Der Reichseinsatz. Zwangsarbeiter in Deutschland

Based on meticulous archive research, this historic documentary gave a voice to the millions of forced labourers who had hitherto not even been reckognized as victims of Nazi Germany. During World War 2, 8 million foreigners were forced to work in Germany. That was 30 percent of the working population. When the film was shown in 1993, there was no public awareness in Germany about the largest project of slave labour in modern history. The film shows from the perspective of the perpetrators and victims how the system of labour use developed historically: recruitment of volunteers, deportation, racial oppression, slave labour. Archival material from 10 countries was collected. The author sought out contemporary witnesses in 8 European countries, some of whom talk about their experiences in the film. Forced labourers in Germany, visible to everyone and anchored in everyday consciousness as a matter of course, responsibility and guilt were suppressed and forgotten. Roots of xenophobia become visible without direct current references.