Minorities in the FRG

Question 1

Which countries did the FRG sign recruitment agreements with?

Answer 1

Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Morocco and Tunisia.

Question 2

Why did Germany need so many workers?

Answer 2

To satisfy the labour demand of the economic miracle.

Question 3

What event made the labour shortage worse?

Answer 3

The building of the Berlin Wall in August 1961, which reduced the large-scale flow of East-German immigration virtually to zero overnight.

Question 4

What happened to the number of foreign workers between 1960-73?

Answer 4

It increased from 280,000 to 2.6 million.

Question 5

What did the FRG see the recruitment of guest workers as?

Answer 5

A form of developmental aid - the guest workers would learn useful skills in Germany which could help them build their own countries after returning home.

Question 6

What did the government guarantee non-German workers?

Answer 6

The same wages as German workers.

Question 7

What office was set up in Nuremberg?

Answer 7

The Federal Office for Labour Recruitment - to run offices in the countries they had labour recruitment treaties with.

Question 8

When had 25% of workers in Germany been living in the FRG for at least three years?

Answer 8

1964

Question 9

Who was the minister for labour?

Answer 9

Theodor Blank

Question 10

When did Blank made a speech and what did he say?

Answer 10

1964 - to commemorate the millionth guest worker arriving in the FRG - he said guest workers had been the foundation of Germany’s success and they would continue to be important. Blank assured that GW would receive welfare and child benefits if they brought their families over.

Question 11

Who did guest workers receive support from in the 1950s and 60s?

Answer 11

The unions helped them to adjust to work; had support from church organisation such as the Catholic organisation, Caritas, and the Protestant organisation, Diakonisches Wek.

Question 12

Why did unions dislike the idea of recruiting foreign workers in the 1950s?

Answer 12

They were concerned that foreign workers would drive wages down, accept less favourable working conditions, and therefore undercut existing workers. The government agreed to give German workers preference when hiring.

Question 13

What kind of accommodation did employers provide for migrant workers?

Answer 13

Basic - often in dormitories near factories and outside towns which cut them off from the local community.

Question 14

What kind of work were foreign workers given?

Answer 14

Heavy manual labour which Germans were happy to leave for other work.

Question 15

How many Germans switched from industrial or agricultural work for white-collar jobs?

Answer 15

Approximately 3 million between 1961-73.

Question 16

How many Germans left jobs in mining and how many guest workers took these jobs?

Answer 16

870,000 Germans left these jobs and 1.1 million guest workers took them.

Question 17

What was there no intention to give to guest workers?

Answer 17

Citizenship rights - they were guests so their stay would be temporary.

Question 18

How were contracts renewed?

Answer 18

On a year-by-year basis

Question 19

When did hostility towards guest workers increase?

Answer 19

During the recession of 1966 - many landlords refused to take guest workers as tenants, which helped to confine them to living amongst other guest workers in the poorest areas.

Question 20

Where did many guest workers have to settle?

Answer 20

In poorer urban areas - out of economic necessity.

Question 21

What did Ford car works in Cologne offer to guest workers?

Answer 21

Voluntary severance packages - 1974

Question 22

What did the government do in 1975?

Answer 22

They gave guest workers’ children the same benefits as other children due to the rise in unemployed guest workers.

Question 23

What did Schmidt appoint in 1978?

Answer 23

The first Federal Commissioner for Foreigners’ Affairs to work for the rights of foreign workers and to promote their integration. At the same time, a clear set of rules for applying for unrestricted residence was laid down.

Question 24

What happened to the number of foreign children in schools between 1978-83?

Answer 24

It rose from 165,000 to 200,000.

Question 25

What did the government try to persuade the Länder to do?

Answer 25

To provide mixed-culture learning groups with classes of Germans and the children of guest workers.

Question 26

What did the government do in November 1973?

Answer 26

Put a stop on hiring foreign workers and banned permits of workers already in the country - in an attempt to deal with the oil crisis.

Question 27

What did the number of guest workers fall to in 1973?

Answer 27

Just under 2 million.

Question 28

What percentage of foreign children in schools in 1983 were Muslim?

Answer 28

60%

Question 29

Why did most Muslim children start school at the age of six?

Answer 29

Preschool education was largely run by Christian schools - Muslim children had no preschool education or language help.

Question 30

What did many groups of ethnic minorities set up?

Answer 30

Their own national schools - children were not learning in state schools.

Question 31

Which national schools in particular attracted a lot of hostility?

Answer 31

Koran schools

Question 32

What was expected of guest workers children after they reached 18?

Answer 32

To return “home.”

Question 33

What were crime rates like among guest workers children?

Answer 33

Higher than German children

Question 34

What percentage of guest workers children failed to gain the Abitur?

Answer 34

70%

Question 35

What percentage of guest workers teenagers were unemployed?

Answer 35

50%

Question 36

What were guest workers teenagers not allowed after 1977?

Answer 36

To have paid employment

Question 37

What is evidence of far right attacks on minority groups?

Answer 37

There were 6 bombings of Jewish memorials and GW accommodation between 1979-80.

Question 38

What did guest workers belong to?

Answer 38

Ethnic Associations - helped newcomers to settle and learn the language, understand cultural differences; some felt these slowed or even stopped them from integrating.