Germany and Turkey mark 65 years of labor recruitment agreement

German-Turkish recruitment agreement Gastarbeiter migration history North Rhine-Westphalia labor migration

The 65th anniversary of the recruitment agreement between Germany and Turkey marks a significant milestone in German history. Signed on October 30, 1961, in Bad Godesberg, the treaty was designed to address acute labor shortages in West Germany caused by post-war demographic shifts and military service requirements.

While the agreement originally intended for workers, known as ‘Gastarbeiter’, to return to Turkey after a limited period, many chose to stay, eventually bringing their families to Germany. This shift transformed Germany into an immigration society. Today, approximately three million people in Germany have Turkish roots, with nearly one-third of the Turkish population in the country residing in North Rhine-Westphalia.

The legacy of this migration is visible in Germany’s cultural, economic, and social fabric, influencing everything from food to music. However, some observers note that while the economic benefits were immense, the path to full social and political participation has been long, and the lived experiences of the first generation—often characterized by isolation and a lack of integration support—are not always fully recognized.

Entities

Atila Tosun · Bengü Kocatürk-Schuster · Documentation Center and Museum on Migration in Germany · Germany · Turkey

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Audio letters were used as a popular communication method by Turkish families during this period. www.hertener-allgemeine.de · www.wz.de
[○ 1 SOURCE] Germany had previously signed similar recruitment agreements with Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, and Yugoslavia. www.wz.de
[○ 1 SOURCE] Approximately 870,000 Turkish workers were recruited between 1961 and 1973. www.tagesschau.de
[● 4 SOURCES] The recruitment agreement between Germany and Turkey was signed 65 years ago in 1961. www.hertener-allgemeine.de · www.tagesschau.de · www.wz.de
[○ 1 SOURCE] The German government initially intended for recruited workers to leave Germany after a few years. www.tagesschau.de