German

No.		English Title		German Title		Aarne-Thompson-Uther Type Type titles not given resemble the tales' titles
1		The Frog King, or Iron Heinrich		Der Froschkönig oder der eiserne Heinrich		Type 440
2		Cat and Mouse in Partnership		Katze und Maus in Gesellschaft		Type 15, Stealing the Partner's Butter
3		Mary's Child		Marienkind		Type 710
4		The Story of a Boy Who Went Forth to Learn Fear		Märchen von einem, der auszog, das Fürchten zu lernen		Type 326
5		The Wolf and the Seven Young Kids		Der Wolf und die sieben jungen Geißlein		Type 123
6		Faithful Johannes		Der treue Johannes		Type 516
7		The Good Bargain		Der gute Handel		Type 1642. Includes an episode of type 1610, Sharing Strokes with the King's Guard
8		The Strange Musician		Der wunderliche Spielmann		Type 151, Music Lessons for Wild Animals. Cf. type 1159, Catching the Would-Be Musician in a Crack
9		The Twelve Brothers		Die zwölf Brüder		Type 451, The Brothers Who Were Turned into Birds
10		The Pack of Scoundrels		Das Lumpengesindel		Type 210, The Traveling Animals and the Wicked Man
11		Little Brother and Little Sister		Brüderchen und Schwesterchen		Type 450
12		Rapunzel		Rapunzel		Type 310, The Maiden in the Tower
13		The Three Little Men in the Woods		Die drei Männlein im Walde		Type 403B, The Black and the White Bride. Includes an episode of type 480, The Kind and the Unkind Girls
14		The Three Spinning Women		Die drei Spinnerinnen		Type 501
15		Hansel and Gretel		Hänsel und Gretel		Type 327A. Includes an episode of type 1121, Burning the Witch in Her Own Oven
16		The Three Snake-Leaves		Die drei Schlangenblätter		Type 612
17		The White Snake		Die weiße Schlange		Type 673. Includes an episode of type 554, The Grateful Animals
18		Straw, Coal, and Bean		Strohhalm, Kohle und Bohne		Type 295
19		The Fisherman and His Wife		Von dem Fischer un syner Fru		Type 555
20		The Brave Little Tailor		Das tapfere Schneiderlein		Type 1640. Includes episodes of type 1060, Squeezing Water from a Stone; type 1062, A Contest in Throwing Stones; type 1052, A Contest in Carrying a Tree; type 1051, Springing with a Bent Tree; type 1115, Attempting to Kill the Hero in His Bed
21		Cinderella		Aschenputtel		Type 510A
22		The Riddle		Das Rätsel		Type 851, Winning the Princess with a Riddle
23		The Mouse, the Bird, and the Sausage		Von dem Mäuschen, Vögelchen und der Bratwurst		Type 85
24		Frau Holle		Frau Holle		Type 480, The Kind and the Unkind Girls
25		The Seven Ravens		Die sieben Raben		Type 451, The Brothers Who Were Turned into Birds
26		Little Red Cap		Rotkäppchen		Type 333, Red Riding Hood
27		The Bremen Town Musicians		Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten		Type 130, Outcast Animals Find a New Home
28		The Singing Bone		Der singende Knochen		Type 780
29		The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs		Der Teufel mit den drei goldenen Haaren		Type 461, Three Hairs from the Devil; type 930, The Prophecy That a Poor Boy Will Marry a Rich Girl
30		Little Louse and Little Flea		Läuschen und Flöhchen		Type 2022, An Animal Mourns the Death of a Spouse
31		The Girl without Hands		Das Mädchen ohne Hände		Type 706
32		Clever Hans		Der gescheite Hans		Type 1696, What Should I Have Said (or Done)?
33		The Three Languages		Die drei Sprachen		Type 671
34		Clever Elsie		Die kluge Else		Type 1450. Ends with an episode of type 1383, A Woman Does Not Know Herself
35		The Tailor in Heaven		Der Schneider im Himmel		Type 800
36		Table-Be-Set, Gold-Donkey, and Cudgel-out-of-the-Sack		Tischchendeckdich, Goldesel und Knüppel aus dem Sack		Type 563, introduced by type 212, The Goat That Lied
