Upvote:6
Form 6059B is quite clear on the topic. On the front it asks:
RESIDENTS—the total value of all goods, including commercial merchandise I/we have purchased or acquired abroad, (including gifts for someone else, but not items mailed to the U.S.) and am/are bringing to the U.S. is:
VISITORS—the total value of all articles that will remain in the U.S., including commercial merchandise is:
As you live in Germany and only coming to the US for holidays, you are a visitor, so only the second case is relevant to you, and it asks only about "articles that will remain in the US".
On the back:
U.S. Residents—Declare all articles that you have acquired abroad and are bringing into the United States.
Visitors (Non-Residents)—Declare the value of all articles that will remain in the United States.
Same thing, you are a visitor, so again, only "all articles that will remain in the United States".
So you definitely don't need to declare everything in your bags.
The situation would be different if you were returning to the US to stay (moving back), but I would think there's a different form or process for that.