How GERMAN is CHICAGO? Discovering America's German Roots | Feli from Germany

[@FelifromGermany]

So happy I finally get to share this video with you guys! :) What was the most interesting part for you? What would you like to add? Let me know in the comments ☺👇

[@oliveraparicio8464]

Please visit the Amish in Montana.

[@CamaroMann]

Ich hab's gerade schon erwähnt, meine Lieblingsstelle ist ganz klar @27:23 _"is that real?" - "Yes" - "Ew."_ Deine Videos waren ja schon immer gut, aber ich habe das Gefühl, daß das eine bessere Tonqualität hat (nicht, daß die bisherige schlecht gewesen sei…) - neues Equipment?

[@matthewmueller2506]

So close to Milwaukee...

[@wpl8275]

I thought the DankHaus was really cool. Especially them saving the bar from the neighborhood.

[@jjboyd01]

@@oliveraparicio8464 why? Amish are everywhere.

[@topcat1255]

As a Chicagoan I'd like to thank you so much for portraying my city in a positive light. Every large city has it's faults and ours are too often put on full view without regard to our other facets. Your video is truly appreciated.

[@jeffburdick869]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6atY2WLprF3a7s SWEET HOME CHICAGO!!!!!!!!!

[@StormyDay]

Chicago is beautiful! I am a NYer and I noticed how clean Chicago is!

[@jeffburdick869]

@@StormyDay I think the biggest reason for that is that Chicago has alleys so our trash cans are in the alley. Much of NYC has their trash in front of their building because they don't have alleys.

[@JasperJokerII]

Like the murder capital of the world

[@jeffburdick869]

@@JasperJokerII not even close.

[@elizabethkoehl6457]

Hi Feli, You visited my childhood neighborhood in "Lincoln Square". I'm first generation German American & until the age of 4 I didn't speak English. When I was a child that neighborhood was just like living in Germany. I've been to DANK Haus for many Schlachtfest. And it was nice to see The Phenix Band members, years ago they played at my wedding. Johnny is a friend of my brother. Though most of us old timers have moved away, we still come back to celebrate during special times of the year! Hope you enjoyed our small German town tucked away in the big city 😊

[@FelifromGermany]

Thanks so much for sharing!

[@volldillo]

@Elizabeth Koehl : As soon as there are 1 million subscribers, this youtube channel will be turned into a tv channel, I guess. ;-)

[@djnone8137]

@Millennial Paleocon this is correct. The Germans were heavily prosecuted here in the United states during the war when people were fleeing. Assimilation came from not wanting it to be widely known you were German. My grandmother had stories as well as my great grandmother on my mothers side of being beat by cops, and door checks to ensure we were not speaking German at home. They would use batons to slap and scare us. It was traumatizing to my family. Unfortunately I don't know much about my father's side aside from the last name and origins. Hopefully she visits and shares Wisconsin as there is a very large influence there as well. It goes without saying, this was where all the jobs were and this is why we call it the armpit of America. Wisconsin has a terrain that is indistinguishable from the Mittelgebirge belt that runs across central Germany. The last place I can think of would be Pennsylvania in terms of heavily populated areas of German ancestry and I suppose Michigan and Minnesota as well. Both sides of my family trace back exclusively from WI and Germany and nowhere else so that is where I spent all my time in research.

[@DJ_BROBOT]

people forget how German the city of Cleveland (Ohio) is, where I am from. Its the same way as Chicago...we still have restaurants like Hofbräuhaus and others all around town. Cleveland is only three hours, by car, from Cincinnati and five from Chicago.

[@honkytonk4465]

@@djnone8137 where your grandmother and great grandmother citizens of the US at that time when they were beaten by cops?

[@vegasallen1212]

Feli: When I saw your first few videos, I suspected that you had media training. Eventually I found out that was true and it's obvious here. With this video, you've really raised the bar. Very professional. Great job.

[@FelifromGermany]

Thanks so much 😊

[@vulcher7927]

@@FelifromGermany heyyyy big fan lol I have a idea for a new video idk BUT I would like to know your views on Prussia and Otto von Bismarck or Fredrick the Great

[@b.h.7423]

Agree 100000000%

[@raereigns2577]

My great grandfather came here and kept his entire German culture a secret, surname, language, history and all. Thank you for sharing spots in Chicago to visit!

[@peka003]

you look just german :)

[@invadertifxiii]

Mine too, they changed their name to the English variation

[@josephwise7060]

Meine Oma ist aus deutschland ausgewandert und mein Vati wurde in USA 1931 geboren. Sie hatte so grosse angst vor Diskriminerung, dass sie nie mit meinen Vati Deutsh gesprochen. Ich wöllte meinen Herkunft zu lernen und hatte deutsch studiert. Ich bin immer froh darüber.

[@antonk8043]

Vati, süß:) schon lange nicht mehr gehört

[@hannovonbahrenfeld5986]

@@antonk8043 Das dachte ich auch grad. Bei dem Wort war muss ich irgendwie immer an alte Märchenfilme denken

[@antonk8043]

Ist ja häufig so... dass "Ausländer im Ausland " mehr deutsche sind als in Deutschland

[@antonk8043]

@mam nadzieję Ah super danke, dachte das war eher im Alpenland so und solange es nicht Daddy heißt... ist eh alles super

[@lumina9995]

@@antonk8043 Nee sie machen nur nicht die Veränderung der Sprache mit und finden dann oft, dass wir "komisch" reden (Zitat meine Schwägerin in Chicago).