37		Thumbthick		Daumesdick		Type 700, Tom Thumb. Includes an episode of type 41, Overeating in the Pantry
38		Mrs. Fox's Wedding		Die Hochzeit der Frau Füchsin		Two tales. Type 65, Mrs. Fox's Suitors.
39		The Elves		Die Wichtelmänner		Three tales. Tale one: type 503*, Helpful Elves. Also categorized as a migratory legend, type 7015. Tale two: type 476*, A Midwife (or Godmother) for the Elves. Also categorized as a migratory legend, type 5070. Tale three: migratory legend, type 5085, The Changeling.
40		The Robber Bridegroom		Der Räuberbräutigam		Type 955
41		Herr Korbes		Herr Korbes		Type 210, The Traveling Animals and the Wicked Man
42		The Godfather		Der Herr Gevatter		Type 332, Godfather Death
43		Frau Trude		Frau Trude		Type 334, At the Witch's House
44		Godfather Death		Der Gevatter Tod		Type 332
45		Thumbling's Travels		Daumerlings Wanderschaft		Type 700, Tom Thumb
46		Fitcher's Bird		Fitchers Vogel		Type 311, The Heroine Rescues Herself and Her Sisters. Similar to type 312, Bluebeard
47		The Juniper Tree		Von dem Machandelboom		Type 720, My Mother Killed Me; My Father Ate Me
48		Old Sultan		Der alte Sultan		Type 101, The Old Dog Rescues the Child. Concludes with an episode of type 103, Wild Animals Hide from an Unfamiliar Animal, and of type 104, War between the Village Animals and the Forest Animals
49		The Six Swans		Die sechs Schwäne		Type 451, The Brothers Who Were Turned into Birds
50		Little Brier-Rose		Dornröschen		Type 410, Sleeping Beauty
51		Foundling-Bird		Fundevogel		Type 313A, The Girl Helps the Hero Flee
52		King Thrushbeard		König Drosselbart		Type 900
53		Little Snow-White		Sneewittchen		Type 709
54		The Knapsack, the Hat, and the Horn		Der Ranzen, das Hütlein und das Hörnlein		Type 569
55		Rumpelstiltskin		Rumpelstilzchen		Type 500, Guessing the Helper's Name
56		Sweetheart Roland		Der Liebste Roland		Type 1119, Ogres Kill Their Own Children, followed by type 313C, The Girl Helps the Hero Flee; the Forgotten Fiancée
57		The Golden Bird		Der goldene Vogel		Type 550
58		The Dog and the Sparrow		Der Hund und der Sperling		Type 248, The Man, the Dog, and the Bird
59		Freddy and Katy Lizzy		Der Frieder und das Catherlieschen		Types 1387, A Woman Draws Beer in the Cellar; 1385*, A Woman Loses Her Husband's Money; 1291B, A Fool Greeses the Cracked Earth with Butter; 1291, Sending One Cheese After Another; 1653A, Securing the Door; 1653, The Robbers under the Tree; 1383, A Woman Does Not Know Herself; 1791, Dividing Up the Dead
60		The Two Brothers		Die zwei Brüder		Type 567A, The Magic Bird Heart; followed by type 303, The Blood Brothers. Includes an episode of type 300, The Dragon Slayer
61		The Little Peasant		Das Bürle		Type 1535, The Rich Peasant and the Poor Peasant. Includes an episode of type 1737, Trading Places with the Trickster in a Sack. Similar to type 1539, Tricksters and Their Victims
62		The Queen Bee		Die Bienenkönigin		Type 554, The Grateful Animals
63		The Three Feathers		Die drei Federn		Type 402, The Animal Bride
64		The Golden Goose		Die goldene Gans		Type 571, All Stick Together, plus an episode of type 513B, The Land and Water Ship
65		All-Kinds-Of-Fur		Allerleirauh		Type 510B, A King Tries to Marry His Daughter
66		The Hare's Bride		Häsichenbraut		Type 311, The Heroine Rescues Herself and Her Sisters
67		The Twelve Huntsmen		Die zwölf Jäger		Type 884, The Forsaken Fiancée
68		The Thief and His Master		De Gaudeif un sien Meester		Type 325, The Magician and His Pupil
69		Jorinde and Joringel		Jorinde und Joringel		Type 405
