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The strikers speak now!

If you believe the Bild newspaper of 29 August 1973, it was “six to eight Communists disguised in mechanics’ overalls” who sneaked into the vast Ford factory site and provoked the uprising of over ten thousand immigrant workers. The 1973 Ford strike has been the subject of numerous studies and academic theses. Since last year, the 50th anniversary of the so-called Wild Turkish Strike, there has been an intense debate about who actually led the strike.

Based on our musical, we give the strikers themselves a voice. They share their personal experiences, fears and hopes. The videos are available on this page with German subtitles.

* As part of the musical, three contemporary witnesses share their experiences on stage: Peter Bach, Seyfo Kurt and actress Mischi Steinbrück.

Hasan Doğan
Striker at Ford

‘It was like the Vietnam War in the Ypsilon Hall. You died there before you were dead.’

Hasan Doğan, born 1942 in Sivas

Hasan Kömür
Striker at Ford

‘Since I had never worked in the industry before, it was difficult for me. I cried for three or four days.’

Hasan Kömür, born 1942 in Malatya

İbrahim Karakurt
Striker at Ford

‘The ambassador shouted, ‘Why are you listening to this bastard?’ The people booed him, some even threw things at him.’

İbrahim Karakurt, born 1942 in Malatya

Mischi Steinbrück
Actress

‘I thought their claims wouldn't be accepted so easily. They were really taking a risk’

Mischi Steinbrück, born 1945 in Wien

Fikri Şahin
Worked at Ford

‘Baha was educated and spoke good German. No one else had his talent. Everyone took him at his word.’

Fikri Şahin, born 1945 in Erzurum

Mitat Özdemir
Worked at Ford

‘The strike taught us that it's okay to say ‘no’ in Germany. My life changed after that.’

Mitat Özdemir, born 1948 in Çorum

Peter Bach
Striker at Ford

‘The applause for the announcement that Turkish workers returning late from holiday would be dismissed was devastating.’

Peter Bach, born 1947 in Essen

Peter Bach
Striker at Ford

‘There must have been acts of sabotage. Our megaphones were either stolen or broken.’

Peter Bach, born 1947 in Essen

Seyfo Kurt
Striker at Ford

‘They would have had to carry us away, two of them. One on the right, one on the left.’

Seyfo Kurt, born 1942 in Malatya