Inside Germany is our weekly look at some of the news, talking points and gossip in Germany that you might’ve missed. It’s published each Saturday and members can receive it directly to their inbox by going to their newsletter preferences or adding their email to the sign-up box in this article.

Is it summer yet?

Beside one, admittedly intense, heatwave at the beginning of July, summer in Germany this year has been…not very summery so far.

People who have spent more than a couple summers in the country will be aware that a few weeks of cold weather and rain, even in the middle of July or August, are not uncommon. But the more-than-month-long stream of grey weather days, punctuated by chilly evenings and thunderstorms have really gotten to some people.

‘We’ve been robbed’, wrote Local writer Tom Pugh this week, lamenting the loss of summer sunshine that meteorologists had practically promised us a few months back, at the end of a particularly warm and dry spring. He was joined by the likes of Jordan Prince, whose often humorous videos about life in Germany have gained him a significant online following.

Fortunately for them, and everyone else who prefers their summer with a bit a sunshine, the next wave of warm weather has begun.

On Saturday, the German weather service (DWD) has forecast high temperatures in the lower 30s in much of southern Germany, as well as Dresden and Berlin. And the warm weather is expected to stick around for a few days. 

High temperatures are expected to hover around 30C in southern Germany, and in central parts of the country they are expected to rise up to around 34C by Tuesday. In northern, coastal regions temperatures will remain cooler with high temperatures ranging between 22C and 28C through the top of the week.

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Tips for your holidays

Someone who just recently moved to Germany told me that his whole street (in a very central Berlin neighbourhood) seems to have suddenly emptied out. He was wondering what strange event he missed that could have caused the quiet exodus. I told him, it’s probably just August – the month when it seems like the whole country packs up and goes on vacation.

For the uninitiated, this guide to vacationing like a German can help you really soak in the entire Urlaub experience.

A woman floats on Lake Garda, a lake in northern Italy that is a popular destination for German tourists in the summer. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Daniel Reinhardt

And if you plan on flying home with a bag full of souvenirs, you can check this list to find out exactly how many bottles of Spanish wine, or Italian handbags, you can bring back duty-free.

Whatever you do, be advised not to try and pull your kids out of school early to extend your vacation period or beat the crowds.

Media reports on Friday highlighted how local authorities can issue fines against families that do so. Reportedly, 303 fines for the “unauthorized extension of holidays” were issued in Hamburg this year – a new record number of violations for the northern city-state.

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No more German weapons for use in Gaza

Germany is stopping the export of weapons to Israel for use in the Gaza Strip, Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced Friday. The Chancellor’s announcement came shortly after Israel said it would “take control” of Gaza City, a plan which sparked immediate criticism from governments around the world.

The arms export freeze marks a dramatic change of course for the German government, which has long been one of Israel’s staunchest international allies as it has sought to atone for the Holocaust.

Recent days and weeks have seen leaders, both political and cultural within Germany, show signs that they are increasingly willing to speak out against the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Germany’s Foreign Minister began with somewhat cryptic comments, such as saying that Israel was “increasingly in the minority” on the issue of Palestinian statehood, after allies like France suggested they were ready to do so.

Since last week, a growing list of German celebrities – including pop-star Nina Chuba and Israeli Golden Globe winner Ari Folman – signed an open letter to Chancellor Merz urging him to to stop arms deliveries.

Germany is known to be the second biggest supplier of weapons to Israel, behind the US. Deliveries from Germany have included firearms, ammunition, weapons parts and special armoured vehicles, among other equipment, the government said in June in response to a parliamentary request.

Unaufhaltsam und unerwünscht: Eine invasive Pflanze breitet sich in Selm aus, obwohl die Stadtwerke sie bereits bekämpfen.

3 Min Lesezeit

Er wächst schnell, erdrückt heimische Pflanzenarten – und breitet sich auch in Selm zunehmend aus: Der Japanische Staudenknöterich, ursprünglich als dekorative Zierpflanze eingeführt, gilt heute als eine der aggressivsten invasiven Arten weltweit. Was andernorts bereits dichte Pflanzenteppiche entlang von Straßen und Böschungen gebildet hat, zeigt sich nun auch in Selm – unter anderem auch am Freiherr-vom-Stein-Denkmal in Cappenberg.

„Der Japanische Staudenknöterich breitet sich auch im Selmer Stadtgebiet zunehmend aus“, bestätigt Selms Stadtsprecher Malte Woesmann. Während die Pflanze anfangs vor allem an Bahndämmen oder in offener Landschaft vorkam, trete sie inzwischen vermehrt in bebauten Bereichen auf. Noch seien Parkanlagen und Spielplätze nicht betroffen, sagt Woesmann. Auf Brachflächen greife sie dagegen nach Beobachtung der Stadtwerke-Mitarbeitenden besonders rasant um sich.

Die Stadtwerke Selm beobachten das nicht nur, sondern kämpfen auch dagegen – mit verschiedenen Maßnahmen, die alle etwas gemeinsam haben.

