Document #1093940
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
According to one report, in 1988, about
240,000 ethnic Germans from the East Bloc were allowed to emigrate
to the FRG. Though the government considers them to be Germans,
because their knowledge of the language is often minimal and
because of cultural differences, many West Germans consider them to
be foreigners. In this respect, they are subject to the same
negative attitude that the population holds towards other
immigrants. According to this report, describing this attitude as
xenophobia is "an understatement." [ John Dornberg, "West Germany
hit by backlash at immigrants," The Toronto Star, 2 April
1989, p. A27.]