[@chuck1728]

I was born after WW2. My dad specifically did not teach me the German language. He thought it would hurt my chances of getting ahead. I always thought it was a bad decision because maybe that knowledge could have given me advantages. But decisions are made, and we move forward. It was of course a different time.

[@mikelastname1220]

The same thing happened to me. i was born right after the war and my grandfather immigrated here from Italy BEFORE the war. He didn't want his kids to continue speaking Italian, so . . . my father DID learn it, but he never passed it on to us kids. Odd thing is, I lived in Germany for a few years and can speak German!

[@MattyC62185]

Yeah back then it was really uncool speak German back in those days people were really not nice to you if you did

[@MobilMobil-kv5ke]

Similar story here. My grandparents processed through Ellis Island from Bremen Germany. My mother only spoke German until she went to 1st grade. As she learned English, she taught my grandparents English. They never spoke German in the house after that. There was a huge desire to assimilate into American culture.

[@ryangrimm9305]

Similar here. My father tried a BIT to teach us German, but my mother objected, mostly because she could not understand my dad and his parents speaking it (mom was paranoid, and turned out to be a bit crazy...really). I DID get exposure to the foods, my grandparents would literally compete at our monthly visits and bake a ton of stuff. And Christmas brought out the even more special foods etc.

[@user-xl1yb2hp4j]

I could fully understand your father's decision.

[@luxtenebris7246]

Great video. The funniest part of this for me was Feli’s very midwestern pronunciation of “Chicago”. You can tell where she’s learned her English 😂

[@JonBrownSherman]

Feli has never sounded more American than when she says "ChicAgo" What a Midwesterner!

[@RuleofFive]

I noticed that pronunciation too!

[@ayesha36]

I had to replay that too, it sounded very authentic lol.

[@therealdarklizzy]

Mfw when I realize the 'Midwestern accent' is just German...

[@invadertifxiii]

I'm confused, I say it the same way

[@badguy1481]

Chicagoans say "Chi-Caw-go".

[@rakischmidt7032]

In Dec 2013 during our 4th year in Florida I caught a bad case of homesickness. And the cure was a weekend trip to the Christmas market in Chicago. Could smell the market from block away and almost started crying. Soooooo good to be there

[@Materva-hv6sz]

I lived in Florida for many years, but returned to Illinois.

[@chadradies2311]

The pickle thing actually started in Chicago IL at Woolworths around the 1890s. Woolworths had bought many glass ornament vegetables and fruits most were selling well but the pickle ones were not so in order to increase sales of the pickles the purchaser of the items came up with the pickle tree story to get more sales.

[@duftstabkerze4236]

Agree. The "legend of the pickle" shown at 17:39 is just wrong and nothing but a made up advertisement tale. The vast majority of Germans has never heard of such a tradition, and if they have, then due to US influence (movies or videos like this here).

[@gvicze]

My ancestors migrated eastwards to Banat (Österreich-Ungarn) from Silezia/Elsas and my grandmother usually put a real pickle on the Christmas tree. Who found it (it was hidden), could open an extra gift or take some candy from the tree. If it is related to the American tradition, idk, but it was fun as a child. 🙂

[@janeschira8285]

I have often heard that the pickle ornament tradition isn't really German, but wondered where it came from. No surprise that a Chicago store would create a "tradition" for an ad campaign. Thanks for the information!

[@NALFVLOGS]

AWESOME work on this video, Feli!!

[@FelifromGermany]

Thank you 😊😊😊

[@leonardowilhelmdicaprio999]

This is amazing and I honestly can’t imagine the amount of effort you’ve put into it. Your content is absolutely amazing and I’m so glad I’ve subscribed!!

[@johnmalott9542]

Feli, what a great video! I'm of German heritage and was born and raised in the Chicago area -- but I didn't know anything about Germany's connection to Chicago. On a personal note, I was in the United States Foreign Service for over 30 years, and I was very impressed by your interview of the Consul General and your understanding of what Consulates General do, and the difference with an Embassy. Great job !

[@Ohsosweettango]

I love and respect the way you say "Chicago". Spoken like a local

[@bhg123ful]

Thanks so much for sharing Feli!! I am from the Chicago suburbs originally (and currently visiting family for the holidays) and over the years when I was still living here I got a chance to experience much of the German heritage in Chicago. I still go and visit the Kristkindlmarket every time I visit during the Christmas season, glad you got to finally visit. Back in 2009-2011 I was part of a German language meetup group as I wanted to brush up, review, and practice my 3 years of German I took in high school back in the 90s. We met several times at the Dankhaus, and love Lincoln Square. Though I've been to the Dankhaus I had no idea of how extensive its programs and activities were. When I heard a few years back that the Chicago Brahaus closed, I thought sadly, "That's it, the neighborhood is going to end up just being a bunch of national corporate chains" but when I saw that the Dankhaus salvaged and reconstructed the bar, that put a smile on my face! Many of the suburbs surrounding Chicago were originally farming villages, where there the first European settlers were German farmers, where they still have historical societies preserving an old farmhouse, hence places like "Schaumburg." If you get a chance, you should check out Milwaukee one of these days, as well as some other neat small towns like New Glarus, WI which were settled by Swiss immigrants. Well done!

