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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OWlq6Sn3pobfmpPn1sX4cumqaZMsnwomLaRcj+7HeWNLKOSeJuUoFEyxQ3UFKE43
 59eeD2cZ4+eXzSE3VABebg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001037419-03-000005.txt : 20030602
<SEC-HEADER>0001037419-03-000005.hdr.sgml : 20030602
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030602151106
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001037419-03-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030601
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030602

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BUEHLER DAVID
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001037419

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15877
		FILM NUMBER:		03728000

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		711 MAIN STREET BOXT
		CITY:			JASPER
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			47546

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		LEGRE & BARNES
		STREET 2:		9100 KEYSTONE CROSSING SUITE 800
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46240

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GERMAN AMERICAN BANCORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000714395
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				351547518
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		711 MAIN ST
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 810
		CITY:			JASPER
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			47546
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8124821314

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		711 MAIN STREET
		CITY:			JASPER
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			47546

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GAB BANCORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950510
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-01</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000714395</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GERMAN AMERICAN BANCORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GABC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001037419</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BUEHLER DAVID</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>COMMON STOCK</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>754</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>19.095</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>423450.3547</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION (RIGHT TO BUY)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>19.095</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-06-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-06-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>COMMON STOCK</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><shares
OwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Column 5 includes  16,035 shares held by the David G Buehler Charitable Trust and 393,476.3547 shares held by Buehler Foods, Inc.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Mark A Schroeder POA for David G Buehler</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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