It was definitely Germany
How is it possible that for generations your family has known that your ancestors came from Germany and now some know-it-all tells you that their place of birth is actually in Poland or Lithuania or even France?
The nation-state that we know as Germany has existed in its current form only since October 1990. For hundreds of years before that there were "other" Germanys with different borders and systems of government. These included the great German Empire of 1871-1918 which included large areas of central Europe that are now governed by other countries.
Even when it was at its largest and most powerful, the Empire was not technically a single country. There were many separate states formed into two groupings (north and south) but dominated by Prussia. There were also German-speaking people outside the German Empire. The Austrian (later called the Austro-Hungarian) Empire contained may people who would be considered "German" when they arrived in Australia.
The nation-state that we know as Germany has existed in its current form only since October 1990. For hundreds of years before that there were "other" Germanys with different borders and systems of government. These included the great German Empire of 1871-1918 which included large areas of central Europe that are now governed by other countries.
Even when it was at its largest and most powerful, the Empire was not technically a single country. There were many separate states formed into two groupings (north and south) but dominated by Prussia. There were also German-speaking people outside the German Empire. The Austrian (later called the Austro-Hungarian) Empire contained may people who would be considered "German" when they arrived in Australia.
Like the rulers of the British Empire, the Kaiser had aspirations to be a world figure. His realm extended beyond the boundaries of Europe with territories in Africa and extending as far as New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Samoa
Ancestors from Kaiser-Wilhelmsland, Neu-Pommern or Neu-Mecklenburg would not have needed to travel very far to reach Queensland!
Ancestors from Kaiser-Wilhelmsland, Neu-Pommern or Neu-Mecklenburg would not have needed to travel very far to reach Queensland!