-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-08-048677.txt : 20080822
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-08-048677.hdr.sgml : 20080822
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080822104337
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-08-048677
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080821
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080822
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080822

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001042046
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				311544320
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE EAST FOURTH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 919
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5135792121

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE EAST FOURTH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 919
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP HOLDINGS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970709

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LINDNER CARL H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000943521
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13653
		FILM NUMBER:		081033638

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE EAST FOURTH STREET SUITE 919
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5135792540
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
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<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-08-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001042046</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AFG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000943521</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LINDNER CARL H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE EAST FOURTH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CINCINNATI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>45202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Chairman of the Board</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                    <value>500</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>27.53</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-08-21</value>
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            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>27.55</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>#1</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1891</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>27.56</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
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            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5907157</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
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                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>27.57</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5909857</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <securityTitle>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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                <transactionShares>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>27.59</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5922757</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>#1</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-08-21</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18544</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>27.60</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5941301</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>#1</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13978</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>#2</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>147952</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>#3</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4294</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>#4</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>#6</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Indirect #1:  By Carl H. Lindner Jr., et al. TTEE for the CHL Amended and Restated Family Trust dated 12/12/83.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Indirect #2:  By Edyth B. Lindner, Spouse.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Indirect #3:  EBL TTEE of the Edyth B. Lindner Family Trust Dated 4/13/04.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Indirect #4:  By Carl H. Lindner, Jr., et al., Trustee of the CHL Amended and Restated Family Trust dated 1/22/82.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Indirect #6:  EBL 2008-1 Qualified Annuity Trust dtd 7/21/08.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Carl H. Lindner
By:  Karl J. Grafe as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-08-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----