Skip next section German Chancellor Merz to hold first phone call with Trump
05/08/2025May 8, 2025
German Chancellor Merz to hold first phone call with Trump
Germany’s newly-elected Chancellor is due to speak to US President on the phone on Thursday for the first time.
The pair have never met in person. But Merz has expressed fears regarding the future of the transatlantic relationship under Trump.
On election night, the new chancellor said that the Europeans must “achieve real independence from the US.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4u64Z
Skip next section Germany, Europe commemorate VE day and WWII end
05/08/2025May 8, 2025
Germany, Europe commemorate VE day and WWII end
The continent celebrates on Thursday, which marks the defeat of Nazi Germany which eventually ended in 1945.
Several parades and other events are planned across Europe, especially in countries which defeated Nazi Germany.
In the United Kingdom, a service at Westminster Abbey in London is planned, as well as a large concert, with pubs allowed to stay open longer.
In France, President Emmanuel Macron will celebrate with the traditional laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe. A military parade on the Champs-Elysees is also planned.
Paris marks Thursday with the traditional laying of a wreath by
President Emmanuel Macron at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the
Arc de Triomphe and with a military parade on the Champs-Élysées.
Germany also plans events to mark the day.
The newly elected German Chancellor Freidrich Merz will join a wreath-laying ceremony in Berlin. The Bundestag will hold its own remembrance service too.
Germany’s new Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul paid tribute to “the enormous sacrifices of the Allies” in helping in Germany’s liberation from the Nazis. He stressed that millions of people were “disenfranchised and tormented by the Nazi regime.”
“Hardly any day has shaped our history as much as May 8, 1945,” he said in a statement. “Our historical responsibility for this breach of civilization and the commemoration of the millions of victims of the Second World War unleashed by Nazi Germany gives us a mandate to resolutely defend peace and freedom in Europe today.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4u64L
Skip next section German democracy at risk, survey says
05/08/2025May 8, 2025
German democracy at risk, survey says
Over half of respondents to a survey on whether Germany’s democracy is at risk agreed with the statement.
The survey was conducted by the YouGov and Sinus research institutes, asking some 2,200 people, including 64% who said democracy is at risk.
Some 60% of the respondents noted parallels between present day Germany and the state of affairs in the 1930s and 1940s, when and his party rose to power and then ruled Germany.
Of those surveyed, some 43% thought that the recurrence of an authoritarian rule similar to the Nazi dictatorship was likely, while 59% expressed concrete fears of an imminent third World War.
The survey coincides with Victory in Europe Day (VE) which marks the defeat of Nazi Germany that led to the end of World War II.
Some 15% of those surveyed still see this day as a defeat for Germany, with less than half the population (45%) viewing it as the day of Germany’s liberation.
While 67% believe that the Nazi era continues to shape Germany’s self-image today, 34% see that the country’s role in WWII is given too much attention. Some 23% said the country’s role in the war was given too little attention.
Over half the respondents (57%) agreed with the statement: “We focus too much on the dark chapters of German history.”
The survey was conducted online between March 21 and 24, with the results meant to represent German adult citizens who are 18 and older.
https://p.dw.com/p/4u63T
Skip next section Germany tightens border security following new interior minister instructions
05/08/2025May 8, 2025
Germany tightens border security following new interior minister instructions
German police strengthened its presence at the country’s southern and western borders, police officials told the German news agency DPA on Thursday, following instructions from Germany’s new interior minister.
The federal police in the southern state of said they were tightening control at the borders with Austria and the Czech Republic, while being mindful that “disruptions are as minimal as possible,” a Munich police spokesperson told DPA.
A fixed checkpoint at the Saalbrücke bridge near Salzburg will be set up again.
In the state of , which lies on Germany’s western borders with the Netherlands and Belgium, police also said they “significantly” increased their forces at the borders, DPA reported.
The agency said its reporters did not observe any tightened measures on the western borders with the Netherlands. Public broadcaster WDR also said its reporters did not see any measures on the Belgian border.
A police spokesperson told DW that many border checks in NRW follow the mobile deployment concept.
“If you do not see us, that’s good, as it means those we need to surveil would also not be able to see us,” the spokesperson said.
On Wednesday, and on his first day in office, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt of the conservative Christian Social Democrats (CSU) announced that except for such as pregnant women and children.
https://p.dw.com/p/4u63J
Skip next section Welcome to our Germany coverage05/08/2025May 8, 2025
Welcome to our Germany coverage
Germany’s new government hit the ground running, with federal police increasing border checks in the south and west of the country, as per instructions from new Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, who announced yesterday that the country will .
Meanwhile in Berlin, officials are preparing to mark Victory Day (VE) and the defeat of Nazi Germany, while new Chancellor braces for his first ever call with US President Trump.
This blog will keep you updated with all that’s happening in Germany and its newly-elected government.
https://p.dw.com/p/4u61l
The post Germany updates: Police presence increases at borders appeared first on Deutsche Welle.
