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Hello and welcome to My German Ancestors

On my YouTube channel I will show you how to search for your German ancestors. I offer help and advice for beginners as well as for experienced genealogists. Have fun and enjoy!

I use maps to explain how German emigrants got to the ports, because their routes varied depending on their region of origin and on the decade.

Maps will also help us understand the vibrant tapestry of German states that once dotted the map. To our modern eyes, it may look like a strange and complex patchwork of territories, but to our ancestors these kingdoms, duchies and counties were an important part of their identity. They were definitely Rhinelanders, Bavarians, Saxons and Prussians rather than "Germans", at least as long as they were still in the old homeland.

We will look at various events in German history to understand why people emigrated.

And of course, from time to time - depending on the season - I will also introduce you to some of our many religious and cultural traditions that the emigrants took along to their new home. You may be surprised at how many of your cherished traditions actually originated in Germany.

If you are as enthusiastic about these topics as I am, then join me on this journey into our past.