Natalie Pawlik had to listen to questions like these when she came to Germany from Siberia as a child. Today she is a representative for repatriates and wants to ensure that Germans from Russia are treated better.
Ms. Pawlik, you are commissioned by the federal government to represent emigrants and national minorities. Why did it take more than 30 years for the first German from Russia to take up the position of representative for repatriates?
The diversity of our society is hardly reflected in parliaments and political leadership positions as a whole. There are far too few people with a similar biography to mine represented in politics, especially considering the size of the group. Since 1950, Germany has taken in more than 4.5 million repatriates and late repatriates. This is the largest immigrant group in our country and I would like to help strengthen their political participation.
Why is it even necessary to support emigrants?
Emigrants come to Germany full of hope; they finally want to be recognized and have opportunities in a society. Instead, obstacles are put in their way. When a Russian-German doctor comes to us, her qualifications are not recognized and she has to work as a cleaner despite her qualifications, that does something to a person. The same applies when authorities, institutions and employers treat them inferiorly. Because of the persecution and deportation resulting from World War II, it is Germany’s responsibility to take care of the people.
You were born in 1992 in Vostok, a small town in Siberia. What memories do you have of that time?
The toilets were outhouses, the streets were gravel paths. We grew up poor. When the Soviet Union collapsed, it was terrible for my family. The money was no longer worth anything, as were the jobs, and food was scarce. We were able to help each other because my family had a garden and livestock: dogs, cats, pigs, chickens and two cows. We had fields for beets and potatoes and a vegetable garden with cucumbers, onions and cabbage. Despite everything, I have fond memories of my childhood.
Their ancestors were deported from the Volga to Siberia under Stalin.
My grandfather was four years old when his father was sent to the labor camp. He didn’t see him again. His sister died during the deportation. That was very traumatizing. Added to this was the injustice that he and his family experienced. In the Soviet Union he was deported because he was German – and in Germany he was perceived as Russian. The discrimination before and after Stalin had a big impact on the family.
You came to Germany when you were six. What have you experienced?