The Germans of Romania or Rumäniendeutsche are an ethnic group of Romania. During the interwar period in Romania, the total number of ethnic Germans amounted to as much as 786,000 (according to some sources and estimates dating to 1939),[2][3] a figure which had subsequently fallen to circa 36,000 as of 2011 in contemporary Romania.

Overview and classification [ edit ]

Siebenbürgen), Banat (Banat), and Bukovina (Buchenland). Topographic map of Romania, highlighting the three most important areas of settlement of the Romanian-German community: Transylvania ( German ), Banat ( German ), and Bukovina ( German ).

The Germans of Romania are not a single, unitary, homogeneous group, but rather a series of different sub-groups, each with their own culture, traditions, dialect(s), and history. This stems from the fact that various German-speaking populations arrived on the territory of present-day Romania in different waves or stages of settlement, initially as early as the High Middle Ages, firstly to southern and northeastern Transylvania (some of them even crossing the outer Carpathians to neighbouring Moldavia and Wallachia), then subsequently during the Modern Age in other Habsburg-ruled lands (such as Bukovina, at the time part of Cisleithania, or Banat), as well as in other areas of contemporary Romania (such as Dobruja).

Map depicting the traditional settlement areas of the Romanian-Germans in Transylvania and Banat , historical regions situated in central, respectively south-western present-day Romania.

Therefore, given their rather complex geographic background, in order to understand their language, culture, customs, and history, one must regard them as the following independent groups:

Contributions to Romanian culture [ edit ]

German: Die Schwarze Kirche, Romanian: Biserica Neagră) in Kronstadt/Brașov, a representative landmark of the German community in Romania. The Black Church ) in Kronstadt/Brașov, a representative landmark of the German community in Romania.

Throughout the passing of time, the German community in Romania has been actively and consistently contributing to the culture of the country. The most noteworthy examples of such contributions are visible in the following aspects:

Royal House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen in Romania [ edit ]

In the time of Romania's transition from a middle-sized principality to a larger kingdom, members of the German House of Hohenzollern (hailing from the Swabian Principality of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, part contemporary Baden-Württemberg) reigned initially over the Danubian United Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia and then, eventually, also over the unified Kingdom of Romania both during the 19th and 20th centuries. The ruling Romanian monarchs who were part of this dynastic branch were the following ones:

Denotes Regent

King Reign Claim Nº Portrait Name

(Born–Died) Reign start Reign end Duration 1 Carol I

(1839–1914) 15 March 1881 10 October 1914 33 years, 209 days Ruled beforehand as Domnitor (i.e. 'Prince') (1866–1881) 2 Ferdinand I

(1865–1927) 10 October 1914 20 July 1927 12 years, 283 days Nephew of Carol I 3 Michael I

(1921–2017) 20 July 1927 8 June 1930

(Deposed) 2 years, 323 days Grandson of Ferdinand I — Prince Nicholas

(1903–1978) 20 July 1927 8 June 1930

(Deposed) 2 years, 323 days Son of Ferdinand I 4 Carol II

(1893–1953) 8 June 1930 6 September 1940

(Abdicated) 10 years, 90 days Son of Ferdinand I (3) Michael I

(1921–2017) 6 September 1940 30 December 1947

(Abdicated) 7 years, 115 days Son of Carol II

Pretenders to the throne of Romania (after 1947, when King Michael I was forced to abdicate):

Nº Portrait Pretender Pretending from Pretending until 1 Michael I 30 December 1947 1 March 2016 2 Margareta 1 March 2016 Incumbent

Demographics [ edit ]

Historical population Year Pop. ±% 1887 50,000 — 1930 745,421 +1390.8% 1939 786,000 +5.4% 1948 343,913 −56.2% 1956 384,708 +11.9% 1966 382,595 −0.5% 1977 359,109 −6.1% 1992 119,462 −66.7% 2002 59,764 −50.0% 2011 36,042 −39.7% Starting with the 1930 figures, the reference is to all German-speaking groups in Romania.

German minority population by settlement [ edit ]

The data displayed in the table below highlights notable settlements (of at least 1%) of the German minority in Romania according to the 2011 Romanian census. Note that some particular figures might be estimative.

Weidenthal), Banat Brebu Nou ( German ), Banat

Birthälm), Transylvania Biertan ( German ), Transylvania

Honigberg), Transylvania Hărman ( German ), Transylvania

Heltau), Transylvania Cisnădie ( German ), Transylvania

Mediasch), Transylvania Mediaș ( German ), Transylvania

Schässburg), Transylvania Sighișoara ( German ), Transylvania

Agnetheln), Transylvania Agnita ( German ), Transylvania

German minority population by county [ edit ]

Below is represented the notable German minority population (of at least 1%) for some counties, according to the 2011 census.

