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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-09-013924.txt : 20090305
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-09-013924.hdr.sgml : 20090305
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090305093931
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-09-013924
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090305
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090305

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JENSEN KEITH A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001185855

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13653
		FILM NUMBER:		09657455

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE EAST FOURTH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 919
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5135792540

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:			1208

	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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc5a.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 5/A SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2009-02-13</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185855</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JENSEN KEITH A</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24765</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>719</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401-K</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Compensation</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>22.87</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>13519.13</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13519.13</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Company's Retirement and Savings Plans.  The number of shares of Common Stock which would be represented by the value of the Reporting Person's Company Securities Funds account in the Issuer's Retirement and Savings Plan is based on a statement dated as of 12/31/08.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This amendment is being filed to correct the Reporting Person's year-end balance in the Issuer's RASP.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents amounts deferred by the Reporting Person in the Issuer's Deferred Compensation Plan.  The account value increases or decreases based on the value of the Issuer's common stock.  Upon termination of employment or earlier, if so elected, the Reporting Person's account balance may be distributed, at the option of the Issuer, either in cash or in shares of the Issuer's common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Keith A. Jensen
By:  Karl J. Grafe, as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-03-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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