There are few topics which divide Germany as much as immigration.

Caught between the need to fill highly-skilled jobs and the need to find work for the 4 million unemployed Germans, the country's government has for years been under pressure to fashion a law that brings in foreigners – but not too many of them.

Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's government believes it has finally struck gold. Opposition politicians eager to limit his achievements in an election year and wary of passing too liberal a law, believes he hasn't.

The situation is dire and complicated. The economic aspect apart, Germany has only recently begun trying to integrate the 7.3 million foreigners that have crossed its borders over the past four decades.

Racism and immigrant "ghettos" continue to tarnish the open, progressive image Germany has been trying to create for itself since WWII.

A collection of DW-WORLD's coverage on this major German issue.