NATIONAL GERMAN-AMERICAN DAY – Oct. 6, 2026

Expected NATIONAL GERMAN-AMERICAN DAY Deals

As National German-American Day approaches, look for local German restaurants and breweries to offer special menus and discounts on traditional fare like bratwurst, schnitzel, and craft beers. German-American cultural centers and heritage societies may host special events, including folk dance performances, music festivals, and historical exhibits. Retailers like Lidl and Aldi, with their German roots, might feature promotions on imported goods and specialty foods. Additionally, travel agencies could highlight deals on trips to Germany. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as October 6 approaches.

History of NATIONAL GERMAN-AMERICAN DAY

German-Americans have been in America since the very beginning. In 1608, there were several Germans among the Jamestown settlers. German immigrants arrived in more significant numbers around 1670, when they chose to settle overwhelmingly in Pennsylvania and New York. In Pennsylvania, Germans famously founded Germantown and Pennsylvania still has the largest amount of German-Americans in the country.

Between 1820 and World War 1, the largest influx of German immigrants arrived. Many sought political or religious freedom after the German Revolutions of 1848, prompting other Americans to call them “Forty- Eighters.” German immigrants began to venture out into the Midwest, where they heavily populated Chicago, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, and more major cities. During the Civil War, many Germans enlisted and fought on the Union side, as the general sentiment in German culture was anti-slavery. 

It was in these earlier years of German immigration to America that much of the cultural influence we see today took place. For example, during this time, Germans brought the custom of Christmas trees, the delicious hamburger and the pretzel, and even kindergarten. German culture stressed the importance of universal education, which heavily influenced the budding American education system. German entrepreneurs, like Steinway and Studebaker, developed businesses whose products, like pianos and covered wagons, helped define important eras in American life.

World War 1 was a rough time for German-Americans. The anti-German sentiment caused politicians to worry that German-Americans would have split loyalties and undermine American war efforts – even the President doubted the loyalty of those with “hyphenated Americanism.” Germans were not allowed to even volunteer at the Red Cross, and many German music pieces and other art were not performed or displayed. During World War II, over 110,000 Germans fled their home country and sought refuge from oppression in America. Many Germans were interned and their civil rights violated. 

By 1970, the anti-German sentiment had mostly evaporated, and German-Americans found many similarities with other Western European immigrants. Today, many German-American cultural contributions are so heavily assimilated with American culture that many people couldn’t pick them out if they tried. German-Americans now make up the largest self-reported ancestry group, which is around 44.2 million. 

How Businesses Can Celebrate NATIONAL GERMAN-AMERICAN DAY