[@henriettaskolnick4445]

Native Chicagoan here and I've been living in the Lincoln Square/North Center area for over 20 years. Aldi, Merz, and Gene's are only a few blocks away from my apartment and I shop at each often, especially Aldi. I'm glad you visited Chicago and my neighborhood and hope you get a chance to come back again.

[@andyvalles6402]

This is just excellent content. What a terrific interview with the consulate. Well done Feli. I very much enjoyed this and you should be so proud of the work!

[@deepfranz]

I really like the strong German accent of the consul, especially the German "r".

[@heidevanness2788]

Feli, thank you for this wonderful video. You did such a great job. I'm a German American girl who was born in Hanau and grew up in the US. My mother was from Bremen. I've always been very proud to be German. My mama died last year and it's been very hard to be without her. I feel like I've lost my "Germanness". But watching you and this video in particular makes me feel that I shouldn't let that happen. You inspire me.

[@MW_Asura]

You're more American than German by now

[@TOXICFALCON]

I’m from PA which is one of the states with the most German heritage I’m an American of German descent also. It’s great to see the amount of German heritage there is in the Midwest aswell! Much love to you Feli! Love your channel ❤️

[@crowbarrr6]

My daughter participates in Kindertanz here in St. Louis and she has really gravitated toward the culture! My grandfather is from Germany, so we bring him along to some of the festivals and activities put on by our cultural society, like Maifest, kirchweifest, oktoberfest etc. and we've really met some fantastic people. Her and I dabble in Duolingo as a hobby. Great video! Id like to check some of Chicago's events out! I know some Chicago members have come to St Louis in the past for a few things.

[@dirkmiller6293]

Hi Chelsey, I am a German living in Berlin and moving to St Louis for work soon. What is it like?

[@Rufio_Cristiforus_Tucarus]

Wait, we have German influences here? I've only looked around and seen mostly French.

[@trouble5085]

St. Louis IS Germany! I was born there and my father was the mayor of a small town in the county. We're ALL German, both sides. My cousins IN Germany joke that we are more German than they are. Chicago isn't German, they're Polish and Russian.

[@Rufio_Cristiforus_Tucarus]

@@trouble5085 oh, I'm sorry, I must have missed the part where we were ein Deutsches Bundesland instead of stuck right in the middle of the continental United States.

[@julesmum9781]

​@@Rufio_Cristiforus_Tucarus August Busch? Anheiser Busch?

[@MartyBecker]

Great video. Living in the Chicago area for 17 years, there are many parts of the area with German heritage and influence. Here in the suburb of Schaumburg, it was founded by Germans from Schaumburg Germany. There are many names in the village that are from the original German settlers. There is an exchange program with Schaumburg Germany. My wife is originally from Nürnberg and the Chicago Christkindlmarkt really reminds her of the Nürnberg Christkindlmarkt. Very authentic.

[@dogmurphy6753]

Oh wow, i didn´t know that. But it´s really funny to hear. Greetings from Bad Nenndorf in Schaumburg, Germany.

[@MartyBecker]

@@dogmurphy6753 Hallo aus Schaumburg, IL.

[@karlmeyer7638]

Greetings from Stadthagen, the county seat of the district of Schaumburg ( Germany )

[@MartyBecker]

@@karlmeyer7638 Hallo!

[@karlmeyer7638]

@@MartyBecker here is some information about the county of schaumburg. The county of schaumburg is located in lower saxony and has 158000 inhabitants on an area of 675 km² ( 166769 acre ).

[@rnrtruestories]

Great channel! My wife lived in Germany and speaks German fluently. It was great to visit the country a few times and can't wait to go back and explore places like Munich and Berlin.

[@joshua_wherley]

Didn't expect to see you here! I've watched a few of your videos. Always interesting stuff!

[@marcpaloma2262]

Awesome video, Feli! As a life-long Chicagoan, I can say that you represented the city very well. Excellent content, once again! Thank you for shining a spotlight on German Chicago! ❤️

[@maxwill6408]

I spent 7 years living in German while in the US Army and made it to Christmas Market in Nuremberg each year. The wife and I just loved it. We still hang ornament on our Christmas tree we purchased there along with many different nutcracker and of course our cuckoo clock. Next to the Oktoberfest this was a must go to place each year.

[@katrinaag11]

@felifromgermany Vielen Dank for sharing this video! I’m so honored you chose Chicago to do your piece on! This past year I’ve had the honor of representing as Steubenkönigin 2021-2022 for the United German American Societies of Greater Chicago. I was honored to have my own parade float this year and represent (and Wolfgang was actually in attendance when I sang the Deutsche Nationalhymne for our 100th Oktoberfest Opening night keg tapping!) I’m also a member of various German clubs throughout Chicago and I’m so proud of my German heritage! I’m a member of the Chicago Donauschwaben and I’m actually in the group picture you featured in your video! My mom is one of the Jugendleiterin! :)

[@FelifromGermany]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing :)

[@ZockIt]

This is the best sponsoring or cooperation I ever watched! I really appreciate that you got the opportunity to do this!