Auskoffern, auffüllen, abschneiden

Es handelt sich durchweg um mechanische Formen der Bekämpfung. „Befallene Flächen werden großzügig ausgekoffert, mit neuem Boden aufgefüllt und mit Wurzelfolie gesichert, um einen erneuten Austrieb zu verhindern“, teilt Stadtsprecher Malte Woesmann auf Anfrage mit. Die Pflanzen alle vier bis sechs Wochen abzuschneiden, könne das Wachstum auch eindämmen. Das „beseitigt die Pflanze jedoch nicht vollständig“. Der Einsatz chemischer Mittel sei jedoch keine Option, da „die Zulassungen für entsprechende Pflanzenschutzmittel ausgelaufen sind.“

Nicht nur dort, wo die bis zu vier Meter hohen Pflanzen wuchern, will die Stadt aktiv werden. Wichtig sei auch die Aufklärung der Bevölkerung, so Woesmann. Die Stadt warnt eindringlich davor, die Pflanze im eigenen Garten zu kultivieren: „Staudenknöterich sollte nicht gepflanzt werden, auch wenn er weiterhin im Handel angeboten wird“ – anders als etwa der Schweiz oder Großbritannien. Dort ist der Verkauf, die Anpflanzung und Duldung des Japanischen Staudenknöterichs bereits gesetzlich verboten. Mehr noch: Der Knöterich muss sogar aus Gärten entfernt werden. Wer dem nicht nachkommt, riskiert nicht nur Strafen, sondern auch Wertminderungen seines Grundstücks.

Selbst kleine Wurzeln treiben noch aus

Nicht nur die Stadt Selm und die Stadtwerke, sondern auch andere Behörden bundesweit, Naturschutzverbände und Landwirtschaftskammer warnen einhellig vor dem Japanischen Staudenknöterich mit seinen rotbraungefleckten Stängeln. Der ist zwar nicht giftig für Mensch und Tier, aber Gift für ein vielfältiges Ökosystem, da er andere Arten im Nu verdrängt – eine unangenehme Eigenschaft, die er auch mit seinen beiden nahen Verwandten teilt: dem Sachalin-Staudenknöterich und dem Böhmischen Staudenknöterich, die beide behaarte Blätter haben. Das Team der Stadtwerke hatte alle drei Arten auf dem Kieker: „Alle drei in Selm vorkommenden Arten besitzen ein unterirdisches Rhizomsystem“, also ein unterirdisches Sprossachsensystem, von dem selbst kleinste Wurzelreste noch austreiben.

Herkulesstaude auch noch im Blick

Auch wenn sich die Fachleute der Stadt Selm derzeit bei der Bekämpfung invasiver Arten auf den Staudenknöterich fokussieren: Die giftige Herkulesstaude (Riesen-Bärenklau), die bei Hautkontakt schwere Reaktionen verursachen kann, verlieren sie nach eigenen Angaben nicht aus dem Blick. „Auf städtischen Flächen wird sie nach Meldung umgehend entfernt, meist handelt es sich um kleine Bestände“, so Woesmann. Sobald Beschäftigte der Stadtwerke auf Privatgrundstücken entsprechende Pflanzen entdecken, „informiert die Ordnungsbehörde die Eigentümer und fordert zur Beseitigung auf“.

Hinweis der Redaktion: Dieser Artikel erschien ursprünglich am 31. Juli 2025.

A horrifying incident occurred at a busy Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, when a vehicle plowed through a crowd, killing five people, including a young child, and injuring 200 others, with 15 in critical condition. The attack happened shortly after 7:00 PM local time, sending shockwaves across the nation during the holiday season.

Details of the Incident

The driver of the car, a 50-year-old Saudi Arabian doctor who has been residing in Germany since 2006, was swiftly apprehended at the scene by local authorities. Witnesses described a chaotic and terrifying scene as the vehicle, a rented black BMW, tore through the festive market, covering about 400 meters before coming to a halt.

Authorities initially evacuated the area and examined the vehicle after reports of a suspicious item. However, no explosives or weapons were found, and officials are currently treating the event as a deliberate attack. Investigations into the suspect’s motives are ongoing, but no immediate links to extremist groups have been confirmed.

Eyewitness Accounts

Shocked bystanders described the moment the car veered into the crowd as surreal and devastating. “It felt like everything stopped,” one witness recounted. “There were screams, people running, and others lying injured on the ground.”

Emergency services arrived swiftly, setting up a triage center at the site. Helicopters were used to airlift critically injured individuals to nearby hospitals.

Response from Officials

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his deep condolences to the victims’ families and pledged full support for those affected. In a statement, he emphasized the importance of vigilance and solidarity during the festive season.

Magdeburg Mayor Simone Borris called the incident a “dark day” for the city, urging residents to come together in support of the victims and their families. The city has announced plans for a memorial event to honor those who lost their lives and the injured.

Increased Security Measures

This incident has drawn comparisons to the 2016 Berlin Christmas market attack, reigniting concerns about public safety at holiday events. In response, German authorities have bolstered security at Christmas markets nationwide, deploying additional police forces and introducing stricter vehicle access controls to minimize risks.

Community Reaction

The local community in Magdeburg is in mourning, with tributes pouring in for the victims. Vigils are being organized at various locations, and flowers have been laid at the scene of the tragedy. Social media has been flooded with messages of support and solidarity.

Investigation Continues

As investigations continue, officials are working to determine whether the suspect acted alone or was influenced by external factors. While authorities remain cautious in confirming any connections to extremist ideologies, they have not ruled out the possibility.

This tragic event underscores the need for heightened security during large public gatherings and the resilience of communities in the face of adversity. As Germany reels from the impact of this attack, the nation stands united in grief and resolve.