Which ethnic minority groups lived in the German Empire?

The German Empire, founded in 1871, was described as being ethnically homogeneous, though it did include several distinct minority populations.1

The primary ethnic minority groups within the empire included:

• Poles: A modest-sized minority group.1
• Danes: A smaller population residing within the empire's borders.1
• French: A smaller population, notably including those in areas such as Alsace and Lorraine.12
• Sorbs: A Slavic-speaking population (also known as Wends) that maintained a distinct presence.13

Additionally, the empire included a Jewish population, which accounted for approximately 1 percent of the total population at the time. While these groups existed as minorities during the imperial period, it is important to note that the later, state-sponsored persecution and genocide of Jews and the Roma during the Nazi era represent a profound violation of fundamental human rights and ethical principles.14