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This article is about the civilization in Age of Empires III. For the civilization in Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings, see Teutons. For the civilization in Age of Empires IV, see Holy Roman Empire.
Civilization Technology tree Strategy Home City Cards

In the New World, the Germans ruled territories in South America in the 1500s, such as Venezuela. They were short lived until were able to successfully colonize in the late 1800s.
[1]

The Germans are a playable European civilization in Age of Empires III. They are primarily based on the Kingdom of Prussia (16th to early 20th centuries).

They are the descendants of the Teutons (featured in Age of Empires II) and a continuation of the Holy Roman Empire (featured in Age of Empires IV) who inhabited regions in modern-day Germany.

Home City[]

(Default) Explorer names
First names
Alexander, Ambrose, August, Augustin, Baron, Carl, Count, Dietrich, Eduard, Friedrich, Gebhard, Georg, Gerhard, Gustav, Hans, Heinrich, Hendrick, Johann, Karl, Ludwig, Martin, Maximilian, Nikolaus, Peter, Robert, Salomon, Wilhelm
Last names
Alfinger, Barth, Behaim, Christiansen, Cromberger, Dallmann, Federmann, Gmelin, Herder, Hermann, Kappler, Kohl, Krapf, Lederer, Leichardt, Mauch, Mercator, Müller, Nachtigal, Pining, Pothorst, Ritter, Schliemann, Schromburgk, Steller, Waldseemüller, of Weid, von Bieberstein, von Blucher, von Buchau, von Humboldt

  • Fire eater Torchy - An entertainer who performs tricks with fire (1 point)
  • Juggler Juggler - A juggling performer (1 point)
  • Vendor Vendor Cart - A store on wheels hawking goods of all kinds (1 point)
  • Chatter Home City Chatter - Enable this to show comments made by citizens strolling through this city (1 point)
  • Bunting Patriotic Bunting - The citizens show their national pride by decorating with patriotic banners (1 point)
  • Tavern sign flying cat Die Flieder Katze - A sign for the Flying Cat Inn (1 point)
  • Tavern sign smiling man The Smiling Publican - A sign for a popular drinking establishment (1 point)
  • Crate Crates and Baskets - Goods waiting to be unpacked for sale in the market (1 point)
  • Props5 Scaffolding - The painters set this up yesterday and left it (1 point)
  • HC banner Market Day Pennants - These bright streamers declare it is market day (1 point)
  • Ee-nwtc1 The German New World Trade Center - The original version of the German New World Trade Center (Default)
  • Ee-nwtc2 Nacelsten World Trade Center - A red-themed version of the New World Trade Center's color scheme (1 point)
  • Ee-nwtc3 Kube New World Goods - A blue and white-themed version of the New World Trade Center's color scheme (1 point)
  • Ee-nwtc4 Jake's Trading Emporium - A brown and blue version of the New World Trade Center's color scheme (1 point)
  • Ee-nwtc5 Expeditors of Saxony - A black and white version of the German New World Trade Center's color scheme (1 point)
  • Ee-nwtc6 Thracian Caverns Trading Halls - An upgraded version of the New World Trading Center (1 point)
  • Ee-nwtc7 The Persian Market - A red-themed version of the New World Trade Center's structure and color scheme (1 point)
  • Ee-nwtc8 L. Hoke and Company, Shipping - A blue and white-themed version of the New World Trade Center's structure and color scheme (1 point)
  • Ee-nwtc9 T. X. E. Bird Imports - A brown and blue version of the New World Trade Center's structure and color scheme (1 point)
  • Ee-nwtc10 Dietermann New World Goods - A black and white version of the New World Trade Center's structure and color scheme (1 point)

  • Urn Decorative Planters - Improve your military cadets' outlook on life with these decorative urns (1 point)
  • Urn More Decorative Planters - If two urns are good, six are even better (1 point)
  • Bunting Patriotic Bunting - The citizens show their national pride by decorating with patriotic banners (1 point)
  • Props1 Statue of the Sovereign - A tribute to the Empire's famous leader (1 point)
  • Ee-academy1 The Royal Berlin Academy - The original version of the German Academy's color scheme (Default)
  • Ee-academy2 Arcander University - A red-themed version of the German Academy's color scheme (1 point)
  • Ee-academy3 Sallenbach Academy and Naval Institute - A blue and white-themed version of the German Academy's color scheme (1 point)
  • Ee-academy4 Der Bean Bruder Institute - A cream and gold version of the German Academy's color scheme (1 point)
  • Ee-academy5 Der Konig Institute - A black and white version of the German Academy's color scheme (1 point)
  • Ee-academy6 The Guildhall - An upgraded version of the original German Academy's structure and color (1 point)
  • Ee-academy7 Grosshund Academy of Natural Philosophy - A red-themed upgrade to German Academy's structure and color (1 point)
  • Ee-academy8 Doktor Spankenstein's New World Academy - A blue and white-themed upgrade to German Academy's structure and color (1 point)
  • Ee-academy9 Prince Eugene's Conservativium - A cream and gold upgrade to German Academy's structure and color (1 point)
  • Ee-academy10 Holy Roman Emperor's Martial Academy - A black and white upgrade to German Academy's structure and color (1 point)

