Objekt des Monats
Jedes Objekt in der Sammlung des Deutschen Auswandererhauses erzählt eine ganz persönliche Auswanderungs- oder Einwanderungsgeschichte. In dieser Rubrik stellen wir Ihnen jeden Monat ein anderes Objekt vor – eine Fotografie, ein Dokument oder ein persönliches Erinnerungsstück.
July 2021
Collage from the 1980s
© Collection Deutsches Auswandererhaus
Historical Context
The new building of the Deutsches Auswandererhaus increasingly addresses Germany as an immigration country. However, this recognition of Germany as an immigration country has only developed in recent decades. The object of the month of July addresses this issue.
The economic upswing of post-war Germany led to a growing demand for labor. Therefore, Germany signed a so-called ‘recruitment agreement’ with Italy for the first time in December 1955. Such agreements were concluded with a total of seven other countries in the following years. The number of foreign employees increased significantly: in 1960 there were still 280,000 workers, while in 1973 there were already 2.6 million employees from abroad. In 1965, ten years after the first recruitment agreement, the German government passed the Foreigners Act – foreigners were to obtain a residence permit. Germany viewed foreign workers as ‘guest workers’ and hoped that they would return to their home countries – however, many of them stayed. They started families there or brought their family members to their new homeland. Consequently, in 1973, a recruitment stop was introduced along with more restrictive immigration regulations, and the political refusal to acknowledge Germany as an immigration country continued.
“Well, I was nineteen years old, full of life and eager to meet people. After just twelve days of staying, I had my first job as a worker in a furniture transport crew. A group of two Turks (who spoke no German), a foreman (an old man from Poland), and a German boss. He gave us the work instructions. I signed my first German employment contract on August 30, 1972. I didn’t understand much of the content.” (Fruttuoso Piccolo, Ein Fach Mao Dich Tung)
Short Biography Fruttuoso Piccolo
In 1972, 19-year-old Fruttuoso Piccolo emigrated from Italy to Hannover as a ‘guest worker’. His brother, who had left their homeland six years earlier, returned to Italy specifically to accompany him on his journey. Fruttuoso worked here as a laborer until 1979. His experiences as an immigrant with the German language and Germany as a host society influence his works in language, art, and literature. These consist of mixed forms of poetry, literature, collages, art, and photography, often with political significance. Since the 1980s, Fruttuoso Piccolo has participated in many art projects and various exhibitions in Germany, sometimes as a leader. Today, he lives a reclusive life in Lower Saxony with his family.
Significance of the Object
“They called for workers, and people came.”
In politics, there was an understanding that workers would return to their ‘homeland’ after a year or a few years, which led to few attempts at integrating them. However, many foreign workers and immigrants do not understand the German language upon their arrival in Germany – like Fruttuoso Piccolo. At the same time, they were expected to be familiar with the contents of the Foreigners’ Act. This contradiction is addressed in the simple yet powerful collage by Mr. Piccolo. Here, a feather in the colors black, red, and gold is visible, with the words ‘FOREIGNERS’ ACT’ written at the bottom of the collage. This month’s object illustrates Germany’s political and social position in the 20th century towards immigrants, which Piccolo also experienced.
Other collages by Piccolo, as well as significant portions of his donation, are located in the newly designed exhibition complex dedicated to 330 years of immigration to Germany, which was ceremonially opened on June 26, 2021.
Do you also …
… have a story of your family’s emigration or immigration that you would like to share, along with the associated objects and documents, with the German Emigration Center for its collection? If so, please contact Dr. Tanja Fittkau at phone number 0471 / 90 22 0 – 0 or via email at: t.fittkau@dah-bremerhaven.de
Archive: Previous Objects of the Month
Show all objectsDo You Also Have …
… a story of emigration or immigration in your family that you would like to share with the German Emigration Center together with the related objects and documents for its collection? Then please contact Dr. Tanja Fittkau by phone at +49 471 / 90 22 0 – 0
or by e-mail at: t.fittkau@dah-bremerhaven.de