In the late summer of 2015, a single image came to define a nation’s response to a global crisis: thousands of cheering Germans lining the platforms of Munich’s central train station, holding handmade signs, and handing out toys and food to weary, disoriented refugees arriving from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq. This was the zenith of Willkommenskultur—”Welcome Culture”—a spontaneous, monumental wave of civic empathy that propelled Germany to open its doors to over one million asylum seekers in a single year. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s simple, decisive phrase, “Wir schaffen das” (“We can do this”), became both a mantra of humanitarian resolve and a lightning rod for political controversy.
Nearly a decade later, Germany’s response to the refugee crisis is not a simple story of success or failure. It is a complex, ongoing national experiment—a story of breathtaking solidarity and sobering logistical reality, of economic integration and potent political backlash. It is a tale that has fundamentally reshaped German society, its political landscape, and its role in the world.
The “Wir Schaffen Das” Moment: A Perfect Storm of Principle and Pragmatism
The summer of 2015 saw an unprecedented surge of refugees embarking on the treacherous journey to Europe, fleeing the brutal civil war in Syria, persecution in Afghanistan, and instability across the Middle East and North Africa. The European Union’s asylum system, the Dublin Regulation, was buckling, placing the burden on the first country of entry, primarily Greece and Italy. As borders hardened across the continent, a humanitarian crisis was unfolding in Budapest’s Keleti railway station.
Germany’s decision to effectively suspend the Dublin rules for Syrians was not taken lightly, but it was born from a confluence of factors:
- Moral Imperative: The haunting images of Alan Kurdi, the three-year-old Syrian boy whose body washed ashore in Turkey, galvanized public opinion across Europe, but particularly in Germany. The nation’s historical responsibility stemming from the Nazi era—enshrined in its constitutional right to asylum (Asylrecht)—created a powerful moral impetus to act.
- Economic Demographics: Germany, facing a severe skilled labor shortage and an aging native population, saw in the refugees a potential demographic and economic opportunity. Many of the newcomers were young, motivated, and often well-educated.
- Political Leadership: Chancellor Merkel’s calm, decisive leadership provided a clear direction. “Wir schaffen das” was not a detailed policy plan, but a statement of confidence in the state’s capacity and the people’s decency. It was a call to action that empowered civil society.
The result was the Willkommenskultur, a breathtaking mobilization of ordinary citizens. An estimated 10,000 Flüchtlingshelfer (refugee helpers) per day were volunteering at the height of the crisis. They filled the gaps left by an overwhelmed bureaucracy, providing everything from German lessons to legal aid. For a moment, Germany presented a face to the world that was compassionate, confident, and radically open.
The Logistical Marathon: From Emergency Shelter to Bureaucratic Labyrinth
The initial euphoria soon collided with the monumental task of housing, feeding, and processing over a million people. Gymnasiums, empty office buildings, and even a former Nazi airport, Tempelhof Feld in Berlin, were converted into emergency shelters. The federal, state, and municipal governments were thrust into a logistical marathon.
The cornerstone of the state’s response was the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). Tasked with processing every asylum application, the agency was quickly overwhelmed. Backlogs stretched for years, leaving applicants in a state of prolonged uncertainty. This “asylum limbo” became a major source of frustration, preventing people from working or properly integrating.
The crisis also exposed the deep-seated digital deficit within German bureaucracy. The reliance on paper files, fax machines, and incompatible data systems between different levels of government created immense inefficiencies. Stories of lost paperwork and communication breakdowns were rampant, hindering the very integration the government was trying to promote.
Despite these hurdles, the state machinery eventually adapted. BAMF hired and trained thousands of new staff. The system, while still slow, began to function. The initial emergency response evolved into a more structured process of distribution, based on the Königsteiner Schlüssel, a formula that allocates asylum seekers to the 16 federal states based on tax revenue and population.
The Integration Gambit: Language, Labor, and Society
Germany embarked on one of the most ambitious mass integration projects in modern history. The philosophy was clear: successful integration was the key to making the influx a long-term success. This effort was built on several pillars:
- Language as the First Gateway: The government invested heavily in integration courses (Integrationskurse), comprising 600 hours of language instruction and 100 hours of orientation on German law, culture, and history. Success in these courses, culminating in a B1 German proficiency exam, became a critical milestone for securing residency and accessing the job market.
