How do most Germans today view foreigners living in Germany?

Question

What do most Germans think about the various foreigners who live in Germany today? Do most Germans have no problem with them and try to befriend them and get along with them? Or is there a lot of tension and do many Germans think that Germany should only be for Germans?

Answer 1

I am going to have to agree with the first answer.

They have had foreigners there living with them just as we have just longer!

Racism is worst in the States than it is in Germany. Sure some people have their issues but I prefer to think most Germans at least all i have met are good decent people with compassion for human life.

in 18 years I have NEVER had a problem with anyone there be they German or foreigner.

It is normal in the USA for large cities to have their own cultural sections like Little China, Little Tokyo, Little Italy etc. Why is it wrong for these people to maintain their culture too? Learn the native language is a must though in my opinion and maybe that is what he means by germanized, many foreigners PERIOD no matter where they go do not try to learn the native language, Americans are probably the worst offenders or the Brits lol.

So don't worry about Germans they are almost all good people just as any where else.

Answer 2

It is not easy to say in general, but I'd say it depends a bit on the social environment and even the region. I think especially younger and educated townspeople will usually be quite open towards foreigners and will also befriend them.

Generally the regions of the former East Germany are said to have more xenophobic tendencies. But I would guess that racism or xenophobia is generally not more apparent in Germany than in any other european country. Nevertheless I would confirm the statement, that there are signs of rising tensions between germans and muslim migrants due to some huge cultural gaps.

I don't mean that in a racist way, I have friends of Middle Eastern background myself.

Answer 3

well, most of us are tolerant and have a free mind......!

but yes, there are n***s here, still, like everywhere else on this planet.  

any german, who thinks german to germans is a n**i, and has no common sense at all.

Answer 4

I worked with a company where we had Turkish, Spanish, Korean, British people, so I'm pretty biased. We never had a problem working together and getting along. Some Germans, however, seem to have a problem with foreigners; I call it xenophobia. That's quite a normal reaction when you're afraid of something or somebody strange. And there's the media, like our BILD-Zeitung, and the Turkish Hürriyet. Interesting to know, maybe, that they both have the same owner.

Answer 5

I don't think the turkish people can be blamed for the problem here in Germany because the turkish people have been living in Germany since 1960. I think, it is more that it was a HUGE mistake to open the borders to all of Europe in 1989 and later, as well as make certain poor countries a part of the European Union.

Life was MUCH BETTER before 1989!

Answer 6

I think it varies. It does seem that ethnic groups don't mix too much.  Sure, Frankfurt and Berlin are multi-cultural, but different groups don't intermingle to any great extent.  This has been my observation.  This is very different compared to Canada where we all work and socialize together because we are so diverse.  In Canada we are so multi-cultural it is impossible to just live and work apart from people from other cultures.  I think Canada is a far friendlier place for immigrants and Canadians are more open to diversity and differences.  We are light years ahead of Germany in terms of tolerance and openness.  Immigrants in Canada are highly successful and their children go on to build first rate careers in law, medicine, business and so on.  Many immigrants in Germany are much poorer and don't achieve what has been termed the "American Dream" or "Canadian Dream".  This is all possible in Canada.

Answer 7

quite many think turks should go home

this hasgood reasons

many turks dont want to get germanized

the younger people are very aggressive,build groups and want to beat up someone

if foreigners try to fit in our communitythey are normally accepted

i personally think all foreigners who act against the law should be sent home

Answer 8

I am not German, but I an 'Ausländer'(German word for foreigner) living in Germany. I have lived in Germany for over 20 years. I can not speak for the Germans so I am interested in the answers you will be getting.

But, from what I have seen your average German does not have a problem with the foreigners living in Germany as long as they obey the law and make an effort to try and live in Germany, for example speak some German.

Sadly there is a certain group that have lived in Germany for a generation, or two(sometimes more) that make no effort to integrate themselves or their lifestyles into Germany.

Granted getting integrated into Germany is not easy, but you can do it and still keep your cultural identity. Take a walk around Frankfurt for example and you will see lots of foreigners living in Germany. You will also quickly notice which ones are living in Germany causing no problems and the ones who are causing problems by not really living in Germany.  

Also to be honest,  over the years I have been attacked(often verbally and twice physically) by foriegners so I can understand the tension issue from both sides.

