In terms of language, the differences between local dialects spoken in Flensburg in the North and Klagenfurt in the South are so great that they are mutually unintelligible. In this way, Germans are by far more diverse than Americans.
The differences between rural Germans and urban Germans is likewise pronounced. Life in the center of Berlin or Hamburg is significantly different from life in a remote and small village in Sachsen or in Baden-Württemberg.
As authors Uwe Oster, Paul Widergren, and Carol Gratton write:
What do we see if we examine the “Germans” under a microscope — a caricature of a German warrior wearing a helmet, full beard, and sword? No, it’s not that simple. “Germans,” in a sense, do not exist. The various people who live in Germany are as diverse as the many different German landscapes which run from the Alps to the North Sea.
It is natural to make generalizations about nations and ethnic groups. But in the case of Germans, as with many other groups, it is usually inaccurate to do so. Under careful examination, most generalizations fall apart.
It is possible to report extensively about any nation, including the Germans, and to do so in an informative and factual manner: this is done by specific and concrete descriptions of what some people do, and resisting the urge to make sweeping statements.
