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'I made it': Germans reflect on Merkel's 2015 migrant influx

Chancellor Merkel's 2015 decision led to over one million refugees arriving, challenging social services and sparking political debate while inspiring significant volunteer efforts.

  • In 2015, Germany experienced a major migrant influx as over one million refugees, mainly from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq, arrived seeking asylum.
  • This influx followed earlier predictions rising from 400,000 refugees expected at the start of 2015 to over one million by the end of the year, amid ongoing conflicts and migration pressures.
  • Chancellor Angela Merkel responded by keeping Germany's borders open on September 4, 2015, and declaring ‘Wir schaffen das’ , which symbolized a welcoming stance but later became politically divisive.
  • Merkel later admitted the country was ‘not well prepared’ for this ‘enormous task’ despite the ‘incredible effort’ by many to support newcomers, while local services and communities faced overwhelmed capacities.
  • The migrant crisis intensified political tensions in Europe, contributing to rising far-right support, increased border controls, and ongoing challenges for policymakers balancing humanitarian needs with security concerns.
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"Wir schaffen das" (We can do it) are the three words in German that virtually everyone can say fluently, one after the other. Ten years ago, Angela Merkel spoke the words that would define her political legacy. It began with applause and hugs on the train platforms in Munich, but the phrase divides German society to this day. Ten years later, did the Germans actually succeed? Hat Deutschland es geschafft (District of Germany)?

·Antwerp, Belgium
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ABC FOX Montana broke the news in Missoula, United States on Wednesday, September 3, 2025.
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