Abstract

In 1966, several conferences on the subject of “employing foreign workers” were held in the Federal Republic. Many were organized by the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations or by a consortium of German economic research institutes. The conference depicted above used the question “Foreign Workers, Guest Workers, Colleagues?” to explore the relationship between the German majority population and those who had come to the Federal Republic to work. Since the term “foreign worker” was tainted by its usage during the Third Reich—when it designated the millions of foreign citizens who were transported to Germany for use as forced labor—it was replaced by the neutral term “guest worker” [Gastarbeiter] in public discourse.

Foreign Workers, Guest Workers, Colleagues? (April 1966)

Source

Source: Foreign workers, guest workers, or colleagues? From original caption: “This question is being discussed with seriousness at a youth forum. The German youth organisations devote particular attention to the work of educating young people on their duties as citizens.” Signature: MDJ III/IV-66/BF 19/2. Photo: Inter-Nationes. German Information Center.

Courtesy of the German Information Center