Our History
The German American National Congress (DANK) was founded in Chicago in 1959 to bring together Germans and Americans of German ancestry. We aim to preserve and enjoy our German heritage, language and culture. We are not a political organization, however we endeavor to represent German - American interests.
DANK maintains close relationships with our governmental and civic bodies, including the White House, federal, state and municipal agencies, as well as the German Embassy in Washington, consulates and other German organizations with cultural, education and commercial agendas.
In 1987 DANK was instrumental in the adoption of the Congressional resolutions declaring October 6th German American Day, which has been observed since then on a national level.
Together with the Steuben Society of America and the United German American Committee of the U.S.A., the German American Joint Action Committee (GAJAC) was formed to promote this historic event. Leaders of the German American National Congress have been frequently invited to the White House by US presidents, as well as to functions by high ranking German government officials.
The German American National Congress publishes a bi-monthly bilingual newspaper, the German American Journal, with news and activity reports for its members and friends. It is the voice of the organization and has a national distribution.
Objectives & Activities
- Foster friendship between the United States and Germany
- Promote a positive image of Germans among Americans.
- Establish exchange programs and cross-cultural activities among young Germans and Americans.
- Conduct language schools for children as well as for adults.
- Encourage and support German language and culture studies in public schools, colleges and universities.
- Facilitate genealogy research of German ancestry.
DANK chapters engage in many cultural and social activities of particular interest to its members, e.g. German American Day, Steuben Parades, Germanfests, Oktoberfests, picnics, dances, Karneval and Christmas celebrations.
DANK also interacts with other ethnic societies in joint cultural programs.
As the nation's largest German American organization it has become a uniting force for our country's largest ethnic community and a strong voice in representing its interests