[@TheSwedishRider]

Wow, that was a professional report! My German grandfather immigrated to the US in the 1950s and had a German restaurant/bar for a while. We visited our German family there when I was a teenager. The first three days were kind of annoying for me back then because I wanted to see America but was only shown German things (including the Brauhaus) and only spoke German seeing German family members. In retrospect, I appreciate having experienced this. I think the Christmas market is cool because it's not 100% authentic. I mean, it has authentic Christmas market booths and items but some additions you won't find on German Christmas markets, but elsewhere in Germany. Being outside of Germany, I think it makes it even better than a 100% German Christmas market would be for Germans abroad or everyone else who wants to experience a bit of Germany. Also, having booths with items or food from other countries is actually authentic for Christmas markets as well! Regarding the sausage shop run by Poles, the Polish sausage tradition is pretty similar to German one, so I assume you can get some good quality sausages that are authentic German as well!

[@waynepimentel1680]

You’ve done a great job on this. I’m not of German heritage, but I got a great feel of it!

[@jma3rd]

As always, you did an amazing video. My great grandmother was one of the people who hid her German heritage because of fear during the World War. I was not even aware of that part of my history for a long time because of her hiding it, among other things. But watching your videos helps me to learn a little about the culture that was lost to me.

[@christineperez7562]

It happened to many of us. My grandma taught some but I still have s lot to learn.

[@dm-gq5uj]

I am of Czech and Polish heritage. I am glad to see this tribune to German heritage. My Czech grandparents spoke German. I can think of many ways they could have hated the Germans -but for God's sakes, let us try to appreciate the positive things of our history instead of hatefulness! If we don't the human race is condemned to constant vengefulness!

[@invadertifxiii]

❤

[@TomZ23]

Welcome to our city. This was an amazing production. I knew there was German culture in the city, but you brought to light many things I didn't know about and look forward to visiting. Please come back and visit other times of the year. Everyone is welcome in Chicago.

[@adrianjoachim5819]

"Cash Only" sign at the Christkindlmarkt. They really nailed the germanness ;)

[@georgiancrossroads]

Danke Feli. It reminds me of some of my visits to Germany. And also the aspects of the older German American culture that I ran into when I was a child. Very professionally done also!

[@kev3inp]

Thanks, Feli, for a little taste of home. My aunt was from Stuttgart and had a beauty shop on Lincoln until she retired. Most of the beauticians and customers were German. We used to go to a restaurant called Zum Deutchen Eck, that I really loved. I don’t think it’s there anymore. Thanks again.

[@VolkerBmovie]

You haven't done this for the first time, conducting an interview, reporting, have you? This is an entertaining as well as an informative video. So well done. Thank you. And thanks to the unknown cameraperson (I noticed even multiple cameras in the Consulate General).

[@FelifromGermany]

Thank you so much :)

[@krisconrad6980]

Feli, if you visit Milwaukee someday, I think you would enjoy visiting the more intact ethnic neighborhoods and the strong German culture still there.

[@buyerclub2]

So professionally produced. The Consulate sure got their money's worth

[@craiglsimons]

Wow! Amazing and impressive German heritage in the city! Even the millions of Americans with German heritage is fascinating! Would like to visit one day. Keep up the great work!

[@ChrisSherbak]

Wonderful video - you did a great job covering so many interestings part of Chicago and its German heritage. Glad you had a good time - do come back and see more!

[@FelifromGermany]

I'll be back!

[@teddtarr]

Grew up only a half-block from the ginormous Germania Club (just off the south end of Lincoln Park) from the late 40's until I moved from the area several decades later. It apparently went "belly-up" in '85 due to financial difficulties. I was only in there on one occasion (a big party of some kind), but remember being quite impressed by it's baronial size & the large Teutonic-themed works of art all over the place. There's a very detailed & interesting history of it online, if you're interested.

[@spacemissing]

Super quality. Looks pretty much like a commercial TV documentary! Well conceived and well made.

[@staceyorourke880]

Thanks Feli! My great grandparents were immigrant to the German neighborhood in Chicago known as Wrigglyville. My grandmother didn’t learn English until she went to kindergarten. My great grandma was born in your neighborhood in Oberkirchberg near Ulm. My great grandfather was born in Muerlenbach, Rheinland-Palatinate near Trier. I went into Chicago with my German class to have lunch in Wrigleyville. My mother never learned to speak German. I didn’t honestly understand how German I was until I was a teen ager. My grandmother took me to visit Germany when I was 16. After I graduated from college (minoring in German) she gave me the most honorable compliment. She said she thought I spoke German better than she did. I was the only grandchild to learn to speak German. I loved that connection with her and her mother. Now I wish I still lived near Chicago. Also, I love how you have learned to say Chicago with the true midwestern accent.

[@damonw2286]

Feli, very cool to see your channel going from where it was years ago to interviewing the German Consul in Chicago! Sehr Gut!

[@stephenplatt5048]

Wonderful production, Felicia! I'd like to see more of this "On the Road with Feli" format from other locations within the United States. Knowing that it takes $$$$ to pull it off, maybe this is a financial stepping stone to start such a series? Great professional job!

