In my "German Culture and Cuisine" course, we've been analyzing specific communities of immigrants prevalent in Berlin. We learn about when they got here, the circumstances behind them moving here and how they've adjusted into society.
The main group of focus is Arab immigrants. In the 1970s, Berlin experienced a huge wave of Lebanese and Palestinian immigration. The Palestenians had moved to Lebanon as refugees following the Nakba in 1948. Both demographics moved to Berlin as a result of the Lebanese Civil War which lasted from 1975 to 1990. This was followed by waves of immigrants from Iraq, Syria and Vietnam. Most of these migrants were seeking refuge or better opportunities to provide for themselves and their families. The primary way they began to gain capital and integrate into German society was by creating snack shops and stores that showcased culture and food from their countries. As time went own, many businesses owners were able to expand their services into full restaurants, which are now integrated into German culture and cuisine.
In 2011, Berlin saw another surge in refugees, this time from Syria as a result of the Syrian war that year.