  • Stagecoach The Royal Coach - This coach waits upon the whims of royalty (1 point)
  • Violin Musician - A strolling entertainer (1 point)
  • Preacher The Reverend - A street preacher sharing the good news (1 point)
  • Ger lightset1 Daytime Lighting - (Default)
  • Ger lightset2 Dusk Lighting - (1 point)
  • Bunting Patriotic Bunting - The citizens show their national pride by decorating with patriotic banners (1 point)
  • Ee-cathedral1 Kolner Dom - Original version of the German Cathedral's color scheme (Default)
  • Ee-cathedral2 St. Christine's Chapel - A red-themed version of the German Cathedral's color scheme (1 point)
  • Ee-cathedral3 Cathedral of the Divine Ensemble - A blue and white themed version of the German Cathedral's color scheme (1 point)
  • Ee-cathedral4 All Paul's Cathedral - A green and gold version of the German Cathedral's color scheme honoring men named Paul (1 point)
  • Ee-cathedral5 St. Charlie's Cathedral - A black and white version of the German Cathedral's color scheme (1 point)

  • Painter The Artist - An artist who sets up his easel and paints (1 point)
  • Thug Thug - A brutish and unpleasant fellow (1 point)
  • Props1 Equestrian Statue - A tribute to the Empire's most notable explorer (1 point)
  • Bunting Patriotic Bunting - The citizens show their national pride by decorating with patriotic banners (1 point)
  • Props8 Broken Cannon - A cannon awaits repair at the foundry (1 point)
  • Props7 Cannon - A recently repaired cannon (1 point)
  • Tavern sign surly sword The Surly Sword - Sign for a public house of poor reputation (1 point)
  • Tavern sign red dragon The Crimson Drake - Sign for a rowdy place attracting a high class crowd (1 point)
  • Street light two Street Lamps - Technology making the streets safer at night (1 point)
  • Props6 Signboard - Help Wanted. Talented machinists apply within (1 point)
  • Crate Packing Crates - Crates full of technological marvels ready to improve colonial life (1 point)
  • Ee-factory1 The Kruttz Metal Werks - The original color scheme for the German Manufacturing Plant (Default)
  • Ee-factory2 Holeshot's Flash and Fury - A red-themed version of the German Manufacturing Plant (1 point)
  • Ee-factory3 D. H. Kritterwerkz and Co. - An orange version of the German Manufacturing Plant (1 point)
  • Ee-factory4 Jaquays Bergbau Versorgungsmaterial - A blue and white-themed version of the German Manufacturing Plant (1 point)
  • Ee-factory5 Slusser Metallherstellung - A black and white version of the German Manufacturing Plant (1 point)
  • Ee-factory6 Schnitzer Wilhelm's Workshop - An upgraded version of the original German Manufacturing Plant's structure (1 point)
  • Ee-factory7 Herr Kirsche Paint and Body Shop - A red-themed upgrade to the German Manufacturing Plant's structure and color (1 point)
  • Ee-factory8 Kohler Fabrik - An orange and green version of the German Manufacturing Plant's structure and color (1 point)
  • Ee-factory9 Todesgarnele Fabrik - A blue and white-themed upgrade to the German Manufacturing Plant's structure and color (1 point)
  • Ee-factory10 Schwarze Metallherstellung - A black and white version of the German Manufacturing Plant's structure and color (1 point)

