• Germany edition
Society
The Popiela family. Photo: DPA

Poles breathe new life into Brandenburg

Published: 24 Dec 12 07:40 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20121224-46921.html

Though many Germans have left the eastern state of Brandenburg in search of better job prospects, an influx of Polish immigrants from across the border is breathing life into the Uckermark region.

In Rosow, part of the Gartz municipal grouping, about 500 of the town's 7,000 residents hail from Poland - something municipal director Frank Gotzmann called the "start of a trend."

He said Gartz was looking to benefit from its proximity to the Polish city of Szczecin - formerly the German Stettin - just 20 minutes away.

And Brandenburg isn't the only German state that's attracting people from across the border. Polish families are also picking up and moving to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania further north.

One of these families, the Popielas, made the jump to Gartz in 2007 and 2008, when Poland joined the Schengen zone - a move that paved the way for passport-free travel to and from Germany.

"We are really content," Dominika Popiela said, praising Rosow for its affordable property values, air quality and peaceful nature. She and her husband now help other Poles settle in the area - providing advice on issues like real estate and getting to know Germany.

Many young parents are drawn to the area by cheap home prices; residences in Rosow are often more affordable than apartments in Szczecin, which is home to more than 400,000 people.

The renovation work undertaken by new buyers have saved some older buildings from falling further into disrepair.

The influx of Poles has also spelled expansion for Gartz's schools. Gotzmann said there would soon be instruction for children in their native Polish. There are already 10 classes available to adults who wish to learn German.

Some Germans have also signed up for Polish language courses. Now, Gotzmann said, even residents who initially had reservations about the newcomers agree that their Polish neighbours have successfully integrated into the community.

DPA/The Local/arp

What do you think? Leave your comment below.


Your comments about this article:

08:53 December 24, 2012 by Berlin fuer alles
This is good news for Brandenburg. The IQ level will move up as well as a better gene pool.
09:09 December 24, 2012 by The-ex-pat
"Some Germans have also signed up for Polish language courses. Now, Gotzmann said, even residents who initially had reservations about the newcomers agree that their Polish neighbours have successfully integrated into the community."

I haver to agree, although I live 400 km to the left of Berlin, the Poles that are in the local area here and there are a lot, you never hear about them, they are part of the community. Now if only the Russian's and Turk's could adapt in the same way....................................
11:13 December 24, 2012 by lucksi
@The-ex-pat: That's racist. And also correct.
11:16 December 24, 2012 by ND1000
@Berlin fuer alles, LOL at your comment because its true. Poles are a good lot, thats for sure. They arent afraid of work either. It wont take them long to catch up with the west and they are nearly there already.
11:28 December 24, 2012 by The-ex-pat
11:13 December 24, 2012 by lucksi

@The-ex-pat: That's racist. And also correct.

Saying that someone cannot/will not/does not want to integrate is not racism it is an observation and in many cases fact...........
12:01 December 24, 2012 by Englishted
The Germans have left "search of better job prospects, " so what a the new arrivals doing? ,if there is no work are they living on the German welfare system which is more generous than the Polish one ?.

Next question why are the houses cheaper ,house prices normally reflect the ability to pay which is dependent on wages ?. Look around on the web Polish house prices are not high compared to average German prices.

Sorry but I can't tell the difference in the Eastern languages to know which is Polish ,Russian or any other land.
12:54 December 24, 2012 by MrNosey
@Berlin fuer alles

Your IQ level is so low if you moved out of Germany the national average would increase considerably.
12:58 December 24, 2012 by ChrisRea
"house prices normally reflect the ability to pay" - true, but only in case of new housing units (because they are built when there is a strong demand). Otherwise it is the balance between demand and offer. So if there are plenty of empty houses and only a few looking to buy one, the price goes down a lot. As the distance to Szczecin is only 20 min, I can imagine most of them live in Germany and work in Poland. It happens in many border zones (for example living in Germany and working in Switzerland).
14:03 December 24, 2012 by gorongoza
I do not mean to offend anybody. I only to intend to ask those who may be knowing.

Is this the reason why it is taking ages to complete the new airport? I mean ........its not normal of the Deutscher Leute to have such a fracas.

