Old German handwriting isn’t simply “messy.” It’s an entirely different script. And most native German speakers today can’t even read it.

But what if you didn’t have to guess your way through old German records?

If there were a clear, structured way to learn this — one that builds your skills step by step and even makes the process exciting and fun?

Reading the Old German Handwriting teaches you how to recognize and read the old German script so you can finally decipher the names, dates, and life details in your ancestors’ records.

Instead of staring at records that feel impossible, you’ll be amazed that what previously looked like scribble has turned into clear words, revealing to you the important details of your ancestors' lives!

German for Genealogists teaches you the exact German language skills needed for genealogy records — including the vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure required to truly understand your ancestors’ documents.

You’ll move beyond word-by-word translation and gain the confidence to translate full church and civil records correctly — so you know exactly what each record says.

• The history and purpose of old German handwriting
• How to easily recognize lowercase and uppercase letters
• How to sight-read common letter combinations in German
• How to decipher short words with confidence
• Guided writing practice to reinforce what you learn

• How to read church baptismal, marriage, and death records
• How to read vital baptismal, marriage, and death records
• How to transcribe full historical letters
• Practice records so you can test yourself - and check your work - so you're ready to work on your own ancestors' records with confidence

• Months, numbers, and common abbreviations
• Milestone words found in birth, marriage, and death records
• Occupations and causes of death in historical documents
• Key terms you will see again and again in German records

• How to approach a document when you feel stuck
• Common spelling variations and letter swaps
• How to move from recognizing letters to reading entire records
• Proven techniques for deciphering the most difficult handwriting

• Family vocabulary to understand relationships
• Occupations of your ancestors
• Months, dates, and time words
• Milestone words found in birth, marriage, and death records
• Recurring genealogy phrases that appear again and again in records

• How to translate church baptismal, marriage, and death records
• How to translate both column and paragraph church records
• How to move beyond word-by-word translation and understand the entirety of a document
• Guided record practice so you can test yourself — and check your work — before working confidently on your own

• How German sentence structure works inside church and civil records
• How to recognize spelling variations, abbreviations, and more
• How articles (der, die, das, den, dem) can change the entire meaning of a sentence
• How to recognize relationship markers that define your family connections

• How to translate vital birth, marriage, and death records
• How to recognize essential phrases that consistently appear in these records
• Sample translation and transcription - so you have cheat sheets with which to work
• Guided record practice so you can test yourself — and check your work — before working confidently on your own

50+ Structured Video Lessons

Clear, step-by-step instruction guiding you from locating records and reading old German script to accurately translating full German records.

Each lesson builds logically on the last — so you always feel supported and confident as your skills grow.

50+ Flashcards, Matching Games & Interactive Activities

Practice your understanding in a way that reinforces what you’re learning and makes that learning fun along the way!

30+ Quizzes & Game Show Challenges

Regulary test your understanding in a supportive, low-pressure way so you can see how much you’re learning as you go!

4 Guided Practice Record Sets (Church & Vital Records)

Work directly with real historical documents — column formats, paragraph records, and handwritten entries — complete with guided translations so you can check your work before returning to your own family’s records.

10 Practice Exercises with Actual German Records

Work directly with authentic German records and get the practice you need to grow your skills. This hands-on practice prepares you to confidently approach your own ancestors’ records and tackle them with ease!

6 Guided Handwriting Worksheet Sets

To reinforce recognition, you’ll complete structured writing practice with printable handwriting drills that help train your eye and hand to recognize old German script more naturally.

35+ Downloadable Worksheets & Reference Guides

Download alphabet keys, vocabulary lists, record guides, spelling variation sheets, transcription tips, archive directories, handwriting references, record request forms, and more curated resource lists. People want these courses for these documents alone!

These guides become your long-term German genealogy reference library — resources you can return to anytime you encounter a challenging record.

Once you’ve finished each course, you’ll receive a certificate to celebrate all your hard work — plus the confidence that comes from truly being able to read and translate your ancestors’ records all on your own!

It’s a meaningful way to honor your progress — and to remind yourself that yes, you can do this!

Private Course Community

Connect with fellow genealogy researchers, ask them questions, and share your new discoveries - we are all cheering for each other!

Genealogy is more enjoyable when done with others who share your passion and understand your journey!

Self-Paced Online Courses + Lifetime Access

These are completely self-paced courses with lifetime access. Move through the lessons on your own schedule and come back to them whenever you discover a new record or want to review what you’ve learned. We are always here for you!

Katherine Schober, founder and CEO of Germanology Unlocked, is a German-English genealogy translator, author, and educator. With over a decade of professional experience, she is dedicated to helping others uncover their German ancestry and preserve their family stories for future generations.

Katherine offers genealogy services such as online courses, webinars, and workshops focused on deciphering the old German handwriting and mastering German genealogy research. She is the author of "The Magic of German Church Records" and "Tips and Tricks of Deciphering German Handwriting," and the creator of the popular online courses "The Complete Guide to German Genealogy", "Reading the Old German Handwriting", and "German for Genealogists."

Katherine has been a featured speaker at major genealogy conferences such as RootsTech, NGS, and IGGP, where she shares her expertise on German records and handwriting. Her work has also been highlighted on both the History Channel and PBS' "Finding Your Roots."

Combining her deep knowledge of the German language with a passion for genealogy, Katherine's goal is to make genealogy both fun and doable for all!

We stand behind the German Genealogy Course Bundle because we know it works.

Students have used these exact methods to finally decipher old German script, read church and vital records, and understand documents they once thought were impossible.

But we also know that investing in a course can feel like a big decision.

If you go through the lessons, practice the exercises, and don’t feel more confident within 14 days, we’ll refund you. We stand behind this course bundle 100%.

You have nothing to lose — and so many records waiting to for you! We're excited to welcome you into our special community of German genealogy enthusiasts.