Knife attack in Rathenow: Vietnamese community in shock!

Knife attack in Rathenow: Vietnamese community in shock!

The city of Rathenow shaked a tragic incident: On June 25, a 43-year-old Vietnamese woman was brutally attacked with a knife before the Asia snack bar "Dac Dat". The woman, who has only recently lived in Rathenow, succumbed to her serious injuries in the hospital a little later. According to maz-online.de, the public prosecutor and the crime police are already in use. to clarify the case. The alleged perpetrator, a 50-year-old man, was arrested in Berlin a few hours after the crime. So far, however, the motive for the crime has remained in the dark, and there is unclear information about the crime and the relationship between the two.

at the crime scene, the Asia snack, have laid out concerned citizens of flowers and candles to show their sympathy. The Vietnamese Community in Rathenow is deeply affected by the event, although the Vietnamese Association has no connection to the affected people. On the day of the crime, the police secured traces of and in the snack bar to gain further knowledge. It is interesting that the public prosecutor's office has confirmed that the accused comes from the environment of the killed, which raises questions about the type of their relationship.

a long connection between Germany and Vietnam

The history of the Vietnamese community in Germany goes back to the times of the GDR. In the 1980s, many Vietnamese lived as guest workers in the GDR to counteract the shortage of workers. By the end of the GDR, around 60,000 contract workers from Vietnam were employed in the former GDR to strengthen the economy. The [MDR] (https://www.mdr.de/geschichte/ddr/politik-gesellschaft/ contractor-vietnam-vietnamen- gastnegration-integration-wirtschaft-fachkraefte-arbeit100.html) reported that these migrants often worked in the light and textile industry. After the reunification, around 16,000 Vietnamese stayed in Germany, mostly as an independent entrepreneur in areas such as gastronomy and sewing.

The special challenges that this group faced are obvious. Many Vietnamese experienced existential uncertainty and were forced to clarify their rights to keep. In the early 1990s there were attacks on foreigners, which increased the feeling of uncertainty in the community. Many Vietnamese returned to their home country, while others who stayed, often with prejudices and the feeling of strangeness had to struggle. Mr. Phuong, who himself came to Germany as a contract worker, emphasizes that despite all the adversities, the Vietnamese tried to gain a foothold here and build a life.

A look at the Vietnamese guest worker community

The [NDR] (https://www.ndr.de/fernsehungen/panorama3/die-wendezeit-aus-bichtnames-gastranger- Gastnbeitung220.html) offers interesting insights into the time of guest workers in the GDR and their integration into German society. It becomes clear that despite the differences in culture and lifestyle, many Vietnamese in the GDR maintained a high social cohesion within their community. However, integration into society was difficult and was often made more difficult by strict rules and contact bans.

One thing is certain: Society in Germany is diverse and the Vietnamese community has helped shape a significant part in history. The current tragedy throws a shadow on this story and shows that there are still many prejudices and tensions. It remains to be hoped that the clarification of the case not only ensures justice, but also triumphant a dialogue about tolerance and integration.