Noting a 14.3 percent decline in student enrollment in college German-language programs between the fall terms of 1968 and 1970, an analysis of the situation is developed and proposals for reversing the trend are outlined. Six major sections discuss: (1) the sad evidence of figures and what they mean for German, (2) the foreign language crisis then and now, (3) 36 traditional reasons for retaining foreign language requirements, (4) the modern world and what foreign languages can do for it, (5) the modern reasons for studying foreign languages, and (6) the modern case for German. Concluding remarks stress the idea that German studies, in order to remain competitive in the curriculum, will have to find ways to become relevant for today's student. (RL)