  • Drunk Drunk - A sailor who has overindulged in adult beverages (1 point)
  • Nicelady Nice Lady - A woman in a red dress (1 point)
  • Fisherman Fisherman - A man who would rather be fishing (1 point)
  • Bunting Patriotic Bunting - The citizens show their national pride by decorating with patriotic banners (1 point)
  • Crate Crates - These crates might be ready for Shipment to the New World (1 point)
  • Ee-dock-clock Gold Clock - A golden clock that's right twice a day (1 point)
  • Urn Potted Plants - Decorative urns with decorative plants (1 point)
  • HC banner Pennants - Colorful banners to flutter and snap in the breeze (1 point)
  • Ee-dock1 Verbinator's House of Change - Original version of the German Dock's color scheme (Default)
  • Ee-dock2 Cloverdose Expediting Emporium - A red-themed version of the German Dock's color scheme (1 point)
  • Ee-dock3 Wings of Icarus Shipping - A blue and white themed version of German Dock's color scheme (1 point)
  • Ee-dock4 Hehman's Environmental Miracularium - A green and gold version of the Dock's color scheme (1 point)
  • Ee-dock5 Santos New World Transport - A red and gold version of the Dock's color scheme (1 point)
  • Ee-dock6 Troubled Waters Shipping - An upgraded version of the Dock's structure and original color scheme (1 point)
  • Ee-dock7 Old Bones' Transport and Hauling - A red-themed upgrade to the Dock's structure and color scheme (1 point)
  • Ee-dock8 Sousa Werkz - A blue and white-themed upgrade to the Dock's structure and color scheme (1 point)
  • Ee-dock9 Crow's Rest - A green and gold upgrade to the Dock's structure and color scheme (1 point)
  • Ee-dock10 Goodman, Ryan, and Hudson, Outfitters - A red and gold upgrade to the Dock's structure and color scheme (1 point)

Characteristics[]

Civilization bonuses[]

Unique units[]

Settler wagon aoe3de Settler Wagon: A German villager that is more expensive but gathers faster than a Settler.
Germans landwehr portrait Landwehr: Affordable German ranged infantry armed with a rifle. Inflicts higher base damage at the expense of less bonus damage.
Aoe3de germans dopplesoldner portrait updated Doppelsoldner: Heavy swordsman with a sweep attack.
Uhlan portrait aoe3de updated Uhlan: Hand cavalry that sacrifices hitpoints for attack.
War wagon de War Wagon: Hussite horse-drawn wagon outfitted with cannon.

Unique building[]

Mercenary camp portrait Mercenary Camp: Trains sinister outlaws and mercenaries.

Allies, mercenaries and natives[]

  • Mercenaries trainable in the Mercenary Camp: Landsknecht, Jaeger, Giant Grenadier, Black Rider, Pandour.
  • Mercenaries shippable from the Home City: Landsknecht, Jaeger, Giant Grenadier, Black Rider, Pandour, Bosniaks, Harquebusiers, Elmetti, Highland Army, Holy Roman Army.
  • European natives trainable in the Native Embassy through the Prince Electors card: Mounted Infantry, Line Infantry, Totenkopf Hussar, Black Brunswicker, Drummer, Royal Huntsman, Northern Musketeer, Trabant, Saxon Cuirassier, Mountain Trooper, Chevauleger.
  • European natives shippable from the Home City: Trabant, Saxon Cuirassier, Mounted Infantry, Line Infantry.

The Germans cannot research the Mercenary Contractor in the Fortress Age to get additional mercenaries in the Tavern/Mercenary Camp.

Politicians[]

Revolutions[]

Overview[]

The Germans start off with fewer, but faster-gathering villagers than other civilizations. They receive free Uhlans with almost every Home City shipment, though they require more experience points per shipment (the opposite of the Spanish). Their early-age economy is good, since their Settler Wagons essentially work at the rate of two villagers. The two Settler Wagon shipments in the Exploration Age and the three Settler Wagon shipment in the Commerce Age are very useful. Although Settler Wagons are only available through the Home City in the beginning, they can later be trained at the Mill with the "Germantown Farmers" card. This card requires a level 25 Home City.

Because the Germans almost always have Uhlans, they have a lot of cavalry, but their late-developing army is diverse. They have a powerful anti-infantry force, since German Skirmishers can be upgraded to Needle Gunners and the Doppelsoldner is a formidable close-combat infantry unit.

German cavalry are one of the strongest in the game in terms of attack. The War Wagon has a large amount of hit points, while the Uhlans have low hit points, but a devastating attack. The War Wagon is slower than other Dragoon-type units (speed of 6 vs 7.25) but has additional range (16 vs 12 unupgraded) and has 20% hand resistance instead of the usual 30% ranged resistance. Also, War Wagons have a mini setup-animation-delay before shooting, where other units shoot almost instantly. Therefore, players cannot hit-and-run with War Wagons.

