Basically a cheap, tough cut of meat, I imagine most chunks of German beef would qualify

But if you cook it slowly in a dutch oven or slow cooker it's very nice.
QUOTE
Chuck roast is a general term for roasts that come from the shoulder or chuck, a heavily exercised part of the animal. These roasts usually include several different muscles, which cook at different rates. The solution is to braise chuck roast for several hours in cooking liquid with seasonings. Prepared in this manner, chuck roast turns into a mouth-watering, tender meat, steaming in its rich broth, ideal for the classic pot roast or stew. Chuck roast gets its rich taste from the fat and connective tissue, which are softened and blended during long cooking.