Federal Germans

Federal Germans (German: Bundesdeutsche) as a noun or Federal German (bundesdeutsch) as an adjective are terms to describe the citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany (also Federal citizens – Bundesbürger), until the reunification in 1990 in contrast to the citizens of the German Democratic Republic and East Berlin (Bürger der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik) or the Sarrois, the citizens of the Saar Protectorate, who were legally entitled to Federal German citizenship but unable to claim it or utilize it in any meaningful way prior to the reunification.

The term can also be used to differentiate other German-speaking nationals (e.g. Austrians, Belgians or German Swiss). It is important to recognize that "Bundesbürger" is not exclusive to ethnic Germans; it means anyone who has Federal German citizenship.


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