German Settlement of Hungary

The largest wave of Germans immigrating into Hungary occurred due to a deliberate settlement policy of the Habsburg government, after the Ottoman Empire has been forced away from Hungarian lands. Between 1711 and 1780, German-speaking settlers from Southern Germany, Austria, and Saxony immigrated to the Southwest of Hungary. This influx of immigrants helped to bring economic recovery and cultural distinction to these regions. At the end of the 18th century, the Kingdom of Hungary contained over one million German-speaking residents. During this time, a flourishing German-speaking culture could be found in the kingdom, with German-language literary works, newspapers, and magazines being produced.