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Migrant Flow Puts Pressure on Germany

Michael Stuerzenberger has received death threats and sharp media criticism for his outspoken opposition to immigration by Muslims.

"It's our past. Many people are aware of the Holocaust, the mass murder of Jews, the Second World War, and so they think now we want to be good to the world," he said. "We want to show Germany is a friendly country, with friendly people. We welcome everybody and we want to show now Germany is a good country."

Local generosity

At Munich's iconic central square, pedicab drivers are donating their proceeds to aid the refugees.

"We decided to do even more. I don't know why. It's wonderful," a driver and volunteer told VOA. "Even the Chancellor changed her mind, and it's like a big wave of humanity. I wish every country in Europe would do this."

But not all of Europe wants to give the same welcome that Germany is giving, and German leaders are having to juggle realities here at home.

"On one hand, they know they have to find ways of decreasing these really high numbers of refugees because at some point the attitudes might also change, when people have the feeling now it's too much, but, on the other hand, it's still the feeling of we are obliged to do something about this refugee crisis," Matthias Kortmann of the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich said.

As they prepare for Oktoberfest, local authorities want to avoid a more immediate culture clash. They are arranging separate trains to ensure beer-drinking revelers don't arrive together or mix.