70		The Three Children of Fortune		Die drei Glückskinder		Type 1650, Three Brothers Inherit a Rooster, a Scythe, and a Cat. Includes episodes of types 1202, Harvesting Grain with a Cannon; 1651, Dick Whittington and His Cat; and 1281, Burning the Barn to Destroy an Unknown Animal
71		How Six Men Got On in the World		Sechse kommen durch die ganze Welt		Type 513A
72		The Wolf and the Man		Der Wolf und der Mensch		Type 157, Learning to Fear Man
73		The Wolf and the Fox		Der Wolf und der Fuchs		Type 41, Overeating in the Pantry
74		The Fox and His Cousin		Der Fuchs und die Frau Gevatterin		Type 152A*, The Scalded Wolf, followed by type 4, Getting a Ride by Pretending to Be Injured
75		The Fox and the Cat		Der Fuchs und die Katze		Type 105, The Cat's Only Trick
76		The Carnation		Die Nelke		Type 652, The Boy Whose Wishes Always Come True
77		Clever Gretel		Das kluge Gretel		Type 1741, The Guest Flees to Save His Ears
78		The Old Grandfather and His Grandson		Der alte Großvater und der Enkel		Type 980B, The Wooden Bowl
79		The Water Nixie		Die Wassernixe		Type 313A, The Girl Helps the Hero Flee
80		The Death of the Little Hen		Von dem Tode des Hühnchens		Type 2021. Includes an episode of type 2021A The Cock Seeks Help for the Choking Hen
81		Brother Merry		Bruder Lustig		Includes episodes of type 785, Who Ate the Lamb's Heart?; type 753A, The Unsuccessful Resuscitation; type 330B, The Devil in the Sack; type 330*, Entering Heaven by a Trick;
82		Gambling Hansel		De Spielhansl		Type 330A, The Smith's Three Wishes
83		Hans in Luck		Hans im Glück		Type 1415
84		Hans Gets Married		Hans heiratet		Types 859B, The Penniless Wooer: Money in Hand, and 859A, The Penniless Wooer: Patch of Land
85		The Gold-Children		Die Goldkinder		Type 555, The Fisherman and His Wife, followed by type 303, Blood Brothers
86		The Fox and the Geese		Der Fuchs und die Gänse		Type 227, The Geese's Eternal Prayer
87		The Poor Man and the Rich Man		Der Arme und der Reiche		Type 750A, Good Wishes and Foolish Wishes
88		The Singing, Springing Lark		Das singende springende Löweneckerchen		Type 425C, Beauty and the Beast
89		The Goose-Girl		Die Gänsemagd		Type 533
90		The Young Giant		Der junge Riese		Type 650A. Introduced with an episode of type 700, Tom Thumb
91		The Gnome		Dat Erdmänneken		Type 301A, The Quest for the Vanished Princesses
92		The King of the Golden Mountain		Der König vom goldenen Berge		Type 401A, The Enchanted Princess in Her Castle. Introduced with an episode of type 810, The Devil Loses a Soul That Was Promised Him. Includes episodes of type 560, The Magic Ring, and type 518, Quarreling Giants Lose Their Magic Objects
93		The Raven		Die Rabe		Type 401. The Girl Transformed into an Animal. Includes an episode of type 518, Quarreling Giants Lose Their Magic Objects
94		The Peasant's Clever Daughter		Die kluge Bauerntochter		Type 875
95		Old Hildebrand		Der alte Hildebrand		Type 1360C
96		The Three Little Birds		De drei Vügelkens		Type 707, The Dancing Water, the Singing Apple, and the Speaking Bird
97		The Water of Life		Das Wasser des Lebens		Type 551
98		Dr. Know-All		Doktor Allwissend		Type 1641
99		The Spirit in the Glass Bottle		Der Geist im Glas		Type 331
100		The Devil's Sooty Brother		Des Teufels rußiger Bruder		Type 475, Heating Hell's Kitchen
101		Bearskin		Der Bärenhäuter		Type 361
102		The Wren and the Bear		Der Zaunkönig und der Bär		Type 222, The War between the Birds and the Beasts
103		Sweet Porridge		Der süße Brei		Type 565, The Magic Mill
104		The Clever People		Die klugen Leute		Type 1384, A Man Seeks Someone as Stupid as His Wife. Includes episodes of type 1385, A Woman Accepts Her Own Cow as Security, and type 1540, The Man from Paradise