Yes the "made in Germany " label has been compromised by such BER saga - but do not forget there is always the POLITIKA behind - a silent war going on between west and former east Germany.
14:04 December 24, 2012 by Berlin fuer alles
@MrNose

I'll go if you go. That will treble the IQ increase. :-)
14:37 December 24, 2012 by Englishted
@ ChrisRea

Does it not beg the question why the Germans need to move if there are jobs 20 minutes away or did these jobs only go to Poles?
18:57 December 24, 2012 by ChrisRea
@ Englishted

My guess is that it is a matter of language. I doubt that Polish is taught in German schools as a foreign language. So I believe that there are not many Germans that speak Polish good enough to work in a Polish company.
23:55 December 24, 2012 by Englishted
@ChrisRea

You are well read enough to know that in parts of Europe there are jobs no longer for locals unless they speak the new arrivals language .

I find this a disturbing article because of the underlying issues which are not addressed for fear of being called racist.
07:17 December 25, 2012 by raandy
Cross border immigration through the Schengen zone into Germany by the Poles is as good as it is going to get.

These people are mostly good workers and family oriented.
10:50 December 25, 2012 by oldWine
I don't know how these Poles migrated to Germany on what basis? Are they skilled worker class or by any sort of qualifications they have?

I doubt these poles are not buying bread and butter of the German working class (tax payers). I am an IT specialist coming from South East Asia, while getting a new job I was given less priority as the Germany trust more on the Easter European and get the jobs easily, aftaer a hard tight fight when I get jobs and see these news I feel these are bed bugs like blood suckers.Who are eating up Germany from inside to our.
23:38 December 25, 2012 by alf2
A typical The Local report, super-liberal and in favour of non-Germanic immigration. I highly doubt the locals are very fond of being replaced by Poles. They do not "breathe in new life", but rather ring the death bell for the original inhabitants.
11:19 December 26, 2012 by ChrisRea
@ oldWine

Your IT studies did not leave much room for you to learn about EU, did they? That's why you have no clue that all EU citizens have the same rights all over EU countries (with some temporary exceptions regarding Romanians and Bulgarians). Just as Germans have the right to settle in any part of Poland, Polish people have the right to settle in any part of Germany.

"I was given less priority as the Germany trust more on the Easter European and get the jobs easily" - that is understandable. Besides needing less paperwork and less cultural adaptation, the East Europeans are recognised worldwide as extremely good IT specialists (you probably know that Romanian is the second language spoken on the Microsoft campus in Seatlle).
18:14 December 26, 2012 by raandy
oldWine

you have a few options when you read a post

1. you do not have to agree

2 you do not have to like it

3 you do not have to comment

4you can respond intelligently

5 you do not have to make a fool out of your self.

why did you select all 5 ??????
02:08 December 27, 2012 by Anny One again
Brandenburg?

Was whole Prussia not quite enough? But I value this people's trust.
09:05 December 27, 2012 by wenddiver
Glad they are happy, lets extend the prosperity all across the former German Cities. Think of the opportunities for all Poles in a free and democratic Prussia, firmly part of the west, because it is part of a united Germany. Poland has essentually the same problem as Mexico, backwards government that historically does not know how to run an economy for most of it's history holding back a hard working people.

Will the government of Poland offer German classes if tens of thousands of Germans start to move back to Danzig? Why not one Europe, right.
12:22 December 27, 2012 by ChrisRea
@ wenddiver

German classes in Gdansk? More as the ones already taught, as German is considered a very important foreign language in Poland? You probably know that are plenty of bilingual (Polish-German) schools in Poland, right?
01:02 December 28, 2012 by wenddiver
@ChrisRea- Are you under the delusion they are studying German to become German, or more likely for an economic advantage. There was a time when all the Schools in Danzig taught German, much to the economic benefit of the children.

Germany shouldn't fund any more european bail outs, until Prussia is returned to Germany, and German citizens whoh ad their property seized in Eastern Europe are re-imbursed for the thefts.
08:23 December 28, 2012 by ChrisRea
@ wenddiver

Learning a foreign language has in most cases an economic purpose, just like going to university. That's why learning Old Greek and Latin is not so trendy. Your question was whether the Polish government will offer German classes. Again, the answer is yes, they do that since long time ago. So what delusion are you referring to? And what is the connection between the present article/comments and the European bail-outs?
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