Answer 9

HI,

I can also not speak of all of the Germans, however I do not think that in general people would like to get rid of foreigners. Normally this is an enrichment for a country. The things you may hear in the news etc are very seldom happenings and if you see how many people light candles and silent demonstrate if some "old-faschioned - low minded folks think they are better" then I it makes me proud that in the german culture we fight against a revival of "3rd Reich".

I do not believe and also in my surroundings (in Munich, Hamburg, Berlin) I have never met anyone who thought that Germany is for Germans....

Answer 10

I surely cannot speak for all Germans but to me it is naturally that there are foreigners in our country, why should there not be?

I think having lots of different nationalities in Germany is a cultural enrichment for all of us.

I have lots of friends from all parts of the world and would never want to miss them.

What I don't like nor understand is that there are also lots of people coming here and do nothing but complain about Germany and its inhabitants and just stay amongst people from their own cultural background.

That is sad but I think in most cases Germans get along pretty well with foreigners.

geier55: what exactly do you mean by germanized?? Younger turks want to beat people up?? OH-MY-GOODNESS!

This is just the kind of c**p that makes people think Germans are racist! Stop this intolerant c**p, will you?

Answer 11

Hello to all. First of all the answers given are very good. I am young woman born in Hamburg, Germany. I will answer, too, but I cannot speak for all Germans with different meanings. Something missed: As I am living in a big city I can't say, that the Germans here are against foreigners or even n***s. I live in a quarter which is very multicultural, have grown up with all kinds of foreigners (sorry for that, but I cannot say them foreigners, because they are the same people as we are). They have been very good integrated into the German society, but there are also small exceptions. Maybe you have heared about the accident what happened to an old man in southern Germany. Some young turkish guys went to him and hit him without any reason. That must not be. But these are the exceptions. Here in Hamburg it is a nice living, because Germans and "foreigners" profite from each other, we learn something about their culture and they learn our behaviour. In "my" quarter here we have several turkish shops which sale fruit etc. There you can buy the best fruit, when you buy it in a German shop, they aren't as fresh as in the turkish one. I must also say, that I am a very tolerant woman, which tolerates almost every kind of people. But I am not tolerating neo-n***s or the old people about 70-90 years still living and doing n**i propaganda. This is also actual. In southern Hamburg (there are small villages) they have their own houses and written on it: Germany for Germans only. Or they are at the radical site. I unfortunately talked to one old man and as he told me, that war & Hitler were not as bad as we think I almost hit him and have gone away. Also some n***s say, that the genocide has not taken place. The most neo n***s you can find in eastern Germany (Saxony) and north eastern Germany. In western Germany there are some, too, but not so much.

Hopefully I have answered your question. Germany is not so bad, but expensive in all situations and the weather is the worst in Europe :-( The whole March it is raining and February, too (I was not here, but heared afterwards). If you have further questions pls do not hesitate to e-mail me. Thanks for your attention.

Answer 12

i totally have to agree with psychodoll. Having different nationalities living here is only an inrichment for us. The person doing my nails is asian, my favorite restaurant is run by italians, the guy who does my hair is turkish, the lady who lives downstairs is indian, my belly dance teacher is tunisian, my fiance is american, one of my best friends is turkish and my coworker is polish. and i love being around each one of them and learn about their culture and ways of living. i think our younger generation (lol me included) would never say "germany for germans"..well besides some uneducated racist fools who run around in every country...

Answer 13

I agree with psychodoll, however, there is one problem. Some "foreigners" (who might be 2nd or even 3rd generation in Germany) find it hard to integrate. And this results in a vicious circle. They do not learn the language or interact with people outside their nationality, which makes their kids fail in school (because they do not understand the language) and results in them getting poorly paid jobs (or none at all). It is very surprising to see there are families who have been living in Germany for about 15 years or longer, yet they are not able to take a phone call.

Germany has a divided school system (think of high school's basic, standard and advanced classes but instead of seperate classes it's seperate schools for the kids). So a child with hardly any exposure to the German language and with no friends who speak German most probably goes to the lowest type of school. There's no real equality for them, and this is really sad! We'll see what the future brings as some areas of Germany have now started a compulsory testing of language skills in pre-school. And if a child fails the test, they'll get free German lessons once or twice a week until they start school to give them a better start!