105		Tales of the Toad		Märchen von der Unke		Three tales. Tale 1: type 285, The Child and the Snake. Tale 2: type 672B, The Toad's Crown. Tale 3: type 2075 Imitating Animal Sounds
106		The Poor Miller's Boy and the Cat		Der arme Müllerbursch und das Kätzchen		Type 402, The Animal Bride
107		The Two Travelers		Die beiden Wanderer		Type 613, followed by type 554, The Grateful Animals
108		Hans-My-Hedgehog		Hans mein Igel		Type 441
109		The Burial Shirt (The Little Shroud)		Das Totenhemdchen		Unclassified
110		The Jew in the Thorns		Der Jude im Dorn		Type 592, Dancing in Thorns
111		The Trained Huntsman		Der gelernte Jäger		Type 304
112		The Threshing-Flail from Heaven		Der Dreschflegel vom Himmel		A combination of types 1960A, The Giant Animal; 1960G, The Giant Plant; and 1889K, A Rope Made of Chaff
113		The Two Kings' Children		De beiden Künigeskinner		Type 313C, The Girl Helps the Hero Flee; the Forgotten Fiancée
114		The Clever Little Tailor		Vom klugen Schneiderlein		An expurgated version of type 850, The Princess's Birthmarks. Includes episodes of type 1061, Biting Stones and 1159, Catching the Would-Be Musician in a Crack (expurgated)
115		The Bright Sun Will Bring It to Light		Die klare Sonne bringt's an den Tag		Type 960, The Sun Brings All to Light
116		The Blue Light		Das blaue Licht		Type 562, The Spirit in the Blue Light
117		The Willful Child		Das eigensinnige Kind		Type 779, Divine Rewards and Punishments
118		The Three Army Surgeons		Die drei Feldscherer		Type 660, The Three Doctors
119		The Seven Swabians		Die sieben Schwaben		Several episodes, mostly of type 1321, Fools Are Frightened. One episode is type 1231, Planning the Attack on a Hare. Conclusion belongs to type 1297*, Fools Walk into a River and Drown
120		The Three Journeymen		Die drei Handwerksburschen		Type 360, The Three Apprentices and the Devil. Similar to type 1697, We Three, for Money
121		The King's Son Who Is Afraid of Nothing		Der Königssohn, der sich vor nichts fürchtet		Type 590, The Magic Belt; and type 401A, The Enchanted Princess in Her Castle
122		The Cabbage-Donkey		Der Krautesel		Type 567, The Magic Bird Heart. Similar to type 566, Fruit That Grows Horns (Fortunatus)
123		The Old Woman in the Woods		Die Alte im Wald		Type 442
124		The Three Brothers		Die drei Brüder		Type 654, Which Brother Has the Best Skill?
125		The Devil and His Grandmother		Der Teufel und seine Großmutter		Type 812, The Devil's Riddle
126		Ferdinand the Faithful and Ferdinand the Unfaithful		Ferenand getrü un Ferenand ungetrü		Type 531
127		The Iron Stove		Der Eisenofen		Type 425A, The Animal Bridegroom
128		The Lazy Spinning Woman		Die faule Spinnerin		Type 1405
129		The Four Skillful Brothers		Die vier kunstreichen Brüder		Type 653
130		One-Eye, Two-Eyes, and Three-Eyes		Einäuglein, Zweiäuglein und Dreiäuglein		Type 511
131		Fair Katrinelje and Pif Paf Poltrie		Die schöne Katrinelje und Pif Paf Poltrie		Type 2019
132		The Fox and the Horse		Der Fuchs und das Pferd		Type 47A, Catching a Horse by the Tail
133		The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces		Die zertanzten Schuhe		Type 306, The Danced-Out Shoes
134		The Six Servants		Die sechs Diener		Type 513A, Six Go through the Whole World
135		The White Bride and the Black Bride		Die weiße und die schwarze Braut		Type 403A, The Black and the White Bride: The Wishes
136		Iron Hans		Der Eisenhans		Type 502, The Wild Man as a Helper
