Steinacher contends that it is "impossible" to find any economic, social, religious, ethnic or political similarities among the "so-called "Germanic" peoples".

He stresses the fact that ancient sources after Caesar and Tacitus barely had a concept of "Germanic peoples" but continued to use the categories Celts and Scythians.

The transforming Roman Empire in the West had Vandal Africa, Frankish Gaul, or Visigothic Spain as successive political entities.

Barbarian groups using ethnic labels act as specialized military service providers who seized the opportunity of the dissolution of Roman political structures.

They made themselves independent, operated without Roman titles and orders, and under favorable circumstances succeeded in establishing their own kingdoms, which they could now shape according to their needs.