Germans of Romania

Germans in Romania
Rumäniendeutsche
Distribution of Germans in Romania (2002 census)
Total population
36,042[1]
Regions with significant populations
Transylvania, Banat, and Bukovina
Languages

Mainly German (Hochdeutsch) but also Romanian and Hungarian

Religion
Lutheranism and Roman Catholicism
Related ethnic groups

Mainly Germans and Austrians; see also below

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.

Classification

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 areas of settlement of 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

The Black Church (German: Die Schwarze Kirche, Romanian: Biserica Neagră) and the city hall of Brașov (German: Kronstadt), two representative landmarks 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

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):

NºPortraitPretenderPretending fromPretending until
1Michael I30 December 19471 March 2016
2Margareta1 March 2016Incumbent

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
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

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.

Brebu Nou (German: Weidenthal), Banat
Cârlibaba (German: Mariensee/Ludwigsdorf), Bukovina
Biertan (German: Birthälm), Transylvania
Hărman (German: Honigberg), Transylvania
Cisnădie (German: Heltau), Transylvania
Mediaș (German: Mediasch), Transylvania
Sighișoara (German: Schässburg), Transylvania
Agnita (German: Agnetheln), Transylvania
German minory population by settlement (Source: 2011 Romanian census)
Romanian name German name Percent[18] County
Brebu NouWeidenthal30.2Caraș-Severin
PetreștiPetrifeld27.8Satu Mare
UrziceniSchinal23.9Satu Mare
CăminKalmandi22.5Satu Mare
BeltiugBildegg11.4Satu Mare
TireamTerem10.9Satu Mare
LasleaGrosslasseln7.5Sibiu
AninaSteierdorf5.6Caraș-Severin
AțelHatzeldorf5.3Sibiu
CârlibabaMariensee/Ludwigsdorf5.1Suceava
SaschizKeisd5.0Mureș
BiertanBirthälm4.6Sibiu
ArdudErdeed4.5Satu Mare
Vișeu de SusOberwischau4.0Maramureș
DetaDetta4.0Timiș
TomnaticTriebswetter3.9Timiș
SemlacSemlak3.6Arad
Peregu MareDeutschpereg3.5Arad
SântanaSanktanna2.9Arad
JimboliaHatzfeld2.9Timiș
JibertSeiburg2.8Brașov
MăieruşNussbach2.6Brașov
CăpleniKaplau2.4Satu Mare
LovrinLowrin2.3Timiș
CareiGrosskarol2.3Satu Mare
ParțaParatz2.1Timiș
BuziașBusiasch2.1Timiș
PeriamPerjamosch2.1Timiș
Sânnicolau MareGrosssanktnikolaus2.1Timiș
PâncotaPankota2.1Arad
CristianNeustadt1.9Brașov
LenauheimSchadat1.9Timiș
LugojLogosch1.9Timiș
Miercurea SibiuluiReussmarkt1.8Sibiu
RupeaReps1.7Brașov
SânpetruPetersberg1.7Brașov
UngraGalt1.7Brașov
ReșițaReschitz1.7Caraș-Severin
CiacovaTschakowa1.6Timiș
CisnădieHeltau1.5Sibiu
MediașMediasch1.5Sibiu
MoșnaMeschen1.5Sibiu
SighișoaraSchässburg1.5Mureș
Oțelu RoșuFerdinandsberg1.4Caraș-Severin
TimișoaraTemeschburg1.4Timiș
NițchidorfNitzkydorf1.4Timiș
HălchiuHeldsdorf1.4Sibiu
MerghindealMergeln1.3Sibiu
Beba VecheAltbeba1.3Timiș
IacobeniJakobsdorf1.3Sibiu
LipovaLippa1.3Arad County
HomorodHamruden1.2Brașov
HărmanHonigberg1.2Brașov
MateiMathesdorf1.2Bistrița-Năsăud
SebeșMühlbach1.1Alba
Becicherecu MicKleinbetschkerek1.1Timiș
CaransebeșKaransebesch1.1Caraș-Severin
BodBrenndorf1.1Brașov
BrateiuPretai1.0Brașov
BocșaNeuwerk1.0Caraș-Severin
Satu MareSathmar1.0Satu Mare
SibiuHermannstadt1.0Sibiu
Mănăstirea HumoruluiHumora Kloster1.0Suceava
AgnitaAgnetheln1.0Sibiu
HoghilagHalvelagen1.0Sibiu
DumbrăveniElisabethstadt1.0Sibiu
Șeica MareMarktschelken1.0Sibiu
CodleaZeiden1.0Brașov
GătaiaGattaja1.0Timiș
MăureniMoritzfeld1.0Caraș-Severin

German minority population by county

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

County Percent[19]
Satu Mare 1.5%
Timiș 1.3%
Caraș-Severin 1.1%
Sibiu 1.1%

Administration, official representation, and politics

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

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

Samuel von Brukenthal National College in Sibiu (German: Hermannstadt)

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

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 in Sibiu.