137		The Three Black Princesses		De drei schwatten Prinzessinnen		Similar to type 401A, The Enchanted Princess in Her Castle
138		Knoist and His Three Sons		Knoist un sine dre Sühne		Type 1965. Includes an episode of type 1963, Sailing in a Bottomless Boat
139		The Girl from Brakel		Dat Mäken von Brakel		Type 1476A, Praying to the Statue's Mother
140		Household Servants		Das Hausgesinde		Type 1940, Extraordinary Names
141		The Little Lamb and the Little Fish		Das Lämmchen und Fischchen		Type 450, Little Brother, Little Sister
142		Simeli Mountain		Simeliberg		Type 676, Open Sesame
143		Going Traveling		Up Reisen gohn		Type 1696, What Should I Have Said?
144		The Little Donkey		Das Eselein		Type 430, The Donkey Bridegroom
145		The Ungrateful Son		Der undankbare Sohn		Type 980D, A Toad in the Face of an Ungrateful Son
146		The Turnip		Die Rübe		Types 1960D, The Giant Vegetable; and 1689A, Two Presents for the King. Includes an episode of type 1737, Trading Places with the Trickster in a Sack
147		The Little Old Man Made Young by Fire		Das junggeglühte Männlein		Type 753, Christ and the Smith
148		The Lord's Animals and the Devil's		Des Herrn und des Teufels Getier		Unclassified
149		The Rooster Beam		Der Hahnenbalken		Type 987, False Magician Exposed by Clever Girl. Includes an episode similar to type 1290, A Fool Mistakes a Flax Field for a Lake
150		The Old Beggar Woman		Die alte Bettelfrau		Unclassified
151		The Three Lazy Ones		Die drei Faulen		Type 1950, A Contest in Laziness
151*		The Twelve Lazy Servants		Die zwölf faulen Knechte		Type 1950, A Contest in Laziness
152		The Little Shepherd Boy		Das Hirtenbüblein		Type 922, The King, the Abbot, and the Shepherd
153		The Star Talers		Die Sterntaler		Type 779, Divine Rewards and Punishments
154		The Stolen Farthing		Der gestohlene Heller		Type 769, A Child Returns from the Dead
155		Choosing a Bride		Die Brautschau		Type 1452, Choosing a Bride by How She Cuts Cheese
156		The Hurds		Die Schlickerlinge		Type 1451, A Suitor Chooses the Thrifty Girl
157		The Sparrow and His Four Children		Der Sperling und seine vier Kinder		Similar to type 157, Learning to Fear Man
158		The Tale of Cockaigne		Das Märchen vom Schlauraffenland		Type 1930
159		The Tall Tale from Ditmarsh		Das Diethmarsische Lügenmärchen		Type 1930, Schlaraffenland
160		A Riddling Tale		Rätselmärchen		Type 407, The Girl as a Flower
161		Snow-White and Rose-Red		Schneeweißchen und Rosenrot		Type 426, The Two Girls, the Bear, and the Dwarf
162		The Clever Servant		Der kluge Knecht		Similar to type 1681B, The Fool as a Housekeeper
163		The Glass Coffin		Der gläserne Sarg		Type 410, Sleeping Beauty
164		Lazy Heinz		Der faule Heinz		Type 1430, Air Castles
165		The Griffin		Der Vogel Greif		Type 610, Fruit to Cure the Princess; and type 461, Three Hairs from the Devil
166		Strong Hans		Der starke Hans		Type 650A, The Young Giant; and type 301A, The Quest for the Vanished Princesses
167		The Peasant in Heaven		Das Bürle im Himmel		Type 802
168		Lean Lisa		Die hagere Liese		Type 1430, Air Castles. Includes an episode of type 2411, Counting Imagined Wealth.
169		The Hut in the Woods		Das Waldhaus		Type 431
170		Sharing Joy and Sorrow		Lieb und Leid teilen		Unclassified
171		The Wren		Der Zaunkönig		Type 221, The Wren Becomes King of the Birds
172		The Flounder		Die Scholle		Type 250A, The Flounder's Crooked Mouth
173		The Bittern and Hoopoe		Rohrdommel und Wiedehopf		Type 236*, Imitating Bird Sounds. Compare type 2075, Imitating Animal Sounds
174		The Owl		Die Eule		Type 1281, Burning the Barn to Destroy an Unknown Animal
175		The Moon		Der Mond		Unclassified
