70 years of recruitment agreements: Italy's guest workers tell their stories

70 years of recruitment agreements: Italy's guest workers tell their stories

What remains of a story that shaped so many? A current exhibition in the main state archive in Stuttgart provides information about the experiences of the Italian “guest workers” who came to Germany 70 years ago. Today, young people like Luca Perazzotti and Gina Faul are the chroniclers of their family stories, which are full of memories of challenges and opportunities. “No Italians allowed” signs in restaurants or arriving in a foreign culture are just some of the experiences Luca was told by his grandfather, Giuseppe Casuccio. A powerful look back that shows that these stories have marched through many generations. That's what she reports Stuttgart News.

The recruitment agreement of 1955 marked the beginning of an important period in the history of German-Italian migration. Starting that year, thousands of Italians set out from the south to gain a foothold in West Germany's burgeoning economy. Thanks to the agreement, which served as a model for later recruitment agreements with other countries, many were able to secure their livelihoods and at the same time contribute to the economic strengthening of the Federal Republic. According to estimates, around 67,000 former Italian guest workers who immigrated between 1955 and 1973 were still living in Germany in 2024. The majority, around 72 percent, were immigrants themselves, while 28 percent were born in Germany ZDF reported.

A look at the experiences

The exhibition in Stuttgart not only highlights historical facts, but also addresses the personal stories of the migrants. Luca Perazzotti enthusiastically visited the exhibition with his Italian class at the Queen-Katharina-Stift High School, which was directed by his mother, Jasmin Casuccio. Here, young people hear about the living conditions of their ancestors, such as the inheritance from a leather suitcase and the photographs of the shantytowns.
The migration experience is tangible for many of the students. Gina Faul, whose mother dared to move to Germany in the 1980s, talks about similar experiences. Sara Montana Lampo, who only moved to Stuttgart with her family nine years ago, also sees parallels to the stories of her ancestors.

Christian Enea remembers the language barriers that he also had to experience. Such hurdles were everyday life for many of the guest workers. Luca Perazzotti's grandfather, Giuseppe Casuccio, who came to Germany without a recruitment contract, found support from other Italians and worked his way through various construction site jobs until a tragic car accident set him back. Despite all the adversities, the family stayed in Germany, which was by no means planned for many guest workers.

Today's relevance

The exhibition makes it clear that the topics of migration and integration are still relevant today. A look back helps to understand the challenges of the present. In 2024, 650,000 people with Italian immigration backgrounds had settled in Germany, many of them in industries such as catering and metalworking. The reasons for their immigration remain similar: employment, family and education continue to be in the foreground. Loud Daily Mirror People with an Italian migrant background make up around 0.9 percent of the workforce in Germany.

Today as then, the stories and experiences of the “guest workers” are an indispensable part of Germany’s history. Looking back not only teaches us where we come from, but also how important it is to appreciate the diversity of cultures and the stories associated with them.