I grew up in Stadtallendorf. When I was a little girl, the first “guest workers” came.
Initially through the Ferrero factory – many called them “spaghetti eaters”. Then Greeks, Yugoslavs and Turks were recruited because the iron foundry was looking for workers. At that time they were called “garlic eater”.
As disturbing as these names sound from today’s perspective, it was basically a good practice for a more colorful Germany. Soon everyone at the place liked spaghetti and garlic.
We children did not see any problems in living together. Little Fehim was part of the children’s church service as a matter of course, and appeared as a shepherd at the nativity play. We didn’t even think about the fact that he was a Muslim. It was precisely this childlike ease that made our togetherness so wonderfully uncomplicated.
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But serious mistakes have also been made in society. In retrospect it is clear: “We” saw “them” as guests. A mistake. And “they” initially saw themselves as guests, temporarily in Germany. A misjudgment.
There should have been language courses and integration offers right from the start. For the workers, but also for their wives who followed suit, for the children who came with them or were born here. In the third generation, many have made it and are part of our German society.
We can learn from the history of the “guest workers” for today. It is a mistake if refugees have been in the country for years without a clear residence status and cannot learn German. And their children have to go to school!
Many of them will stay. That is why integration must be the goal for both sides, right from the start.
As the Bible says: “Do not forget to be hospitable; for by doing this some have hosted angels without their knowledge ”(Hebrews 13: 2).
Stay safe!
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