Language

Germans are descended from many ancient tribes, including the Cimbri, Franks, Goths, and Teutons. A small group of Slavic people called Sorbs live in eastern Germany.

Most of the people living in Germany were born there. Most non-Germans who live in the country moved there with their families as guest workers. They came mostly from Turkey, Yugoslavia, and Italy to work in western Germany.

The largest population movement in German history took place from 1944 to 1947. Millions of Germans poured into Germany from throughout Eastern Europe.

During the 1950's, many East Germans fled to West Germany, through Berlin. At the time, the German people were divided by the heavily guarded 858-mile (1,381-kilometer) border that split their land between East and West. Relatives and friends were separated from one another. The East German government restricted travel between East and West Germany. In August 1961, the Communist government of East Germany closed off the escape route in Berlin by building the high, heavily guarded Berlin Wall between eastern and western sectors of the city. Although some East Germans were allowed to resettle in West Germany, most people could not even visit there.

It was during the mid-1900's that the many guest workers from other countries came to live in West Germany. The West Germans recruited them to work in the country's booming industries.

In 1989, as reform movements swept through Eastern Europe, thousands of East Germans fled to West Germany by way of neighboring countries. In response to these departures and popular protests, the East German government lifted all restrictions on travel. The Berlin Wall was opened and later torn down. East Germans were permitted to travel to West Germany or any other country. In addition, West Germans were permitted to visit East Germany without any restrictions. After unification, all Germans had complete freedom of travel.

In the late 1900's, about 2 million ethnic Germans from the countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union immigrated to Germany. Hundreds of thousands of refugees of other ethnic backgrounds have also settled in Germany.

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Two main forms of the German language have long been spoken in Germany—High German in the south and center and Low German in the north. In addition, there are many dialects associated with particular regions or cities. In Germany today, schools, businesses, newspapers, and radio and television broadcasts use a standardized form of the High German language called Standard German.

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