Recently I sought information from the German Embassy about how to
address a letter to West Germany to seek family ancestral information.  The
following is the printed response that I got from them in Feb, 1988.

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EMBASSY OF THE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY                   Washington, D.C.

                    GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH IN GERMANY

This office cannot assist individuals in tracing their ancestors in Germany. 
However, the following general information is provided:

     Local genealogical societies and libraries

     Before you start to correspond with genealogical societies and offices
     abroad, you should first check with the nearest local genealogical
     society and library.  Many libraries maintain good genealogical
     archives and records. 

     Birth, Marriage and Death Records

     These records may be obtained from the registrar's office in Germany,
     where the birth, marriage or death was reported.  Your inquiry should
     be addressed to:

          Standesamt
          .........................
          (Zip Code)     (City)
          Federal Republic of Germany

     Genealogical societies

     The central office of the German Genealogical Society (DAGV) in
     Bruhl offers assistance and gives information on how to trace your
     ancestors in Germany.  Its address is:

          DAGV
          Schloss-Strasse 12, 5040 Bruhl
          Federal Republic of Germany

          (NOTE!  Bruhl has an umlaut, two dots, over the "u")

     If the central office cannot answer your questions it will forward your
     inquiry to the appropriate local office. 

     You should also consider contacting the following genealogical
     societies:

          Genealogical Society of the Church of Jesus Christ 
          of Latter-Day Saints
          79 South State Street
          Salt Lake City, Utah  84111

     or

          The American Society of Genealogists
          300 East 71st Street
          New York, NY  10021

     A "Directory of Genealogic Societies in the USA and Canada" is
     published by Paul M. Harrod Company, Baltimore, MD  31234.

     If the place of origin of an ancestor is not known, an advertisement
     can be placed in one of the following two genealogical magazines:

          Familienkundliche Nachrichten  Praktische Forschungshilfe
          Verlag Degener & Co.           Verlag C.A. Starke
          Postfach 1380                  Postfach 310
          8530 Neustadt/Aisch            6250 Limburg/Lahn
          Federal Republic of Germany    Federal Republic of Germany

     Publications
     The following publications are helpful in tracing your German
     ancestors:

          "How to find my German Ancestors and Relatives" by Dr. Heinz
          F. Friedrichs, available from:
          Verlag Degener & Co. (Address above)
          reference number:  ISBN 3 7686 1016 0

          "Auf den Spuren des europaischen Amerika-Auswanderers"
               (NOTE: There is an umlat, two dots, over the "a" in
               europaischen)
          by Fred H. Barth, 1628 Browning Ave, Salt Lake City, Utah
          84105 available from: Verlag Degener & Co. (address above)
          reference number:  Genealogie, Bd., 13, 1976, S. 273-282.

          "The Genealogical Helper" available from:  The Everton Publishing
          Company, PO Box 368, Logan, Utah  84321.

          "Glenzdorfs Internationales Genealogen Lexikon" Verlag W. Rost,
          3252 Bad Munder am Deister.
               (NOTE: There is an umlat, two dots, over the "u" in
               Munder.)

          "Taschenbuch fur Familiengeschichtsforschung"
               (NOTE: There is an umlat, two dots, over the "u" in fur.)
          Verlag Degener & Co.  (address above)

          "Wegweiser fur die Forschung nach Vorfahren aus den
          ostdeutschen und sudetendeutschen Gebieten sowie aus den
          deutschen Siedlungsgebieten in Ost- und Sudosteurops"
               (NOTE: There are umlats, two dots, over the "u" in fur and
               over the 1st "u" in Sudosteuropa.)
          (also available in English version)
          by Verlag Degener & Co.  (address above)

          Informationsbrochure titled  "Come trace your Roots in Hamburg"
          available from:  German National Tourist Office, 630 Fifth
          Avenue, New York, NY  10020.

     To ensure that the response to your letters will be sent via Air Mail,
     it is suggested that you enclose at least two international reply
     coupons, which can be purchased at any US Post Office.  Please
     always write clearly, print, or use a typewriter, and give all
     information and data available.

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     I hope the above information will be helpful for thosse searching
German Roots.   Don Wilson.