This thesis explores the phenomenon of loan word assimilation in the German language, both in its historical and contemporary contexts. This thesis begins by examining the phenomenon of lexical assimilation during the late Roman era into the early Christian era, and then traces the development of this phenomenon through significant periods of loanword assimilation up to the present. The thesis culminates in an analysis of the similarities and differences between the modern era of loan word assimilation and previous periods, and concludes that advances in modern society, particularly in the realm of communications have significantly altered the phenomenon of loan word assimilation, and thus demonstrate the inherent uniqueness of the modern phenomenon of lexical assimilation.