[@mhmt1453]

Awesome! Glad you got to see a lot of the German heritage here in this country. The Christmas market made me wax nostalgic about Germany. I loved that! I remember sending so many gifts home: Hummels, a cuckoo clock, steins, carved wood plaques, ornaments, and all sorts of sweets. I tried sending a case of Christmas doppelbach bier back, but that didn’t work out so well! I love gluhwein! I tried to make it several years ago, but it just wasn’t the same. As always, I invite you to come to Pittsburgh sometime to take in its heritage, though admittedly, a lot of it has either been watered down, or faded from memory. I also recommend checking out the Pennsylvania Dutch (actually Deutsch) places in central and Eastern Pennsylvania. I realize you are young, and maybe not interested in that kinda of thing, but it does speak to how German peoples were among the first to settle in America-not just the English and French.

[@ryangrimm9305]

I've been able to get dopplebach here in the Boston area (Karl's Sausage Kitchen), so no problem there. I guess you just have to find it there.

[@StepOSX]

I love that you went to the Kindlemarket. My family does this every year. The old "mugs" were boot and we love them.

[@jerryduncan8832]

How nice of you to post this wonderful production. I lived in Germany for 4 years in the early/mid 70's. I fell in love with its people and customs. I made wonderful German friends that included me in their Christmas celebrations and holiday trips. Honestly, tears of joy are welling us as I watch this wonderful creation of yours. Thank you so much.

[@jimmyneaylon4]

Love it Feli! Nice tour of my city. Hope you come back for a part 2!

[@pendragon2012]

Damn, no wonder that took you a month! I just looked at that was 35 minutes?! I was riveted the whole time. Amazing trip and very informative! Have a wonderful Christmas weekend with your family, Feli!

[@FelifromGermany]

Aweee thank you :) Merry Christmas to you as well and "Guten Rutsch"!

[@mikelastname1220]

@@FelifromGermany I'm unfamiliar with that term "Guten Rutsch". Have a good slide? Is this a very modern slang term or is it a real old German one that I somehow missed when I lived there? Thanks, and great job!

[@FelifromGermany]

That's what we say to wish someone a "good slide" into the new year!

[@mikelastname1220]

@@FelifromGermany Must be a new term since I lived in Germany in the 1960's. I'm behind the times! :)

[@user-sm3xq5ob5d]

@@mikelastname1220 We say "Guten Rutsch ins Neue Jahr" for what seems to me all my life. I was born in the 50s. So it's definitely not new.

[@chrisk5651]

The Christmas market looked great - thanks for sharing!! I really appreciate it!

[@bosconti1979]

Thank you for this video. I was born in Illinois (Springfield) in 1948, my father was born in Germany in 1919, my grandfather served in the Germany Army during the 1st world war, my father served America in the 2nd world war. I left Illinois in 1968 to serve in the U.S. Navy. I am now retired in Florida. I wish that I had learned about the Chicago Germans long ago. I have been to Chicago many a time but never heard about the German influence until your video. Thank you again. FYI, I just showed your video to my granddaughter, she is 11 and trying to learn to speak German on her own. She may join your channel, hard to say as she is involved with many other things.

[@seguaro5923]

This brought back a lot of memories. My parents immigrated from German in 1950 and settled in Northwest Indiana just across the state line from southern Chicago. I remember as a child growing up, my parents belonged to the local DANK chapter in Hammond, Indiana. Several times a year, the local chapter would host German dances at a rented hall with a live German orchestra and featured an evening of food, dancing and of course German beer and drinks. We would also make the trip to the German neighborhood of Lincoln Square several times a year for a day of shopping and eating in German businesses. We would buy groceries from both Meyer's Delicatessen and well as Kuhn's Delicatessen. Frische Brötchen, butter, metwurst, leberwurst, other imported foods as well. My mother purchased her herbal medicines at Merz Brüder Apotheke, which by the way, was then in a different location just across the street from Meyer's Deli. She would get her Amol, 4711, Kosterfrau Melissengeist, Baldrian Tropfen, etc. Much of our home furniture was purchased from a German furniture store, Northern Home Furnishings on Lincoln Ave. Sweets and coffee for the adults at Cafe Lutz, Dinner at Zum Deutschen Eck restaurant, then the hour long drive back home to Indiana. Great memories, but sadly most of the businesses are closed or no longer run by German-Americans. I miss those times, and am saddened that my son is not able to experience the neighborhood as I did growing up. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!

[@IAm_Eric_ButYouCanCallMe_Eric]

This is easily my favorite video on your channel so far. Setting aside how captivating it is, you did such an amazing job with the research, content, and journalistic elements. The production quality is so professional, I felt as though I was watching a studio-produced show. It’s a testament to how far you have come as a content producer and the limitless possibilities for your channel. Well done!