176		The Duration of Life		Die Lebenszeit		Types 173 and 828, Men, Animals, and the Span of Life. (Categorized under two different numbers by Aarne-Thompson)
177		Death's Messengers		Die Boten des Todes		Type 335
178		Master Pfriem		Meister Pfriem		Type 801. Includes an episode of type 1248, Loading a Beam Crosswise on a Wagon
179		The Goose-Girl at the Well		Die Gänsehirtin am Brunnen		Type 923, Love Like Salt
180		Eve's Unequal Children		Die ungleichen Kinder Evas		Type 758
181		The Nixie in the Pond		Die Nixe im Teich		Type 316
182		The Gifts of the Little People		Die Geschenke des kleinen Volkes		Type 503, The Hunchbacks and the Elves
183		The Giant and the Tailor		Der Riese und der Schneider		Type 1049, The Heavy Ax; 1053, Shooting Wild Boars; and 1051, Springing with a Bent Tree
184		The Nail		Der Nagel		Type 2039, The Lost Horseshoe Nail
185		The Poor Boy in the Grave		Der arme Junge im Grab		Episodes include type 1876, Chickens on a String, and type 1313, The Man Who Thought He Was Dead
186		The True Bride		Die wahre Braut		Type 510, The Persecuted Heroine; followed by type 884, The Forsaken Fiancée
187		The Hare and the Hedgehog		Der Hase und der Igel. This link is to a High German translation of the Grimms' original Low German text.		Type 275A*, The Race between the Hedgehog and the Hare. Compare type 1074, A Race Is Won by a Look-Alike Helper
188		Spindle, Shuttle, and Needle		Spindel, Weberschiffchen und Nadel		Type 585
189		The Peasant and the Devil		Der Bauer und der Teufel		Type 1030, Man and Ogre Share the Harvest
190		The Crumbs on the Table		Die Brosamen auf dem Tisch		Type 236*, Imitating Bird Sounds. Compare type 2075, Imitating Animal Sounds
191		The Rabbit		Das Meerhäschen		Type 554, The Grateful Animals. Similar to 851, Winning the Princess with a Riddle
192		The Master Thief		Der Meisterdieb		Type 1525A, Stealing the Count's Horse, Sheet, and Parson
193		The Drummer		Der Trommler		Type 400, The Quest for a Lost Bride; and type 313C, The Girl Helps the Hero Flee; the Forgotten Fiancée. Includes an episode of type 518, Quarreling Giants Lose Their Magic Objects
194		The Ear of Grain		Die Kornähre		Type 779, Divine Rewards and Punishments
195		The Grave Mound		Der Grabhügel		Similar to type 815, Keeping Watch at a Rich Man's Grave. Contains an episode of type 1130, A Boot Full of Money
196		Old Rinkrank		Oll Rinkrank		Similar to type 311, The Heroine Rescues Herself and Her Sisters
197		The Crystal Ball		Die Kristallkugel		Type 552A, The Girls Who Married Animals. Includes episodes of type 302, The Giant Whose Heart Was in an Egg, and type 518, Quarreling Giants Lose Their Magic Objects
198		Maid Maleen		Jungfrau Maleen		Type 870, The Entombed Princess
199		The Boot of Buffalo Leather		Der Stiefel von Büffelleder		Type 952, The King and the Soldier
200		The Golden Key		Der goldene Schlüssel		Type 2260
201		St. Joseph in the Woods		Der heilige Joseph im Walde		Type 480, The Kind and the Unkind Girls
202		The Twelve Apostles		Die zwölf Apostel		Similar to type 766, The Magic Sleep
203		The Rose		Die Rose		Unclassified
204		Poverty and Humility Lead to Heaven		Armut und Demut führen zum Himmel		Unclassified
205		God's Food		Gottes Speise		Type 751G*, Bread Turned to Stone
206		The Three Green Branches		Die drei grünen Zweige		Type 756A, Green Leaves on a Dry Stick
207		Our Lady's Little Glass		Muttergottesgläschen		Unclassified
208		The Aged Mother		Die alte Mütterchen		Unclassified
209		The Heavenly Wedding		Die himmlische Hochzeit		Type 767, Food for the Crucifix
210		The Hazel Switch		Die Haselrute		Unclassified

