Dr. Arthur Mehrhoff explains how German traditions and customs have added to American life.  He details the domestic issues and conflicts that were going on in Germany that led to a widespread migration to the United States.  He discusses the impact of the Revolution of 1848 in Germany and the expectations of the “48ers” that came to America.  Mehrhoff describes why many Germans migrated to the American Midwest while other immigrant groups such as the Irish mainly concentrated in Eastern cities.  He identifies some of the first and largest German communities in Missouri which a special emphasis on Hermann, Missouri.  He talks about the economic, religious, and artistic impact Germans had on Missouri culture, as well.  He explains how the German initially preserved and cultivated their traditions and customs – including a discussion on how German Christmas customs has had an effect on American holiday traditions.  Mehrhoff delves into the history of groups such as the “Turners” and discusses the impact that WWI and anti-German hysteria had on German communities in the U.S.  He describes how Prohibition devastated German breweries in the United States.  He then explains how WWII and the move to the suburbs in the 1950s changed German communities forever.  Mehrhoff finishes with a look to the future and how communities are celebrating and educating the public about German heritage in America.

HOST:  Rob Mellon

FEATURED BREW:  Korbinian Doppelbock, Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan, Germany

MISSOURI HUMANITIES COUNCIL

https://mohumanities.org/

PUBLICATION:  Missouri Life

https://missourilife.com/

MUSIC:  Bones Fork

https://bonesfork.com/

FOLK MUSIC:  Eisberg Germanisches Land