[@dirkd.1766]

Vielen vielen Dank für das Video. Es ist so interessant zu sehen, welche germanischen Einflüsse es immer noch in den Staaten gibt. Die Milwaukee Area allgemein ist glaub ich auch sehr deutsch. Toll, dass du auch mit Offiziellen sprechen durftest und dieses Center (Dankhaus) ist ja der Wahnsinn. Wie schön die mittelalterlichen Räume eingerichtet wurden. Würde ich in der Nähe leben, wäre das auch eine Anlaufstelle für mich. Gerne mehr "German Heritage" Videos :)

[@slrdave6308]

Jeez, I missed all that by a couple of days. Thanks for the visit and opening up whole new windows of information. Wow.

[@jlpack62]

As a Polish American with deep American roots in Chicago, this video makes me want to go there to see if I can find a similar experience. Thanks for sharing this wonderful visit.

[@ayesha36]

The Polish and Czech roots of Chicago are also super interesting! I wonder if there are equivalent cultural organizations -- probably...

[@geedavia1785]

@@ayesha36 Polish Museum of America in Chgo, could be a start...

[@piper888]

The biggest Chicago festival is polish ...but it was canceled last couple years (taste of polonia)

[@SJPace1776]

Among your best work! Felt like German American Rick Steves. 😊

[@vonBlankenburgLP]

Hope that this is the first part of a long-going series. Extremely well made and pretty informative!

[@robwilliams2410]

I’ve enjoyed everything that you’ve done on KZbin, but this is really spectacular! It was so much fun to watch, I learned a lot and the production was excellent, too.

[@clinthowe7629]

Washinton Roebling, the son of John Roebling was a soldier in the Civil War, and was quoted from extensively, in Ken Burns’s epic documentary The Civil War. they had problems with caison disease because they were working in pressured boxes to keep out the water, and the high air pressure caused the bends.

[@TheCloverQueenDQ]

Great video I live in Southeast Michigan many of the neighboring towns were strong in German roots, and German Park in Ann Arbor MI. Our family Bible is in German, our last name had some letter play so not to sound German. The owner of the horse barn I board at is from Germany but grew up in East Germany. Her childhood stories, memories oh man sounded rough compared to mine. Grocery shopping sounded like a version of the Hunger Games.

[@vidiot57]

Love this and love you and your content.. I am currently visiting Chicago on Dec 28.. and was just at the Christmas market 3 days ago.. Just missed you.. Keep up your wonderful work.. Very insightful..

[@FelifromGermany]

Glad you got to experience the market!

[@davidponseigo8811]

In my home town of Shreveport, Louisiana we have a fair sized Italian population that came from New Orleans and we have a Italian & Southern fusion restaurant that sounds very similar to the German & Southern fusion restaurant you went to in Chicago. The food is wonderful.

[@lazerbeam3928]

I really enjoyed this video. When you showed the detour sign, memories of my Air Forces days in Germany during the late 60's flashed back to me. In order to get an "American" driver's license in Germany back then, we had to demonstrate our knowledge of international road signs and a few written signs as well. The written detour sign was one we had to know. I still can remember the street vendors with their portable grills, selling bratwurst and brotbrotchen. Mmmmmm... I was stationed in downtown Frankfurt a/M but travelled all over then west Germany and west Berlin. My favorite beers were Parkbrau and Binding.

[@davidstrohm5003]

Thanks, Feli! That was interesting, and it's good to know German culture is being preserved here in the US!

[@FelifromGermany]

Thank you so much!

[@Myrtone]

@@FelifromGermany Unfortunately chapter 5 clearly shows mask wearing, this could have been avoided by filming differently, much better for post pandemic viewing. Otherwise an interesting video. However, since you changed the introduction after re-branding, I still ask you (maybe starting next year) to just greet in English at the beginning and end of videos in English.

[@bretcantwell4921]

Feli, I've been enjoying your videos for about two years now. My family was assigned to the Army base at Grafenwöhr. We loved all of Germany, but Bavaria is magical and you're remind people who have been there of that with every video.

[@rjsieder]

Another outstanding episode. Your radio/TV background really comes through in the interviews and production. Well done, and Frohe Weihnachten!

[@FelifromGermany]

Frohe Weihnachten!

[@stevecagle2317]

Wonderful video, Feli! You really worked hard doing everything to bring this to us, and I am truly grateful you did! Many of our Christmas traditions come from what is now Germany and I love how you point out the actual traditions from the Americanized ones. Merry Christmas and hope you enjoy time with your family in Germany. 🎄⛄🎅

[@jenniferf1518]

This was excellent! I live just 3 hours from Chicago and will definitely check out the German heritage sites you discussed!

[@FelifromGermany]

Amazing!

[@oxigenarian9763]

They picked the right person to do this for them - nice job!

[@catherinelynnfraser2001]

Beautifully done. I hope you will be able to do a series of visits to different German American communities in America.

[@NormanF62]

This is hopefully the first of a series. I’ve been to Chicago and to Frankenmuth in MI. Lots of places in America have German roots though it might be more accurate to say they have a connection to Feli’s native Bavaria since many nineteenth century immigrants came from there.

[@FelifromGermany]

Many 19th century immigrants also came from Prussia, and other parts of Germany as well :)

[@dukedematteo1995]

Lot of German ethnics in the Midwest....Minnesota, Nebraska, KC, etc

[@NormanF62]

@@dukedematteo1995 There’s so much to explore. Feli could have stayed another week in Chicago as she mentioned and she still wouldn’t still have seen everything! Still, it did show how German immigrants began their lives in the American Midwest and their influence can be felt down to the present day.

