What unites us as Germans? What distinguishes Germans from the French, the British, or the Russians? And how did Germans, French, and others become national peoples in the first place? In the modern world, it is a fundamental aspect of humanity to belong to a nation; even more so: the idea that individuals embody ways of life, thinking, and behavior that are considered typical for their country is widespread. "They simply have a different mentality than we do" - a phrase often heard, where everyone knows it contrasts the characteristics of locals and foreigners. The "we" contained in this sentence refers to the national "we": We are one people, we once had a pope, we lost the war, we have accumulated too much debt... And so on, and so forth. Yes, there seems to be something to this "we," which in the 21st century is found not only in Germany but pretty much everywhere in the world. But what is it? The book explores the question of what is behind the notions of culturally shaping national identities. Using the example of Germans, it examines how the characteristics of national peoples arise and why they exist.