Recent history

The Small Square (German: Das Kleine Ring, Romanian: Piața Mică) in Sibiu (German: Hermannstadt)

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 1989 are respected and regarded by many Romanians 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 an cultural relationships between post–1989 Romania and unified Germany increased positively after the signing of the 1992 friendship treaty between the two countries.[24] Also, on the occasion of the election of Frank Walter Steinmeier as President of Germany in 2017, incumbent 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

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

See also

References

  1. ↑ Official Romanian census from 2011
  2. ↑ Dr. Gerhard Reichning, Die deutschen Vertriebenen in Zahlen, Teil 1, Bonn 1995, Page 17
  3. ↑ Die deutschen Vertreibungsverluste. Bevölkerungsbilanzen für die deutschen Vertreibungsgebiete 1939/50. Herausgeber: Statistisches Bundesamt – Wiesbaden. - Stuttgart: Verlag W. Kohlhammer, 1958 Page 46
  4. ↑ Monica Barcan, Adalbert Millitz, The German Nationality in Romania (1978), page 42: "The Satu Mare Swabians are true Swabians, their place of origin being Wurttemberg. They were colonized between 1712 and 1815. Their most important settlements are Satu Mare/Sathmar and Petresti/Petrifeld in North- West Romania."
  5. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania (3 May 2013). "The 16th session of the Romanian-German Joint Governmental Commission on the problems of German ethnics in Romania". Press release. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  6. ↑ Oskar Hadbawnik, Die Zipser in der Bukowina (1968) discusses the Zipserfest held in Jakobeny in 1936 to commemorate 150 years since the Zipsers migrated to Jakobeny in 1786.
  7. ↑ І. Я. Яцюк, Тернопільський національний педагогічний університет ім. Володимира Гнатюка, Наукові записки. Серія “Філологічна”, УДК 81’282.4:811.112.2(477): Lexikalische Besonderheiten Deutscher Dialekte in Galizien- und der Bukowina: “Die Siedler in den ursprünglichen Bergwerksgemeinden im Südwesten der Bukowina sprachen Zipserisch und zwar Gründlerisch, wie es in der Unterzips gesprochen wurde. Dabei wurde [v] im Anlaut wie [b] ausgesprochen: Werke – berka, weh – be, Schwester – schbesta. Anlautendes [b] wurde zu [p]: Brot – prot, Brücke – prik.”
  8. ↑ Forumul Democrat al Germanilor din Constanța (2003). "On the Germans of Dobrogea". Institutul Cultural Român. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  9. ↑ Identity and multiculturalism in the Romanian Banat, Remus Creţan, David Turnock and Jaco Woudstra, p. 17-26
  10. ↑ Perjamosch, Banat/List of Families Connected to Hubert Family
  11. ↑ Association pour la promotion de l'Alsace en Roumanie: L’étonnante histoire des alsaciens et lorrains du Banat. (in French)
  12. ↑ The French in Banat: Story on Tomnatic/Triebswetter
  13. ↑ De l'Ouest à l'Est et de l'Est à l'Ouest : les avatars identitaires des Français du Banat, Smaranda Vultur (in French)
  14. ↑ Dimitrie Macrea, "Originea și structura limbii române", Probleme de lingvistică română (Bucharest: Editura Științifică, 1961), 7–45: p. 32.
  15. ↑ Academia Română, Dicționarul limbii române moderne, ed. Dimitrie Macrea (Bucharest: Editura Academiei, 1958).
  16. ↑ Gabriela Pană Dindelegan, ed., The Grammar of Romanian, Oxford University Press, 2013, p. 3, ISBN 978-0-19-964492-6
  17. ↑ Hans Dama, "Lexikale Einflüsse im Rumänischen aus dem österreichischen Deutsch" ("Lexical influences of 'Austrian'-German on the Romanian Language") Archived 2011-08-18 at the Wayback Machine. (in German)
  18. ↑ Denotes percent (%) of total population
  19. ↑ Denotes percent (%) of total population
  20. ↑ "Entstehung." Deutsche Schule Bukarest. Retrieved on 20 February 2015.
  21. ↑ (in German) Geschichte Temeswars Schulwesen
  22. ↑ Allgemeine Deutsche Zeitung für Rumänien, Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin (in German)
  23. ↑ Ziarul Românesc.de | Klaus Iohannis: «Germanii din România sunt apreciați și respectați de toți românii» (in Romanian)
  24. ↑ Ministerul Afacerilor Externe - 25 de ani de la semnarea tratatului de prietenie România-Germania (in Romanian)
  25. ↑ Digi24.ro | Mesajul lui Iohannis pentru președintele ales al Germaniei (in Romanian)
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