[@markwarnken4711]

My ancestors came from the Silesia area of Prussia in the 1850s to settle in the Schulenburg/Freyburg community in Texas. Thanks for the wonderful video, Feli!

[@Its_just_sky_and_Vali]

1. All that food! I don’t care if it’s 9 am here I want it all. 2. The “ white Christmas” song put me in a good mood. 3. Not sure if I missed it but where was the General consulate from? 4. The dank Haus looks really fun and interesting. 5. Wouldn’t ever think to find a piece of the Berlin Wall in the US. Great video!

[@leahwinn482]

We have been watching your channel since 2019 and have enjoyed all of your videos. I wish we could give 10 thumbs up on your latest adventure, so interesting to learn about German heritage in the US. My husband and I visited Frankfurt about 30 years ago in November and just missed seeing the Christmas Market. Watching your video was like a Christmas present 🎁 . Thank you Feli and hope you have a joyous holiday.

[@dariusamendolia6585]

This video is so fun and interesting. Glad to see you getting out to do some informational activities like this. Keep up the good work.

[@vsaucepuppet697]

What a well-made mini-documentary !

[@Simon-tc1mc]

Thank you for this great video. As a German American from the Midwest, this content is very appreciated. It makes complete sense how German culture has almost completely disappeared, in the US, due to the world wars, but it still is unfortunate. It really shows too how terrible and dumb the Nazis were, since by trying to "strengthen" Germany that they actually weakened it more than ever. I wish there was more German culture in the US. Americans are so proud and open of their Irish and Italian heritage, as well as the proud Hispanic community among others. So, it's just unfortunate how disconnected from our roots we are as German Americans. I know many German Americans who identify more with the UK as their place of cultural heritage just due to us all speaking English now.

[@tecumseh4095]

@Dan Schaller How can you claim to be a native American with Irish, German, Norwegian and polish ancestry??!

[@Simon-tc1mc]

@Dan Schaller yeah of course. I realize that I am lucky to still be able to speak such a similar language.

[@Simon-tc1mc]

@Tagedieb yeah of course. That doesn't mean we should just totally forget our heritage and where we came from.

[@jkeegan154]

After growing up in New York, I agree with you. When you went into an Irish or Italian or Puerto Rican or Greek or Polish neighborhood, you would know because the flags of those nationalities would be hanging on every street of those neighborhoods. And you would definitely know if you were in a Russian or Middle Eastern neighborhood because the streets were full of business signs written in Russian and Arabic. But it pissed me off that I never got to a German neighborhood that would have the German flag hanging up and down the streets and German style restaurants and bars up and down the streets. Granted, the Glendale and Ridgewood sections of Queens were German neighborhoods, but I never got the opportunity to go there and Ridgewood nowadays is mostly Puerto Rican. All I really wanted was go into a German neighborhood just to learn the language and get a taste of authentic German food without leaving New York.

[@MW_Asura]

Don't worry, those "Irish" and "Italian" Americans aren't that Italian aside from being proud of stereotypical heritage aspects

[@lor3605]

Really well done, Feli. You covered lots I hadn’t known before. My own family - half of it that is - came from Germany to Illinois in the 1820s. There’s a big enclave where many European farming families immigrated to in the south-central part of the state called the Looking-Glass Prairie. The German-speakers settled around Germantown - kind of a giveaway, right - and Carlisle and Breese, both farming and working in the coal mines scattered thru the area. My family came from Westphalia (& close by) and settled in Breese. By the late 1830s the town was almost entirely German speaking - the main division in town was between the Catholics and the Lutherans. My great-grandparents, who were still alive when I was young STILL spoke German when talking to one another & to my grandparents. But eventually, after my grandfather & grandmother - who grew up on neighboring farms - married, they moved to the big city: St. Louis, which is also very, very German. We had the most beer production here, after Milwaukee, for most of the 20th century. The first kindergartens in America were instituted here, because of the very strong German influence on the public schools. And the Busch family built a big old Bavarian mansion, which is partially open to the public, especially the very Bavarian-styled horse barns where the Clydesdales used to live. Basically, we’re like so many Midwestern America cities - German farmers came by the thousands, then left the farms and settled in the suburbs, where they could raise families and have big gardens.

[@olafs.9747]

Super Video, sehr interessant und professionell gemacht. Bitte mehr davon 😀💯

[@junyun6447]

Very interesting and informative. Didn’t know that history before 👏

[@billross7245]

You did a great job, love the editing, the music. It's very professionally done.

[@georgetaylor5482]

That was one of your best videos yet, I really enjoy the German heritage.

[@jamesschock4296]

Feli, so 😊 happy you came to visit Chicago. My Grandfather immigrated here from Baden Württemberg in 1888. My Grandfather was good friends with Hermann Berghoff and used to have a Beer and free sandwich for lunch everyday when he used to work in the South Water Market produce market. It still is a excellent restaurant 😋 with old time German specialties. They even still brew their own 🍺 beer. Next time check it out. Also many suburbs have sizable German descendants populations. Thanks. I really enjoyed the show. Merry Christmas 🎅.

