Ethnic minorities Flashcards
How did the temporary recession in 1966 affect the lives of GW’s?
ECONOMIC CRISES
-the recession produced significant amounts of hostility towards ethnic minorities, particularly those who didn’t speak German or attempt to assimilate
-At this time many landlords refused to take GW’s as tenants which helped to confine them to living among other GW’s in poorer areas
How did the Government response to the 1973 oil crisis affect GW’s?
ECONOMIC CRISES
The government implemented a temporary ban on hiring GW’s and banned permits for the families of GW’s already in the country.
What happened to the number of GW’s following the temporary ban on hiring them of 1973?
ECONOMIC CRISES
they fell to under 2 million
How did the oil crisis affect GW children?
ECONOMIC CRISES
-The government put a stop to the paid employment of GW children in 1977- 50% of GW teens were unemployed.
-However, the government did give them the same welfare benefits as other children in 1975 to to high unemployment rates.
What’s an example of how in times economic stability GW’s were treated well?
ECONOMIC CRISES
-In 1964, minister for labour Theodore blank made a speech to mark the occasion of the millionth GW arriving in the FRG.
-He stated that since Germany’s labour pool was likely to continue shrinking, they would be of continued importance, and would receive child benefits and welfare if they brought their families over.
What was the policy of trade unions to Guest Workers in the FRG?
LACK OF OPPURTUNITY FOR ASSIMILATION
-initially trade unions helped GW’s adjust to work
-In the 1950’s trade unions disliked the idea of recruiting GW’s- concerned they would drive wages down, accept less favourable working conditions, and hence undercut existing workers
How did employers serve to alienate ethnic minorities from assimilation into society in the FRG?
LACK OF OPPURTUNITY FOR ASSIMILATION
by providing basic accommodation for GW’s often in dormitories near factories of outside of town
How was there a lack of assimilation within employment in the FRG?
LACK OF OPPURTUNITY FOR ASSIMILATION
GW’s would often work jobs that Germans were happy to leave.
-1961-73: approximately 3 million German workers switched from agricultural and industrial jobs to white collar jobs
-870,000 Germans left mining which was replaced by 1.1 million GW’s
How was there a lack of opportunity for assimilation in education in the FRG?
LACK OF OPPURTUNITY FOR ASSIMILATION
Although the number of foreign children in schools rose from 165,000 in 1970 to 200,000 in 1983, there were significant problems with educational provisions
-60% of foreign children in schools in 1983 were muslim. Most muslim children started education at aged 6 with no pre-school education or language help.
-Many EM’s set up their own national schools, such as koran schools which received much hostility
How did basic law affect the lives of GW’s?
LACK OF OPPURTUNITY FOR ASSIMILATION
-there was no intention to give citizenship rights to GW’s as defined in basic law, which was based on German blood, not accommodation.
-Gov policy as laid down in basic law was to provide a ‘democratic education’ + equal education for all. The government tried to persuade the lander to provide mixed culture learning groups.
Which church organisations supported ethnic minorities FRG?
PUBLIC ATTITUDES
Caritas and diakonisches wes
How does the name Guest Worker reflect German attitudes of the FRG?
PUBLIC ATTITUDES
it eludes to the idea that they were considered temporary
How were social tensions exacerbated between the public and GW’s?
PUBLIC ATTITUDES
high crime rate and educational disparity (70% of GW children failed the Abitur exam)
What was the effect of ethnic associations on assimilation?
PUBLIC ATTITUDES
West Germans were polarised over the matter of ethnic associations, with many believing they slowed and halted assimilation
Was there extremism towards Em’s in the FRG?
PUBLIC ATTITUDES
yes, from 1979-1980 there were 6 far right attacks against jewish memorials and GW accommodation
Did public-GW relations improve in the late 1970’s?
PUBLIC ATTITUDES
Although Schmidt introduced a federal commissioner for foreigners affairs in 1978, to help work for the rights of EM’s and their integration (while also setting out clearcut rules regarding applying for unrestricted residence), due to a lack of assimilation, neither GW’s or the public wanted integration.
Give an example of government tolerance early on
PUBLIC ATTITUDES
The gov guaranteed non-German workers the same wages in the signing of labour recruitment treaties
What did article 113 of the Weimar constitution say?
It said that ethnic minorities who spoke a different language couldn’t be legally prevented from using their language or preserving their national identity
Did the lander strictly follow the policies towards EM’s laid out by the WG?
No
The lander didn’t always adhere to government policy. They had the authority to form and follow their own laws against minorities.
How did the Lander treat the Roma and Sinti Gypsies in the WR?
Several lander attempted to pass laws that would control the movement of Gypsies.
What did the Bavarian lander do to try and control the movement of gypsies? When?
A series of laws were passed in 1926/7 aimed at controlling the gypsies movement, getting their children into schools and adults into work, forcing them to carry identity cards
How many jews held cabinet posts in the WR?
5
What did the government do following Walter Rathenau’s assassination in 1922?
The WG banned a number of anti-semitic organisations
