Harassment of hundreds of Algerian contract employees occurred
In the summer of 1975, a troubling event unfolded in the heart of East Germany. Racist riots targeting Algerian migrant workers in Erfurt, the current Thuringian state capital, went largely unnoticed due to the political and social context of the German Democratic Republic (GDR).
The GDR government, committed to portraying a united and harmonious society, did not publicly acknowledge the racial violence. Instead, they framed their migrant labor policies as fraternally socialist, downplaying any potential conflicts or discrimination. This approach contributed to minimal public awareness and documentation at the time.
The riots, which lasted for three days from August 10 to 13, 1975, saw around 300 young Erfurters chase 25 Algerian workers through the city center, beating some to the point of hospitalization. Five individuals were eventually convicted as "ringleaders and hooligans" for their involvement in the violence.
In the following years, the incidents remained under the radar, with the DDR state security preventing any public discussion about them. It wasn't until after reunification and the opening of archives that more attention was paid to this unfortunate episode.
Today, research into these incidents is being conducted by the University of Erfurt, and a dedicated research project at the university has shed light on the labor integration issues faced by contract workers. Between 1974 and 1984, more than 8,000 Algerian migrant workers were active in the GDR, according to the university's research.
In recent years, the focus on these events has intensified. A small publication was released by the State Agency for Civic Education last year, and events commemorating the riots are being organized jointly by the University of Erfurt, the State Agency for Civic Education, the Memorial Site Topf & Söhne, and the Association "Migranetz Thuringia".
These commemorative events, including a commemoration on the Domplatz on August 10, a panel discussion, and a roundtable discussion on August 11 at the Erfurt Town Hall, aim to acknowledge and document these racist attacks more openly. Three former contract workers are expected to attend the roundtable discussion, providing valuable first-hand accounts of the events.
The 1975 Erfurt riots are significant because they show that racism and right-wing extremism had survived the end of National Socialism in the GDR. Today, the lack of debate about these issues in East Germany is seen as promoting the high acceptance of right-wing extremist and racist attitudes.
The riots are considered the first major racist riots in Germany after 1945, marking a dark chapter in East German history that is now being brought to light through research and commemoration.
[1] University of Erfurt Oral History Research Centre, "Commemorating the 1975 Racist Riots in Erfurt," 2025.
- The University of Erfurt's Oral History Research Centre found that the Employment Policy of the German Democratic Republic during the 1970s, such as their approach to migrant labor, significantly contributed to the racial violence and discrimination faced by Algerian workers in the 1975 Erfurt riots, illustrating how politics played a role in the suppression of general-news related to crime-and-justice.
- Recent research and commemoration events, including those organized by the University of Erfurt, the State Agency for Civic Education, and other organizations, serve to highlight how the Community Policy of the German Democratic Republic in the mid-20th century, specifically its policies toward migrant workers, allowed for the increased acceptance of right-wing extremist and racist attitudes in East Germany even after the end of National Socialism.