[@karenhackney9920]

Wow! How awesome that you got to do this! I never realized how German Chicago is!

[@tony42898]

I was in Germany for the entire 2019 and fell in love with the culture since it was a country I always wanted to visit, primarily after watching WW2 docs as a kid lol. I'm currently in Belgien now after leaving the States again and I'm always taking trips to Germany. The Christkindlmarkts in Heidelberg and Aachen were the best!

[@joeyguitar2056]

This came out so professionally done :D Awesome work, Feli!

[@nicolec2985]

Very well done! I loved the interview with the consulate~the Christmas market and the DANK house. I need to visit Chicago.

[@edsnyder5376]

I'm Smiling. Great job on exploring outside your community. Hope you explore Wisconsin and North Dakota.

[@californiahiker9616]

What a fun, enjoyable, and informative report! Thank you very much! Frohe Weihnachten, Feli! 🎄

[@magmathon2]

Welcome to Chicago!!! Its a beautiful city and I've spent many hours roaming around looking for my German roots. I love your show, you have really put that spark back into me to continue my journey. 💟🇺🇸🇩🇪

[@joestendel1111]

Chicago uber alles

[@janetmoy6127]

Amazing video. Outstanding content, so interesting, and I learned a lot. Thank you for showcasing the German heritage in Chicago.

[@michaelsmith7902]

Next time in Chicago - btw we say chic AW go... - check out old St Michael's in Old Town or St Alphonsus on Lincoln. St Michael's is one of the few buildings that survived the Great Fire. Both churches were beacons for Catholic Rhinelanders and Bavarians. There are former German Lutheran churches scattered throughout the city with texts in Fraktur on their facades. Thinking specifically of one on Paulina and another in Bridgeport. There were German neighborhoods all over the city back in the day... And don't get me started on German bakeries and delicatessens. Lutz Konditorei on Montrose is Swiss German but... Thanks though for a walk down memory lane.. Come back and keep walking! There's a lot more to see...

[@paulk.6969]

This is a wonderful video, warm , entertaining and educational, which means you put a tremendous amount of work in this for all of us , and it clearly shows. Thank you so much for that.. the most interesting part for me was learning the difference between. An Embassy and a Consulate.I had always lumped the two into the same category, until today. I also never realized how much the German Consulate does for German -Americans over here. All that good German food made me hungry, so I had to go get lunch!!!😂😂😂 Great video. Looking forward to your next!!😎👍👍👍

[@peaceonearth8693]

You'll find more German stuff to talk about if you look into Milwaukee, Wisconsin. One I bet you don't know about is Quincy IL for German origins.

[@chrischolewa9104]

and dont forget about Saint Louis,Missouri !

[@christineperez7562]

@Robert Banaszak lol sure. You obviously never been to chicago. Chicago is a huge cuty and it is wonderful. Tennessee, the Carolina's, Oklahoma, Alabama have more crime then Illinos.

[@peaceonearth8693]

@@christineperez7562 So, your saying that if you add the total crime of five states. That number is greater than the total crime in Chicago? Ok, but probably just barely.

[@africkinamerican]

@@christineperez7562 I like Chicago, or used to, but don't be ridiculous.

[@cliffunderhill3894]

I love this channel. Keep up the good work. Very interesting German facts.

[@nickhydier1201]

This was really awesome Feli. Very insightful. It was great to learn more about Chicago's German heritage. You should do a similar on some cities in Pennsylvania. Which of course is a state that has so much German heritage throughout.

[@SwordsmanRyan]

I chuckle thinking of Feli visiting the Amish.

[@shubinternet]

You know, Fredericksburg is just about an hour outside of Austin, TX and they have a strong German heritage too. I’d love to see this become a series of visiting various different cities around the US that also have a German heritage. And if you let your Patreon supporters know in advance what your tour schedule looks like, we could arrange for COVID-safe parties and events!

[@StormyDay]

Many, many Germans in Texas! I believe that was a place they went specifically because there were some homesteads there.

[@shubinternet]

@@StormyDay - my father-in-law told me that historically there were only two or three major points where immigrants could enter the country legally. One was famously Ellis Island. But there was another one here in Texas, somewhere in the Houston area. And I think many of the Germans who came over around the 1850s were directed to the one near Houston. Once they got here, the story goes that they kept going west until they found areas that looked like home, such as Fredericksburg. My father-in-law is a former tour guide for the San Antonio area, and my mother-in-law is a member of the Canary Islanders Descendants Association, because her ancestors came over when the Presidio San Antonio de Béxar was founded in the early 1700s. So he’s got all sorts of great stories about his ancestors (the Germans) and hers.

[@rockyracoon3233]

Visited both New Braunfels and Fredericksburg back in early 2000s and loved both towns! I am one major GERMANOPHILE!🇩🇪

[@MW_Asura]

@@StormyDay "Germans"

[@Shadowfax-1980]

This was outstanding. I can tell you put a lot of hard work into it!

[@ericv7720]

Is it me, or is Feli starting to develop a Midwestern twang?

[@joebarrera334]

Really well scripted with voiceovers perfectly placed as transitions. Great work, looking forward to more featurettes like this hopefully! (I lived in Milwaukee for 6 years and it's still very in touch with its German roots!)