Traveling exhibition The Called” opens doors to the history of Europe!

Traveling exhibition The Called” opens doors to the history of Europe!

The BdV district association recently opened the fascinating traveling exhibition “The Called: German Life in Central and Eastern Europe” in the Neuss district hall. This important show, which has been on view since this week in the atrium at Oberstrasse 91, focuses on the settlement of Eastern and Southeastern European regions by German immigrants since the Middle Ages. District Administrator Hans-Jürgen Petrauschke has taken over the patronage of the exhibition, thereby underlining the relevance of the topic for European history.

Numerous guests were invited to the opening, including district head Dr. Martin Stiller and the chairman of the BdV district association Gerhard Hosenberg. “The exhibition offers a deep insight into the economic, social and cultural developments that led to immigration and presents the challenges and successes that our ancestors faced,” said Dr. Stiller. Hosenberg also emphasized the association's commitment to international understanding and the importance of preserving the stories of immigrants.

A look at the history of migration

The exhibition will remain open until August 12th; entry is free. Not only historical documents are shown, but also multimedia installations that take the audience on a journey through time through the German settlements in Central and Eastern Europe. These journeys into the past are not only important for those interested in history and culture, but also for many migrants who come to Germany today from Eastern European countries such as Poland.

Let's take a look at the current situation: Since the late 19th century, immigration from Eastern Europe to Germany has been an important topic that is becoming more and more topical. In particular, many Poles worked in agriculture, and this development was strongly influenced by political conditions. As of 2003, 320,000 Polish migrant workers were already employed in Germany - a number that continued to rise with the EU's eastward expansion in 2004 and 2007, when many barriers that had previously made immigration more difficult fell, according to the Federal Agency for Civic Education.

Current developments on the labor market

The shortage of skilled workers is still a major issue in Germany today. In May 2023, 767,000 positions were unfilled. In order to counteract this gap, the federal government is planning to bring highly qualified specialists from abroad into the country. Immigration is made easier for various groups, including skilled workers and university graduates. Immigration could add up to 60,000 skilled workers per year to meet demand. These measures are also intended to promote the integration of immigrants, which appears essential given the current challenges on the labor market.

The connection between history and the current reality of migration not only offers perspectives for the future, but also shows how important it is to understand the past in order to be able to better shape the present. The exhibition in the Neuss district center could not be more appropriate for such a reflection on migration and its significance for society.

The opening hours of the exhibition are Monday to Thursday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit the exhibition and immerse yourself in the exciting history of German immigration to Central and Eastern Europe.

Rhine district Neuss reports that the exhibition makes a significant contribution to addressing issues of migration history. Further information on migration history and current developments can be found at Federal Agency for Civic Education as well as at Deutschlandfunk.