The gentleman from Illinois called regarding "bismarks" really hit home. I grew up in a German enclave in northern Alabama, Cullman. It was settled by German immigrants in the late 1800's that made stopovers in Cincinnati and Chicago before coming South to found a colony in Alabama, north of Birmingham and south of Huntsville. We had and still have a German Bakery, the Duchess Bakery, that makes "bismarks" even today. The bismark resembles an eclair in shape but is filled with custard and creme filling, not unlike a Boston Creme Pie. The bismark is fried like a regular doughnut and is between 5-6 in. long. The Duchess Bakery only sells two varieties of the bismark, plain and Chocolate covered. They do however sell regular jelly-filled doughnuts. I think the name has to do with the "German-ness" of the populace where the bakery is. I have seen "bismarks" in other cities that were similar, but never as good. When I lived in Elizabethtown, KY and Christiansburg, VA we would call ahead to insure there would be some waiting for us at the "Duchess" when we arrived. We now live just outside of Memphis, TN and still call if we are going to be in the vicinity of my hometown bakery.
Next door to this Bakery is a nice shop named a "Touch of German". Each year Cullman has an Oktoberfest, yet is in a "dry" county; figure that out. There are lots of German names in my hometown's past as well as mine, both my mother and father have Yeagers in their family tree. My home church was originally called the "German Baptist Church" before falling prey to anti-German sentiment during WWI and henceforth became Seventh Street Baptist Church.
My love of language was cultivated by my aunt that taught school in Chula Vista, CA for many years before retiring to move back home to Alabama. She taught me the difference between learning and comprehension.
Best, and keep on wording.