A number of Germans help at the North Pole (3)
I believe the answer is:
elf
'the north pole' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'a number of germans help' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'number' could be 'l' (L is an example) and 'l' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'ef' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'at' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for elf that I've seen before include "Fairy, pixie" , "Santa's helper" , "Mischievous fairy No.2" , "He causes mischief" , "Imaginary creature" .)