Where are German Studies heading? To answer this, a look backward into the development of German Studies might be useful. Starting with a brief overview, from the establishment of the first chair in 1776 to selected discussions of the curriculum of German Studies in English-speaking countries from the 19th century on, a number of -- at times contradictory -- developments can be detected. The content of the curriculum, the role of literature, the question of focusing on specific periods and writers, and methods of teaching the subject have never been static and continue to change. While some aspects are irrelevant nowadays, some questions about the relevance, focus, and identity of German Studies remain crucial and help our understanding of the shifting state of the discipline.