Their cavalry can further be strengthened with over five shipments that can aid their combat ability, though two of them are not efficient. The Germans can also obtain free mercenary shipments at a lower Home City level than any other civilization.

They appear in the Act I: Fire (The WarChiefs) as the Hessians, and are allied with the British. The reason for this is because the British used several Hessian mercenaries in the War of Independence.

The German AI in skirmish is the only AI to utilize Imperial Cannons, because AIs do not use Factories to produce artillery.

Campaign appearances[]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it.

In-game dialogue[]

Main article: Germans' dialogue lines

German units (including mercenaries) speak modern Standard German with a standard theater pronunciation ("Bühnendeutsch"), although this does not represent the form of German spoken in the Age of Empires III timeframe.

Common[]

Select
  • Ja? - Yes?
  • Bereit - Ready
  • Auftrag? - Order?
  • Aufgabe? - Orders?
  • Hallo - Hello
Move
  • Jawohl - Yes
  • Verstanden - Understood
  • Wird erledigt - It will be done
  • Ja - Yes
  • Richtig - Right
  • Wird gemacht - Will be done
Attack
  • Angriff! - Attack!
  • In den Kampf! - Into the fight!
  • Jawohl! - Yes!

Settler[]

Explorer[]

History[]

At the time of Columbus' first voyage, Germany consisted of four hundred separate entities, including cities, principalities, and feudal states. Though nominally part of the Holy Roman Empire, they were in fact beyond the control of the Holy Roman Emperor in Spain. There was no central government that dictated policy, collected taxes, or marshaled armies.

In 1517 a German monk, Martin Luther, protested against a variety of practices of the Catholic Church by nailing his arguments to a church door in Wittenberg. This was a traditional way of opening a debate at the university there, but he started something larger than a scholarly debate. His act set off the Protestant Reformation, as copies of his theses, translated from Latin into German and other languages, spread throughout Germany and the rest of Europe. The Reformation in turn brought about the Counter-Reformation as the Catholic Church reordered itself.

The struggle between the two religious views broke out into the Thirty Years' War, which was particularly brutal and devastating in Germany. German provinces ended up choosing to be either Catholic (primarily in the south) or Protestant (primarily in the north).

The small Baltic duchy of Prussia gradually began expanding in the sixteenth century thanks to good leadership and a growing military tradition. It repulsed Swedish encroachments in the seventeenth century and rose to real prominence under Frederick the Great in the eighteenth century. The Prussians were particularly noted for their disciplined infantry, elite Grenadiers, and cavalry. They fought a series of wars with the much larger Austrian Empire to the south, usually with great success, up to the Napoleonic Era.

Germans briefly attempted to colonize Venezuela in the sixteenth century. Augsburg banking families obtained the rights to the country in 1526 and began exploring the land in 1529, mainly looking for El Dorado, the famed city of gold. Approximately two hundred settlers landed at Coro. They continued to search for gold and established some sugar plantations worked by African slaves. The colony reverted to Spanish control in 1556. Most of the German colonists had died from disease or native attacks, especially during their treks into the interior searching for gold.
—In-game history section

The Kingdom of Prussia was one of the nation states in Germany and was a European kingdom from the early 16th century until the early 20th century. The Prussians fought several wars against France during the 18th and 19th centuries, usually with Great Britain as its ally. In the 1870s, the several nation states in German lands (including Prussia) finally united, resulting in the formation of the German Empire.

Trivia[]