- The Pathway to Work: A series of laws, such as the Integrationsgesetz (Integration Act) of 2016, were passed to ease refugees’ entry into the labor market. This included creating “tolerance” status for those whose asylum was denied but who couldn’t be deported, coupled with apprenticeships and job-training programs. Companies like Siemens, Deutsche Post, and countless Mittelstand firms launched initiatives to train and hire refugees.
- Education and Housing: Integrating hundreds of thousands of children into the school system required a Herculean effort, involving special “welcome classes” (Willkommensklassen) to bridge the language gap before mainstreaming. The search for permanent housing also became a critical, and often contentious, issue, exacerbating existing pressures in tight rental markets in major cities.
The results of this integration push are, predictably, mixed. Studies by the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) and others show that while employment rates for refugees have risen steadily, they often remain in low-wage, temporary sectors. The path for those with recognized professional qualifications to have them certified in Germany has proven long and difficult. Yet, there are also countless success stories of refugees starting businesses, entering skilled trades, and becoming vibrant members of their communities.
The Backlash: The Rise of the AfD and a Shifting Political Climate
The open-door policy and its aftermath did not occur in a vacuum. The initial Willkommenskultur was soon met by a powerful and sustained backlash. Concerns over public safety, cultural change, and the strain on public resources began to dominate public discourse.
This backlash found its most potent political expression in the Alternative for Germany (AfD). Originally founded as a Eurosceptic party, the AfD pivoted sharply to anti-immigration rhetoric, capitalizing on public anxieties. They framed the crisis not as a humanitarian challenge, but as an invasion that threatened Germany’s cultural identity and security. Incidents like the 2016 New Year’s Eve sexual assaults in Cologne, perpetrated largely by men of North African origin, were weaponized by the AfD to fuel narratives of lawlessness and a failure of multiculturalism.
The AfD’s rise from a fringe movement to the largest opposition party in the Bundestag has fundamentally altered German politics. It has pulled the entire political spectrum to the right, forcing mainstream parties to adopt tougher stances on migration and integration. The once-consensual political culture is now marked by deep polarization, with migration as its central fault line.
Policy Evolution: From Open Doors to Managed Migration
In response to the public mood and practical realities, German policy has undergone a significant evolution since 2015. The era of unconditional welcome has been replaced by a more pragmatic, restrictive, and EU-focused approach.
- Tightening Asylum Laws: Germany has passed a series of laws to speed up the processing and deportation of those whose applications are rejected. The list of “safe countries of origin” has been expanded, and benefits for asylum seekers have been restricted.
- The EU Focus: Berlin has been a driving force behind the EU’s external border protection agency, Frontex, and has pursued deals with third countries, most controversially with Turkey, to stem the flow of migrants before they reach European soil.
- The Ukraine Paradigm: The response to the 2022 influx of over one million Ukrainian refugees demonstrated a learned, more efficient approach. Ukrainians were granted temporary protection status immediately, bypassing the clogged asylum system. They were given work permits and access to benefits, and were often housed in private accommodations, showcasing a more managed and effective system.
Conclusion: An Unfinished Chapter
A decade on, Germany’s response to the refugee crisis remains an unfinished chapter in its history. It is a story without a simple verdict. On one hand, the country demonstrated an extraordinary capacity for humanitarian leadership and civic mobilization. Hundreds of thousands have found safety and are building new lives, enriching German society in the process.
On the other hand, the crisis exposed deep fissures—bureaucratic weaknesses, social tensions, and a potent nativist undercurrent that has permanently altered the political landscape. The initial, radical openness of 2015 has given way to a more sober, complex reality of managed migration and ongoing integration challenges.
The legacy of “Wir schaffen das” is therefore ambiguous. It was both a high-water mark of German humanitarianism and a catalyst for profound political and social change. The crisis forced Germany to confront fundamental questions about its identity, its capacity, and its role in the world. The ultimate outcome of this great national project—whether it will be seen as a successful model of integration or a cautionary tale of overreach—is still being written in communities, workplaces, and polling stations across the country. The welcome mats may have been folded away, but the long, hard work of building a cohesive, diverse society continues.