I have 4 or 5 direct German lines on my family tree. They came in during the mid-to-late 18th century, and give a strong surge of further Germanic heritage to my line.
My German ancestors came from the Rhine area of Germany and were Palatines leaving because of religious persecution. One branch was said to be Blacksmiths that later became Gunsmiths on the frontier.
A great book on very early Germans is from Tacitus�a Roman Historian. I could not help but notice that the early Germans had a bit in common with later American Indians, both had a strong warrior ethic, both tended to migrate to unsettled areas. It is not surprising to me that my German and Indian ancestors lines would converge in the late 19th century.
Tacitus is great for learning about the early Germans, you need to read the Icelandic Sagas and Eddas to get a taste of the later Germanic spirit.
Karlton Douglas
