Integrated Ethnic Groups : Germany

The Lusatian Sorbs are the descendants of Slavic tribes. They settled the territory east of the Elbe and Saale rivers in the 6th century in the course of the migration of peoples that occurred in the early centuries A.D. The first document in which they are mentioned dates from 631. In the 16th century, under the influence of the Reformation, a Sorbian written language evolved. During the flush of democratic aspirations in the 19th century the Sorbs experienced a phase of national rebirth, yet at the time of the fascist dictatorship in our century plans were made for their annihilation. Reunified Germany has committed itself to encouraging the Sorbian minority. In addition to the Institute for Sorbian Studies at the University of Leipzig, there are a large number of schools, associations and other institutions which are devoted to the cultivation of the Sorbian language and culture.

The Frisians are the descendants of a Germanic tribe on the North Sea coast (between the Lower Rhine and the Ems River) and have preserved numerous traditions in addition to their own distinct language. A Danish minority lives in the Schleswig region of the state of Schleswig-Holstein, especially around the city of Flensburg.