Migration nach 1945 in der regionalen Erinnerungskultur im Siegerland

The study examines public memory of migration in Germany’s Siegerland region since 1945 from a diachronic and comparative perspective, analysing the media and practices involved, as well as their significance for the region’s culture of remembrance. To this end, it draws on theories and methods from memory studies, history didactics and social research, amongst other fields. The study focuses on ‘flight and expulsion’ from the regions east of the Oder and Neisse, the migration of migrant workers – referred to at the time as ‘Gastarbeiter’ – and the immigration of (late) resettlers. These migratory movements have been incorporated into the region’s culture of remembrance at varying speeds and to varying degrees. In each case, distinct phases, characteristics and specific trends can be identified. As a synthesis of the findings relating to the specific migration events, empirically grounded categories of analysis are presented which can be used to examine forms of collective memory of migration beyond the region and across the migration events studied.