German Flatts is a town in Herkimer County, New York, United States.

This was one of the original areas of the Burnetsfield Patent in the province of New York, where in 1722–1723, Governor William Burnet granted Palatine German immigrants leases to purchase land from the Mohawk, the powerful eastern nation of the Iroquois Confederacy.

[5] On September 17, 1778, Mohawk chief and Loyalist leader Joseph Brant led a force of 150 Iroquois and 300 Loyalists under the command of Captain William Caldwell in a surprise attack on the area of German Flatts.

German Flatts, now known as Little Falls, Fort Herkimer, Mohawk, and Ilion, was left virtually undefended by Patriot troops prior to the raid.

The Iroquois and Loyalist raiders captured hundreds of head of cattle and sheep before setting fire to every house, barn and mill in German Flatts.

Despite the complete destruction of the town, including 63 houses, 57 barns, three gristmills and one sawmill, only three men were killed.

Though only one, Adam Helmer, survived the encounter, he ran the 35 miles (56 km) back to the village of German Flatts to warn the residents.

After the war in an exchange of prisoners, the two eldest, Catherine and George, returned to their family.

New York State Route 168 runs southeasterly through the town from Mohawk village.