, Dortmund, Hamburg, Cologne and Munich.

Nine in ten would recommend Germany as a tourist destination, according to a survey by Germany’s DZT tourism board, while more than 93% said that they felt welcome in Germany — indisputable proof that the tournament lived up to its motto: "A time to make friends.”

"All the feedback we've had from our 30 representative offices around the world has been positive and enthusiastic too," tourist board chief executive Petra Hedorfer said in a statement. "There is tremendous enthusiasm for 'Destination Germany' all over the world."

Chancellor Angela Merkel meanwhile thanked Germans for their “incredible enthusiasm and hospitality” and said that ordinary citizens had been their country’s best ambassadors.

"You are real ambassadors for our nation," Merkel wrote in an open letter. "That is the best advertisement for our country."

Links:

Germans take pride in World Cup run despite loss (from Germany Info

Supermodel Schiffer touts Germany in New York campaign

Claudia Schiffer's model smile is beckoning New York commuters to discover a new side of Germany as part of a landmark campaign underway at the city's Grand Central Station.

Schiffer: "It's an honor for me to participate in the 'Invest in Germany — Land of Ideas' initiative." Photo courtesy Land of Ideas

The Düsseldorf-born supermodel is the star attraction of a series of posters hanging throughout the famed station.

They picture Schiffer, wrapped only in a German flag, alongside taglines such as: "Come on over to my place," "Invest in Germany, boys" or "Get your hands on a German supermodel."

It is all part of the "Land of Ideas" campaign, which is seeking to introduce people across the globe to a Germany that is innovative, modern, open to the rest of the world — and also a great place to do business.

"It's an honor for me to participate in the 'Invest in Germany — Land of Ideas' initiative," Schiffer said in a statement.

"I think it's the least I can do for a country that has shown me so much support — not only by giving me a language and an identity as well as nearly perfect social, economic and political circumstances, but also by allowing me to grow up in a creative atmosphere.

"Germany has given the world so much more than beer and punctuality. If I can help spread this message to investors across the world, I'm happy to do it."

According to several recent surveys, many investors have already heard the message loud and clear.

In fact, Germany ranks as the most attractive business location in Europe and the third-most attractive worldwide, according to a June survey of international business executives by Ernst & Young, the accountants.

Europe's largest economy won particular praise for its state-of-the-art transportation and telecommunications infrastructure, high-tech research and development labs, well-trained workforce and large domestic market.

Schiffer's posters will be on view at Grand Central Station until the end of the month.

Links:

Land of Ideas

Invest in Germany