The phenomenon you're referring to is known as "verb-second" (V2) word order in German. In a typical declarative sentence in German, the finite verb (the conjugated verb) occupies the second position, while the non-finite verb(s) (infinitives, participles, etc.) are placed at the end of the clause. This can indeed be quite different from the word order in English and Spanish.

The historical development of the V2 word order in German can be traced back to its Germanic roots. In older forms of Germanic languages, including Old English, Old High German, and Old Norse, the verb had more flexibility in its position within the sentence. However, as these languages evolved, a more rigid word order pattern emerged.

The V2 word order in German can be seen as a consequence of grammatical and syntactic changes over time. One important factor is the movement towards a consistent subject-verb-object (SVO) word order in Germanic languages. This shift contributed to the establishment of the finite verb in the second position, creating a clear and consistent structure for sentence organization.

The V2 word order also plays a role in marking the sentence structure and highlighting important information. Placing the finite verb in the second position helps signal the main clause and provides a natural starting point for the sentence. By positioning the non-finite verbs at the end, additional information or subordinate clauses can be added without disrupting the core structure of the sentence.

Not all Germanic languages exhibit the V2 word order to the same extent. While German maintains a strict V2 pattern in main clauses, other Germanic languages like English and Dutch have undergone further word order changes, leading to more flexibility and allowing the finite verb to occupy different positions within the sentence.
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