"We, the East Germans surpassed 70 years, we know what it means to be refugees. As a child, after the war, I also had to leave my home and arrived empty-west of Germany hands.
Now it's the same, "says Hans Köpke, a retiree who has just delivered a bag full of toys. Beside her, a man gives organizers an envelope on which is written: "Welcome to Germany" Inside are 160 euros. "I want to have a good welcome. I already consider them Germans, "he says.
The wave of solidarity with the people of Munich has surprised the authorities, to the point that police called on Tuesday afternoon to stop making donations because they did not need more. Volunteers who yesterday stood guard at the train station were forced to reject many donations.
"Here there was a large mobilization in the nineties to welcome expelled by the war in the Balkans. But the current response is even greater, "says Monika Steinhauser, the Refugee Council Munich.
The volunteers peak was reached on Tuesday, when the city hosted more than 2,000 refugees from Vienna or Budapest. On Wednesday the situation was calmer. The number of asylum seekers was reduced to a few hundred.
But volunteers believe that this mess is momentary. And the next few days are going to be hard. Hundreds of refugees are about to come to Berlin, whose authorities are improvising emergency accommodation.The solidarity of those who come to the station contrasts with that of some right-wing extremist racist throwing a few screams.
And with the increasing number of neo-Nazis attacking refugee centers. This Wednesday, launching pepper spray to a shelter in the east of the country he left thirty minor injuries, with children included.
They are the "dark Germany" of which he spoke last week the president, Joachim Gauck week. Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday called on his fellow citizens who do not follow those throwing xenophobic messages, for those who said there would be no understanding or tolerance
