Fall of the Berlin Wall: 9.11.1989

"We are one people!" - a cry that symbolized freedom and hope 35 years ago. But who could actually find themselves in this "we"? Who had reason to be happy about reunification? And who was transformed - literally overnight - from "indispensable" to invisible?

In the 1960s, the shortage of skilled workers in the GDR - also triggered by the emigration of many people to West Germany - led to agreements with various so-called brother states. Between 1967 and 1986, work and training programs were implemented that brought migrants from countries such as Algeria, Angola, China, Cuba, Mongolia, Mozambique, Poland, Hungary and Vietnam to East Germany. At the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989, there were more than 192,000 foreign nationals in the GDR. However, the exact number of so-called contract workers has not yet been conclusively researched.

New uncertainties and existential threats

For migrant and migrantized communities, especially contract workers, the fall of the Wall did not mean freedom, but new insecurities and existential threats. They were already exposed to racist violence and discrimination before reunification, but after the fall of the Wall, this racism not only continued, but became even more visible and brutal in many places. Pogroms like those in Hoyerswerda or Rostock-Lichtenhagen became the focus of public awareness and highlighted the violent nature of a deeply rooted racism that continued to mark these people as "the others". Their everyday lives were characterized by verbal and physical attacks. They were denied services and in the perception of many, they were not colleagues or neighbors, but foreign bodies and competitors. Their stories, their experiences, their contributions to the GDR were ignored, their existence made invisible in public memory. 

Contract workers experienced systematic exclusion, which intensified after reunification. They were among the first to lose their jobs when companies were closed or restructured. With the loss of their jobs, the basis for their accommodation often disappeared too, as hostels were linked to employment contracts. Many were pressured to return to their countries of origin - sometimes under threat and sometimes "sweetened" with a severance payment of 3,000 marks.

Deportation and lack of justice

Deportations began in December 1990. The majority of the approximately 90,000 contract workers lost their jobs and had to return to their countries of origin. But a return often meant no improvement in their living conditions. Thus David Macaua contract worker who had to return to Mozambique, reported. Officially, contract workers were supposed to receive part of their wages directly and another part after their return. However, this agreement was often not honored. In many cases, the GDR withheld the wages to pay off Mozambique's debts, or the Mozambican government did not pay out the money in full. For many years, the former contract workers in Maputo have been protesting to fight for their right to the payment of their wages and other entitlements, such as their reserves, which are still outstanding today. The term "Madgermanes" is a reference to "Mad Germans" and "Made in Germany". Activists estimate that the former GDR migrant workers are still entitled to the equivalent of over 600 million euros.

Staying is not any easier

Those who remained in Germany faced enormous challenges. Although they were granted some rights during the transition period, in practice they had to fight for years for social security and a permanent residence status. They were structurally disadvantaged and racist attacks in the early 1990s further exacerbated their situation. It was not until 1997 that the former contract workers were given the same legal status as migrant workers from West Germany. Once their residence status had been clarified, they were finally able to settle in Germany long-term and help shape cities, cultures and communities.

History made invisible

The stories and faces of the contract workers were made invisible by excluding them from the "we" of the people and deporting them. It is high time to recognize this invisibilization and to question anew every November who and what we mean when we say: "We are one people."  

An impressive example of this is the Diary report by Paulino Miguel, a contract worker from Mozambique. His report vividly describes his experiences before, during and after the fall of the Berlin Wall and provides a critical insight into the reality of life at that time.