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Auslandsdeutsche

Auslandsdeutsche is a term used to describe German citizens and people of German origin who live outside Germany and maintain ties to German citizenship, culture, or language. In official usage, it refers to nationals abroad who may retain German passports and participate in German political and cultural life from abroad. The concept is distinct from terms used for different migration patterns, such as the Spätaussiedler, who are ethnic Germans repatriating to Germany from outside its present borders.

Historically, German emigration created large diaspora communities in North and South America, including the United States,

Geographically, the largest Auslandsdeutsche populations tend to be in the Americas and Western Europe, but communities

See also: German citizenship and nationality law; German foreign service; Göthe-Institut; Spätaussiedler.

Argentina,
and
Brazil,
as
well
as
in
Canada
and
other
parts
of
Europe.
After
World
War
II
and
during
the
Cold
War,
new
waves
of
Germans
settled
in
various
countries
for
work,
study,
or
family
reasons.
Today
the
Auslandsdeutsche
umbrella
encompasses
a
diverse
range
of
individuals,
from
long-established
expatriate
communities
to
more
recent
migrants
who
retain
German
citizenship
or
cultural
affiliation.
exist
worldwide.
The
German
government
treats
Auslandsdeutsche
as
part
of
its
national
community
abroad,
providing
services
through
the
Federal
Foreign
Office,
German
embassies
and
consulates,
and
cultural
institutions
such
as
the
Goethe-Institut.
Members
of
the
diaspora
can
vote
in
federal
elections
from
abroad,
receive
consular
protection,
and
access
information
on
German
education
and
cultural
programs.