Administration, official representation, and politics [ edit ]

Lutschhaus, Romanian: Casa Lutsch), the seat of the DFDR/FDGR in Sibiu (Hermannstadt). The Lutsch house ( German ), the seat of the DFDR/FDGR in Sibiu ( German ).

The entire German-speaking community in contemporary Romania is represented at official level by the Democratic Forum of Germans in Romania (German: Demokratisches Forum der Deutschen in Rumänien). The forum is a political platform that has a centrist ideology aiming to support the minority rights of the Germans from Romania.

Since 1989, the DFDR/FDGR has competed both in local and legislative elections, cooperating in the process with two historical parties of the Romanian politics, namely the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Christian Democratic National Peasants' Party (PNȚCD), most notably at local administrative level, in cities such as Sibiu (German: Hermannstadt), Timișoara (German: Temeschburg), or Baia Mare (German: Frauenbach). The DFDR/FDGR also adheres to a pro-monarchic stance regarding the matter of monarchy restoration in Romania.

Until 1 January, 2007 (i.e. the date of accession of Romania to the European Union), the DFDR/FDGR was also an observing member of the European Parliament, briefly affiliated with the European People's Party Group (between January and November of the same year).

Education [ edit ]

Hermannstadt) Samuel von Brukenthal National College in Sibiu ( German

In Bucharest there are two German schools, namely Deutsche Schule Bukarest and Deutsches Goethe-Kolleg Bukarest. The Deutsche Schule Bukarest serves Kinderkrippe, Kindergarten, Grundschule, and Gymnasium (high school).[20]

In Timișoara, the Nikolaus Lenau High School was founded during the late 19th century. It was named this way in reference to Nikolaus Lenau, a Banat Swabian Romantic poet. Nowadays, the Nikolaus Lenau High School is considered the most important of its kind from Banat.[21]

In Sibiu, the Samuel von Brukenthal National College is the oldest German-language school from Romania (recorded as early as the 14th century), being also classified as a historical monument. It was subsequently renamed this way in reference to baron Samuel von Brukenthal, a Transylvanian Saxon aristocrat.

Additionally, there are two Goethe Institut cultural associations in Romania: one based in Bucharest and another one in Iași.

Media [ edit ]

The Allgemeine Deutsche Zeitung für Rumänien (ADZ) is the daily German-language newspaper in Romania. It is currently the only German-language newspaper from Eastern Europe.[22] Regional German-language publications also include the Banater Zeitung in Banat and the Hermannstädter Zeitung for the city of Sibiu.

Recent history [ edit ]

Der kleine Ring, Romanian: Piața Mică) in Sibiu (Hermannstadt) The Small Square ( German ) in Sibiu ( German

Although the German minority in Romania has dwindled in numbers to a considerable extent since the fall of the Iron Curtain, the few but well organised Romanian-Germans who decided to remain in the country after the 1989 revolution are respected and regarded by many of their fellow ethnic Romanian countrymen as a hard-working, thorough, and practical community who has contributed tremendously to the local culture and history of, most notably, Transylvania, Banat, and Bukovina, where the largest German-speaking groups once lived alongside the Romanian ethnic majority.[23]

Furthermore, the bilateral political and cultural relationships between post–1989 Romania and the unified Federal Republic of Germany have seen a continuous positive evolution since the signing of a friendship treaty between the two countries in 1992.[24]

Additionally, on the occasion of the election of Frank Walter Steinmeier as President of Germany in 2017, current Romanian president Klaus Johannis stated, among others, that: "[...] Last but not least, there is a profound friendship bounding the Romanians and the Germans, thanks mainly to the centuries-long cohabitation between the Romanians, Saxons, and Swabians in Transylvania, Banat, and Bukovina."[25]

Notable German-Romanians [ edit ]

Below are represented several lists comprising selected notable German-Romanians by historical region.

Dobruja Adolph Bachmeier (Dobrujan German), professional American soccer player Alexander Rodewald (Bukovina German), biologist and genetician



Gallery [ edit ]

Historical coat of arms of Transylvanian Saxons

Historical coat of arms of Bukovina Germans

Historical coat of arms of Banat Swabians

Historical coat of arms of Sathmar Swabians

Distribution of ethnic Germans in Central/Eastern Europe in 1925, also highlighting German settlements in the Kingdom of Romania

Traditional areas of settlement for the Saxons and Swabians in Transylvanian and Banat, Kingdom of Romania (early 20th century)

A group of Bessarabian Germans (circa 1935)

A group of Banat Swabians in 1940, celebrating 'Kirchweih' (or 'Kerwei' in their local dialect) [26]

A Dobrujan German in Culelia

Keisd/Saschiz, Mureș County, example of typical rural Transylvanian Saxon settlement

Transylvanian Saxon couple from Bistrița (Bistritz) area

Transylvanian Saxon lad from Gușterița (Hammersdorf)

Traditional Saxon woman costume from Kronstadt/Brașov

See also [ edit ]