Germans in Britain

This new exhibition by The Migration Museum Project (curated by Cathy Ross and designed by Joe Ewart)explores the rich and fascinating history of German migrants to Britain.

Across the centuries, Germans in Britain have been loved or hated, admired or demonised, but their impact has been immense. The exhibition looks at the many ways in which British sport, science, banks, businesses, music, monarchs, art and design have all been shaped by their German connections, and asks the question: Are we sworn enemies or affectionate siblings?

It is a fascinating story, peppered with both familiar and unfamiliar names. Many people know about Ludwig Guttmann, whose work at Stoke Mandeville hospital in effect founded the Paralympic movement; but what about the Nuremberg engineer who founded Triumph motorbikes in Coventry? Or the early 19th century German chemist whose company eventually became British Gas? Other famous British brands such as Dr. Martens and Persil are also a product of Anglo-German cooperation. Britain’s best-known seaside building, the de la Warr Pavillion in Bexhill, was designed by a German architect, and English art would not be the same without Hans Holbein, who brought Renaissance painting to the court of Henry VIII.

The exhibition includes a ‘cabinet of curiosites’ and a video in which Germans in today’s Britain reflect on what their heritage means to them. The speakers in the video are Lord Moser, who came to Britain in 1936; Beatrice Behlen, a museum curator, who came to Britain in 1989; and Henning Wehn, Germany’s ‘Comedy Ambassador’ to Britain’ who came in 2002.