Always check TIMATIC before international travel. It is what your carrier's check-in personnel will see on their monitor when they check your documents. For a German national traveling from the US to Germany with no connections / transits, your expired passport is acceptable so long as it has not been expired for more than a year.
You should go on TIMATIC yourself and print out the entire listing for your situation. Do not shove it in an agent's face, but do have it handy in case there is an issue. You should also allow a good piece of additional time as it is possible that the front line agent may wish to consult a supervisor who may or may not be located at the airport where you are boarding.
Information as of 11FEB21 / 1327 UTC
National Germany (DE) /Embarkation USA (US)
Destination Germany (DE)
Germany (DE)
Passport required.
- Passports and other documents accepted for entry must be
valid for a minimum of 3 months beyond the period of
intended stay.
- Nationals of Germany are allowed to enter with an expired
passport. The passport is accepted when expired for a
maximum of 1 year.
- Nationals of Germany are allowed to enter with an expired
national ID card. The ID card is accepted when expired for
a maximum of 1 year.
- Temporary passports and Travel Permits in Lieu of Passport
(Reiseausweis als Passersatz) issued to nationals of
Germany must be valid on arrival.
Passport Exemptions:
- Nationals of Germany with a Travel Permit in Lieu of
Passport (Reiseausweis als Passersatz).
- Nationals of Germany with a Travel Permit Issued in Lieu of
Passport for Entry into the Fed. Rep. of Germany
(Reiseausweis als Passersatz zur Einreise in die
Bundesrepublik Deutschland).
- Nationals of Germany with a national ID card.
- Nationals of Germany with a temporary passport.