"The Germans" form the biggest ethnic group among all white Americans.

By and large, they are not a community that keeps to itself. They tend to blend into the mainstream quickly.

Yet deep in their hearts, they often have a soft spot for their German heritage. They uphold certain traditions, such as German song or folk-dancing, the love for strong beer and the German way of celebrating carnival.

DW-Radio's correspondent Bernd Riegert travelled across the United States and visited communities where German-Americans keep their heritage alive.