I'd really appreciate it if a German could explain the various sub-German identities that modern Germans recognize.
I notice that in some threads Austrians, Bavarians, and Swiss refer to themselves as being Bajuvarian or Alemannic. I know that some areas of Baden-Würrtemburg and Bavaria are considered Swabian. Are the Swabian areas of Bavaria also Franconian? Are Frisians considered to be a distinct group, or are they lumped in with other, larger sub groups? Are Swabians Alemans? Are Hessians Saxons? Neidersachsens are Saxons, but as I understand it the Germans in Sachsen aren't considered to be Saxons. If this is true, then what are the Sachsens? What are Rhinelanders and Westphalians? Are Prussians Saxons, or are they considered to be their own separate tribe?
The sub-German identities seem to me to sometimes be based on historical political divisions, sometimes on older tribal identities, and still other times on linguistic differences. Even though I am fairly knowledgeable about German history in general, this information is difficult to find in English language resources.
A double thanks if you can recommend reference material on this topic.
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