Germany

Germany’s foreign minister says she wouldn’t ‘stand in the way’ of Poland sending Ukraine advanced German-made tanks, which the Ukrainians believe will give them the upper hand against Russia on the battlefield. Berlin must give the green light for other countries to export the Leopard 2, something it had been unwilling to do until now…

German police have arrested 25 members and supporters of a far-right organisation that they say was plotting to overthrow the state and install an alternative government led by a German aristocrat. 

Our Europe Editor Matt Frei looks at the reasons why Germany’s past means it is more hesitant to fully commit to a European conflict – and whether that will finally change as this war drags on.

Many have made their way further into Europe after crossing the border, seeking refuge in countries such as Germany which is taking in around ten thousand people a day.

We were joined by the German MEP Dietmar Köster, who’s from the Social Democrats and is a member of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs committee.

From Switzerland, we spoke to Professor Matt Qvortrup, who has written Angela Merkel’s biography.

Angela Merkel has done something rather rare in European politics these days. 

We spoke to Pauline Brünger, a student and climate activist, who was among the organisers of the Fridays for Future demonstrations across Germany, and Marina Weisband, a political activist and author who first arrived in Germany as a refugee from Ukraine.

Oktoberfest has been downsized thanks to Covid, but German politics has gone into full and final gear before Sunday’s election. 

German Green Party MEP Reinhard Bütikofer claims the party will be the “strongest ever” after the country’s elections, adding the group is ready to stand up for human rights and foreign policy.

Today the Greens poll around 17 per cent of the vote. It had been higher this summer and many thought the devastating floods, widely blamed on climate change, would make all the difference. But did they? 

As the UN issues a “code red for humanity”, Anja Popp is on the frontline of our warming planet, reporting on floods in Germany and fires in Greece.

Some villages in Germany hit by last week’s devastating floods could be left unable to restore power and drinking water supplies for months due to the extent of the damage.

Angela Merkel has promised quick financial aid for the parts of western Germany devastated by flooding and has vowed to step up efforts to tackle climate change. 

Well earlier I spoke to flood forecasting expert Dr Linda Speight and began by asking why the floods in Germany were so devastating.