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Turks in Germany

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Turkish Germans Turkey Germany

Notable Turkish Germans:
Mehmet Scholl, Kool Savas, Fatih Akin
Turkey Germany
Languages
German,Turkish
Religion
Sunni Islam, Alevism
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History
Culture
Languages
Religion

Turks in Germany (occasionally German Turks or Turkish Germans) are people of Turkish ethnicity living in Germany. The term is sometimes applied by association to other, non-Turkish groups originating in Turkey — such as the Kurds. In general, however, the English language distinguishes between Turks and Kurds (and other groups) in a socio-cultural sense, including in Germany, but because the German state does not keep statistics on ethnicity it is impossible to accurately estimate the relative numbers of Turks and Kurds (and others) living in Germany with the consequence that both groups are categorised according to citizenship as "Turks"; many Kurds and Yazidis do not accept such a description.[citation needed]

In 2004 there were 1.739 million [1] or 1.907 million Turkish citizens in Germany, forming 26 per cent of all registered foreigners (Ausländer) and the largest ethnic minority.[2] In 2002, there were also 730,000 German citizens of Turkish origin.[3] Therefore, overall, the number of German residents with origins in Turkey is 2.637 million,[3] or approximately three per cent of the population.[4]

The vast majority are found in the former West Germany: Berlin, Bremen, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Rhine-Ruhr (Cologne, Duisburg and Dortmund) and Stuttgart have large Turkish communities and Turkish districts such as Kreuzberg. The Land with the largest Turkish population is North Rhine-Westphalia followed by Baden-Württemberg and Hesse. German Turks are predominantly urban, but small numbers do live in rural areas.

History

File:Turkisch-day-in-Berlin.jpg
Turkish parade in Berlin
Berlin's Turkish cemetery alongside an Ottoman style mosque, built in 1863

Large-scale migration of Turkish citizens to West Germany developed during the Wirtschaftswunder ("economic miracle") of the 1960s and 1970s. West Germany suffered an acute labour shortage after the Second World War and, in 1961, the Bundesrepublik and officials at the Turkish Republic negotiated a trade of skilled professionals. Turkish specialty workers were invited to move to Germany to fill in this void, particularly to work in the factories and places considered hazardous and unfit by German workers (e.g. the soon to be established nuclear plants etc.). Turkish citizens soon became the largest group of Gastarbeiter — literally, guest workers — in West Germany, labouring alongside Yugoslavs, Spaniards, Greeks and other immigrants. The perception at the time on the part of both the West German Government and the Turkish Republic representatives was that working 60-80 hours a week in Germany would "only" be temporary.

Inevitably, human nature took its course, and the work-force "soon" (3-4 years later) showed considerable signs of distress and many of these migrant workers were permitted to re-unite with their existing and abandoned families. As expected, many of the Gastarbeiters became settled permanent residents by default with the birth of offspring, school and other obligations in the new lands.

Citizenship Issues

Under previous German law, children born to foreigners in Germany were not entitled to German citizenship (jus sanguinis): a large population of permanently resident non-citizens developed, with the consequence over time that even the third generation born in Germany remained foreigners. As late as 2004, 36 per cent of Turkish citizens living in Germany did not have German nationality despite being born there.[2] In 2000, legislation was passed which conferred German citizenship on the German-born children of foreigners, and the naturalisation process was made easier, though dual citizenship is still not tolerated and any person possessing it by virtue of birth to foreign parents must choose between the ages of 18 and 23 which citizenship she or he wishes to retain, and forfeit the other.[2]

Political Behaviour

German-Turkish flag

German Turks overwhelmingly support the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). A survey following the 2005 Federal election revealed close to 90 per cent voted for Gerhard Schröder's SPD/Green alliance.

There are now many parliamentarians — both at Land and federal level — with family origins in Turkey (see below for a comprehensive list).

Notable German Turks

Main article: List of Turkish Germans

Politics

Members of the European Parliament

Members of the Federal Parliament

Members of a Regional Parliament

Sport

Entertainment & Arts

Business


See also

Further reading

  • Green, Simon (2003). "The Legal Status of Turks in Germany". Immigrants and Minorities. 22 (2–3): 228–246. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |laydate=, |laysource=, |quotes=, |laysummary=, and |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  • Pécoud, Antoine (2003). "Self-Employment and Immigrants' Incorporation: The Case of Turks in Germany". Immigrants and Minorities. 22 (2–3): 247–261. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |laydate=, |laysource=, |quotes=, |laysummary=, and |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  • Şen, Faruk (2003). "The Historical Situation of Turkish Migrants in Germany". Immigrants and Minorities. 22 (2–3): 208–227. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |laydate=, |laysource=, |quotes=, |laysummary=, and |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  • Watzinger-Tharp, Johanna (2004). "Turkish-German language: an innovative style of communication and its implications for citizenship and identity". Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs. 24 (2): 285–294. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |laydate=, |laysource=, |quotes=, |laysummary=, and |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

Notes

  1. ^ FAZ:Türkische Migranten in Deutschland (german)
  2. ^ a b c http://www.ces.boun.edu.tr/papers/feb/veysel_ozcan.pdf
  3. ^ a b http://www.tusiad.org/haberler/basin/ab/9.pdf
  4. ^ Turks in Germany are in bullish mood - International Herald Tribune
  5. ^ WIBF Ranking - TOP 10


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