@Walter Hinteler,
I have never heard any Americans refer to Central Europe. I have heard of the Central Powers in WWI? Only western Europe and eastern Europe. In fact, as a child (1950's) Russians were referred to as Eurasians (perhaps due to the Cold War, and a possible hot war?).
If Europeans have different, and more nuanced definitions, I think that is cute; however, Americans being so far away just see the forest and not the individual trees, so to speak. Just east and west, or north and south. If there is a central Europe, shouldn't there be a Europe on the perimeter? Make it easy for Americans; in my opinion, many really think the world is comprised of New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, Berlin, Paris, and Beijing. The rest of the world is the hinterlands, perhaps in a different space-time zone?