German Chocolate is a brand name. it is melted and added to the
cake batter as is typical with most formulas.
Chocolate cake can be made with cocoa, or other sweetened
chocolates of ANY brand name.
typically German chocolate cakes have that ewwie gooey
caramel/coconut/pecan filling and or frosting ,in this part of the
country.
so a German chocolate cake, is a chocolate cake.. but a
chocolate cake, is only a German chocolate cake when German's
chocolate is used.