Migration in change: life and challenges of emigrants

Migration in change: life and challenges of emigrants

migration is an undisputed part of German history, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries when millions of people had to leave their home regions. This is impressively discussed by the hiking exhibition "The Happiness in the distance", which can currently be seen in the Wilhelmshaven coastal museum. According to Perspective abroad describes the hardships that many people had to take on. Overcrowded ships with cramped conditions were the rule; Many travelers had to spend the night in the intermediate deck where the conditions were spartan and there were lacking privacy.

The food on board was often inadequate. Different foods and contaminated water meant that diseases such as typhoid and cholera were spread. The frequent seasickness also caused the passengers to have additional problems during the week -long journey through the Atlantic.

The arrival in the new world

When arriving in New York, emigrants had to survive strict health controls on Ellis Island. Sick people were rejected or sent to quarantine, which increased the uncertainty and fear of the arriving. After this stressful trip, Germans often faced a challenging integration into their new home. Language barriers and lack of qualifications made the job search difficult, so that many initially simple, poorly paid work had to take on.

However, some emigrants found communities with compatriots who are often referred to as "little Germans". Despite this support, many had a hard time finding their place in the new society. Disappointed returnees were often considered failed, and the return to the old homeland was often connected with shame.

The exhibition in the coastal museum shows not only these impressive biographies, but also a variety of original objects, personal letters and photographs that illustrate how complex the stories of the emigrants were. Digital information columns also offer access to other databases and emigrants, for example from the Lower Saxony State Archives.

The exhibition, curated by Etta Bengen in cooperation with the Oldenburg Society for Family Science e.V., is a valuable opportunity to deeper into the history of migration and to hear the stories of the people who left their home in search of a better life.

Further information on the exhibition is available on the website www.migration-oldenburg.de.