American Association of Teachers of German

GERMANS IN AMERICA
Four-part Television Series To Be Released For U.S. Public Television Broadcast
in Spring 2008

Columbia, SC and Washington, DC…South Carolina ETV, the German Information Center USA and the Goethe-Institut are pleased to announce that GERMANS IN AMERICA, a four-part television series about German immigrants in the United States, will be released for public television broadcast via NETA, the National Educational Telecommunications Association, in Spring 2008.

Many people don’t realize that over 42 million Americans have German roots. As America’s largest ethnic group, Germans have made a significant mark on America’s cultural, financial, and public lives for the last 400 years.

The achievements of many German Americans have provided the basis for much of American culture. The four-hour series relates little-known stories: the epic of the Texas-Germans and the quiet lives of countless Midwestern farmers; the tales of prominent families like the Steinways, as well as the multitude of poor immigrants gathered in “Little Germanies” in American cities; the saga of the press and printing industries. The series also recalls the heritage of devout free-thinkers and political refugees as well as the founders of industrial dynasties in their new homeland.

In short, GERMANS IN AMERICA is American history.  The unique combination of location shooting in the U.S. and Europe, rarely-seen archival footage, poignant interviews with descendants of these early German settlers, and depictions of historical events done with meticulous attention to detail, will bring German-American history to life for viewers. Made originally for European television by the award-winning producer, Axel Engstfeld, the programs were directed by Fritz Baumann and Christian Twente and were first broadcast in Europe in 2006 and 2007. South Carolina ETV and NETA are joining forces with the Goethe-Institut on the American adaptation.

Acquisition of the series and production of the U.S. adaptation have been made possible thanks to generous support from the German Information Center USA in Washington, DC.

In conjunction with the broadcasts, the German National Tourist Office and the German Information Center USA are honoring the 400 years of German heritage in America with their new web site: www.germanoriginality.com which offers information on German American heritage and encourages Americans to explore their roots on a trip to Germany. More at www.GERMANORIGINality.com 

The series will be launched for public television at NETA’s annual meeting in Columbus, Ohio, January 22-25, 2008.

More at www.GermansInAmerica.org