German (Deutsch)

German is a Germanic language with about 121 million speakers in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Belgium, Italy, France, Denmark, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the USA, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Australia, South Africa and Namibia.
The earliest known examples of written German date from the 8th century AD and consist of fragments of an epic poem, the Song of Hildebrand, magical charms and German glosses in Latin manuscripts. A short Latin-German dictionary, the Abrogans, was written during the 760s.
German literature started to take off during the 12th and 13th centuries in the form of poems, epics and romances. Well known examples include the epic Nibelungenlied (the Song of the Nibelungs) and Gottfried von Straßburg's Tristan. The language used is now known as mittelhochdeutsche Dichtersprache (Middle High German poetic language). During this period Latin was gradually replaced by German as the language of official documents.

Varieties of German used in writing

High German (Hochdeutsch)

High German began to emerge as the standard literary language during the 16th century. Martin Luther's translation of the Bible, which he completed in 1534, marks the beginning of this process. The language he used, based partly on spoken German, became the model for written German.

Swiss German (Schweizerdeutsch or Schwyzerdütsch)

A variety of German spoken by about 4 million people in Switzerland, occasionally appears in writing in novels, newspapers, personal letters and diaries.
Regional dialects of German, or Mundarten, also occasionally appear in writing; mainly in 'folk' literature and comic books such as Asterix.

Written German script styles

Fraktur

Fraktur was used for printed and written German from the 16th century until 1940. The name Fraktur comes from Latin and means "broken script". It is so called because its ornamental twiddly bits (curlicues) break the continuous line of a word. In German it is usually called the deutsche Schrift (German script).
Fraktur was also used for a number of other languages, including Finnish, Czech, Swedish, Danish and Norwegian.

Notes

The second lowercase s appears at the ends of syllables, except in the following combinations: ss, st, sp, sh and sch, while the first (ſ) appears everywhere else. The symbol ß (scharfes S or Eszett) is a combination of the long s and z, or a combination of the two types of s: there is some dispute about origin of this symbol. For further details, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ß.

Sample text in Fraktur

Sütterlin

Sütterlin was created by the Berlin graphic artist L. Sütterlin (1865-1917), who modelled it on the style of handwriting used in the old German Chancery. It was taught in German schools from 1915 to 1941 and is still used by the older generation.

Sample text in Sütterlin

Modern German alphabet

A a	B b	C c	D d	E e	F f	G g	H h	I i	J j	K k	L l	M m
a	be	ce	de	e	ef	ge	ha	i	jot	ka	el	em
N n	O o	P p	Q q	R r	S s	T t	U u	V v	W w	X x	Y y	Z z
en	o	pe	ku	er	es	te	u	vau	we	iks	üpsilon	zet

German pronunciation

Sample text in German

Alle Menschen sind frei und gleich an Würde und Rechten geboren. Sie sind mit Vernunft und Gewissen begabt und sollen einander im Geist der Brüderlichkeit begegnen.
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Links

Information about the German language
http://www.lowlands-l.net/anniversary/deutsch-info.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_language
Online German courses
http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/german/
http://www.rocketlanguages.com/german/
http://www.germanpod101.com
http://www.ex.ac.uk/german/abinitio/
http://www.deutsch-lernen.com
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/0,,2547,00.html
http://german.about.com/library/anfang/blanfang_inhalt.htm
http://german.about.com
http://learngerman.elanguageschool.net
http://www.deutschakademie.de/online-deutschkurs/english/
http://www.german-online.net
http://virtulanguage.com
http://www.populearn.com
http://www.deutsched.com
Find German Tutors, Teachers and Lesson Help
German Electronic talking dictionaries
http://www.ectaco.com
More links to online German language resource