Living in Germany through the eyes of Poles

Katarzyna Domagala-Pereira study

The German people were asked, among others, about the satisfaction of life, the experience of respect and fears of the far right. How did Poles respond?

Photo. thefad.pl, AI

Right-wing extremism in Germany He concerns native Germans more than immigrants and their descendants. specified a conclusion comes from the analysis of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) – an organization akin to the Chadetic CDU. The analysis takes a look at life in immigration society.

The differences between Germany and migratory origin and those without specified origin besides concern the perception of the Russian assault war against Ukraine, as well as anti-Semitic prejudices and resentment towards homosexuals.

Poles have less concerns

A typical survey, conducted between October 2024 and the end of January 2025, questioned over 3,000 people throughout Germany, including 1,007 foreigners and 1003 people with a migrant background – born abroad or having at least 1 parent born outside Germany. The survey active 213 people associated with Poland (164 with migrant origin and 64 with only Polish citizenship).

According to the survey, almost 3 quarters (74%) Without migration, Germans agree with the statement: "Right-wing extremism in Germany scares me", with 46 percent agreeing completely, and 28 percent agree.

Almost 2 thirds (66%) of Germans with migrant background have akin concerns. Among the foreigners surviving in Germany, the figure is 55 percent.

The most common concern about right-wing extremism is expressed by people from Turkey and Russia. A importantly lower percent applies to people of Polish origin.

Different Views of the War in Ukraine

Only 38% of foreigners surviving in Germany feel that Russia alone is liable for the war in Ukraine.

Among Germans with a migrant background, this percent is akin (39%). The majority (58%) Germans without migratory origin are blamed for the war, which has lasted since February 2022, exclusively for Russia.

People of Russian origin are divided on the issue of exclusive work for the war in Ukraine: 30% powerfully agree, and another 14 percent agree. On the another hand, 16% do not agree and 34% do not agree. In this group, the percentages of firm consent and strong opposition are similar.

People of Polish origin are besides divided, though in a more average way. The utmost categories are not so clear. 24 percent of people from Poland think that Russia is solely responsible, and 26 percent agree. 25 percent, on the another hand, disagree with this, and 17 percent – definitely disagree.

Anti-Semitic Prejudice

To measurement anti-Semitic attitudes, participants were asked to respond to the statement: “Jews cannot be trusted”. all tenth surveyed foreigner and 9% of Germans with a migrant background agreed with this statement.

Among the Germans non-migrating This percent was much lower and was only 4%.

Differences are besides apparent depending on the region of origin. About a 4th (26%) of Turkish people do not trust Jews – compared to 18 percent in 2015. This increase is likely linked to the war in the Gaza Strip, which began after Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October 2023.

The above-average advanced proportion of declared distrust of Jews besides occurs among late displaced persons (18 percent). It concerns people of German origin who, after planet War II, mainly after the collapse of the russian Union, emigrated to Germany from east Europe and the erstwhile USSR.

A somewhat little clear, but inactive higher than among Germans without migration origin, is the consequence of the consequence among people of Polish origin. 12% of them full or partially agree that “Jews cannot be trusted”. This percent has not changed importantly since 2015 – we read in the KAS report.

Prejudice to Homosexuals

The author of the survey "Changes in Immigration Society", Sabine Pokorny, besides checked how immigrants and their descendants perceive homosexuality. Among Germans without the origin of migration disapproval of homosexuals is uncommon today.

In turn, Germany with a migrant background and foreigners reject homosexuals little than 10 years ago, but the level of this reluctance in these groups is inactive 18 and 19 percent. For comparison: among non-migrating Germans only 7% agreed with the statement: "I don't want homosexual friends".

The poll results indicate that about a 4th of Muslims and Orthodox Christians do not want homosexual friends.

Among people of Polish origin, 16 percent definitely or alternatively agree that they do not want friends with homosexual orientation. 10 years ago, this percent was 18 percent.

Living in Germany

More than 90% of respondents from all groups replied yes to the question: “Do you mostly like surviving in Germany?” Compared to the 2015 study, this percent decreased slightly. Among people associated with Poland – from 100 to 94 percent.

Of the non-migrating Germans, 37 percent feel always treated with respect. Among people with a migrant background, this percent is 39 percent and 52 percent among foreigners. A higher score in the second group may consequence from comparison with the situation in the country of origin. However, in comparison with 2015, erstwhile in each of the 3 groups 56% of people felt that they always met with respect, there was a negative trend.

Among people associated with Poland, almost half (49%) replied that – according to their own feeling – they are always treated with respect, 41% indicated “common” and 9% said “rare”.

RECORD