  • The German flag shown in the original game appears to be a combination of the state flag of the Kingdom of Prussia (1750–1801) and Imperial Banner of the Holy Roman Emperor (ca. 1430–1806). It was changed to the Imperial Standard of the Holy Roman Empire (16th–19th century) in the Definitive Edition.[2]
    • The use of the Holy Roman flag with Frederick the Great is historically inaccurate, as he was never Holy Roman Emperor, though he did serve as an Elector within the Empire.
  • According to early screenshots prior to the release of Age of Empires III, the German flag in the game would be the Colonial flag used by the German Empire between 1884–1918.
  • According to the Age of Empires III User's Manual, the German flag in the game would be the State flag of the Kingdom of Prussia (1750–1801).
  • The German civilization represents all the states that formed the Holy Roman Empire, and their units come from various different lands of the Holy Roman Empire:
    • The Settler Wagon is from the Electorate of Bavaria, since he is dressed in traditional Bavarian clothing.
    • The Landwehr is from the Kingdom of Prussia, since its in-game appearance resembles the soldiers from Prussian Landwehr Regiments.
    • The Doppelsoldner is a Landsknecht – Landsknechts were exclusively recruited from areas of today's Southern Germany and Western Austria.
    • Their Royal Guard upgrade for the Skirmisher (Prussian Needle Gun) states that he is from the Kingdom of Prussia.
    • The Uhlans are Prussian cavalry from Poland – as stated by the Royal Guard and Consulate Uhlans' name and by the history section. Historically, Prussia only dabbled with Uhlan regiments on a few occasions with limited success.
      • Before update 14.43676, the Uhlans were Poles from Austria – the Habsburgs heavily utilized Uhlans in their army. The Home City Cards "Spanish Riding School" and "Lipizzaner Cavalry" heavily imply that those units were Austrian, and the Royal Guard and Consulate Uhlans were named after the high, four-pointed cap used by Polish Uhlans.
    • The War Wagons are from the Kingdom of Bohemia, since the unit description states they are Hussites.
  • The Germans have similarities to the Teutons and Holy Roman Empire from Age of Empires II and Age of Empires IV, being an infantry-focused civilization with a strong economy. Much like the Teutons from Age of Empires II, the Germans also have potent cavalry. The biggest difference is the Germans have better rush potential (since all of their Home City Cards ship an Uhlan), while the Teutons and Holy Roman Empire have strong turtling potential.

Gallery[]

References[]

Civilizations in Age of Empires III
AfricanFlag Ethiopian aoe3de Ethiopians · Flag Hausa Hausa
AmericanFederal American: Flag MexicanDE Mexicans · Flag American act3 aoe3de United States
Native American: Flag AztecDE Aztecs · Flag IroquoisDE Haudenosaunee (formerly Iroquois) · Flag IncanDE Inca · Flag SiouxDE Lakota (formerly Sioux)
AsianFlag ChineseDE Chinese · Flag IndianDE Indians · Flag JapaneseDE Japanese
EuropeanFlag BritishDE British · Flag DutchDE Dutch · Flag FrenchDE French · Flag GermanDE Germans · Flag ItalianDE Italians · Flag MalteseDE Maltese · Flag OttomanDE Ottomans · Flag PortugueseDE Portuguese · Flag RussianDE Russians · Flag SpanishDE Spanish · Flag SwedishDE Swedes · Polish · Danes
Minor
AfricanAkan Settlement Icon Akan · Berber Settlement Portrait Berbers · Somali Settlement Portrait Somalis · Sudanese settlement portrait Sudanese · Yoruba settlement portait Yoruba
AsianBhakti aoe3de Bhakti Temple · Jesuit aoe3de Jesuit Mission · Native shaolin site icon portrait Shaolin Temple · Sufi aoe3de Sufi Mosque · AOE3DE Tengri Tengri Shrine · Udasi aoe3de Udasi Temple · Zen aoe3de Zen Temple
EuropeanBourbon icon portrait-1 House of Bourbon · Habsburg icon portrait-1 House of Habsburg · Hanover icon portrait-1 House of Hanover · Jagiellon icon portrait-1 House of Jagiellon · Oldenburg icon portrait-1 House of Oldenburg · Phanar icon portrait-1 House of Phanar · Vasa icon portrait-1 House of Vasa · Wettin icon portrait-1 House of Wettin · Wittelsbach icon portrait-1 House of Wittelsbach
Native AmericanApache aoe3de Apache · Aztec native icon aoe3de Aztecs · Carib aoe3de Carib · Cherokee aoe3de Cherokee · Cheyenne aoe3de pre update Cheyenne · Comanche icon aoe3de Comanche · Cree aoe3de Cree · Iroquois aoe3de Haudenosaunee · Huron aoe3de Huron · Klamath settlement portrait Klamath · Sioux aoe3de Lakota · Lenape warrior portrait Lenape · Mapuche icon aoe3de Mapuche · Maya aoe3de Maya · Navajo aoe3de Navajo · Nootka aoe3de Nootka · Inca native icon aoe3de Quechua (formerly Incas) · Seminole aoe3de Seminole · Tupi aoe3de Tupi · Zapotec icon aoe3de Zapotec
Other
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Historical BattlesBarbary States flag revolt Barbary Pirates · Flag CanadianDE Canadians · Flag Ethiopian aoe3de Ethiopians · Flag Moroccan Moroccans · Flag Somali aoe3de Somalians · Flag Tatars aoe3de Tatars · Flag American act3 aoe3de United States
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