Welcome to the Search and Reunion Message Board!
Since the birth occured in Germany and the adoption in California you might want to use several resources:
To begin your search you should contact the adoption agency that handled the adoption and request "non-identifying" information fabout the adopting family.
You should also request a "Waiver for Consent to Contact" form from the agency. The Waiver is a form that can be used by adoptees or birthparents to give their permission for contact should a waiver be filed by both parties.
If you do not know what agency handled your adoption, or if it was a private adoption, you can contact this office for the above services:
State of California
Dept of Social Services, Adoptions
744 P Street MS 19-31
Sacramento CA 95814
Phone: 916-322-3778
You might also want to contact this website for information about German births and/or adoptions:
http://members.aol.com/wmlgage/gd/gd.htm
http://www.adoptionforums.com
http://www.adoptionchat.com
http://www.adoptionlists.com
http://www.adoption.com
http://www.adopting.org
http://www.adoptionregistry.com