Friday, July 17, 2026 · 01:36 CEST · Berlin

The New German

Tag: Germany

  • Germany Cuts Red Tape: E-Car Sticker Gone, Jobcenter Easier

    Germany Cuts Red Tape: E-Car Sticker Gone, Jobcenter Easier

    Germany’s government agreed a new round of bureaucracy cuts on July 15, 2026, at a second meeting of the so-called “Entlastungskabinett” (“relief cabinet”). Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger said the changes should save businesses and citizens around 600 million euros a year, adding: “This government keeps its word on cutting bureaucracy.”

    In the health system, the government is digitizing the last analog referral process: doctor referrals will now be handled electronically. It is also further developing the electronic patient file (elektronische Patientenakte) and removing barriers to hospitals using modern cloud infrastructure.

    At the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency), unemployed people will be able to make binding agreements with their Jobcenter by email, and complete mandatory appointments by video call instead of showing up in person.

    Two long-criticized rules are also being scrapped. Owners of electric cars will no longer need to apply for the green environmental sticker (Umweltplakette) that allows vehicles to drive in cities’ low-emission zones, even though EVs produce no local emissions. And the mandatory regular safety check on electrical devices — until now required every two years in offices and every year in workshops, covering everything “from the coffee machine to large installations” — will only apply where there is an actual safety risk.

    Industry groups welcomed the steps but want faster progress. Holger Schwannecke of the ZDH craft trade association called the record for craft businesses “sobering” so far, and Bitkom president Ralf Wintergerst said many announced measures still need to be fully carried out.

    What this means for you: If you drive an electric car in Germany, you should no longer need to apply for or display an environmental sticker to enter a city’s low-emission zone. And if you’re registered as unemployed with the Jobcenter, you may now be able to handle required appointments and agreements by email or video call instead of going in person.

  • DWD Warns of More Severe Storms After Heavy Hail Damages Northern Germany

    DWD Warns of More Severe Storms After Heavy Hail Damages Northern Germany

    A severe storm front brought golf ball-sized hail, heavy rain and gusts to northern Germany on Monday, damaging cars, roofs and a printing plant, and briefly halting operations at an airport. Germany’s national weather service, the Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD), is now warning of further severe storms across large parts of the country today and into the coming days.

    The storms at a glance

    • Worst hit: Western Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and parts of Lower Saxony saw the heaviest hail and storm damage on Monday.
    • Response: Fire crews in the Hannover region alone were called out around 1,000 times.
    • Airport disruption: Hannover-Langenhagen airport paused check-in for about an hour on Monday evening for safety reasons.
    • Also affected: Heavy rain triggered around 115 fire brigade call-outs in the Gütersloh district of North Rhine-Westphalia.
    • Outlook: DWD warns of renewed severe thunderstorms today, especially in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, with unsettled weather expected in the days ahead.

    Hail and flooding hit the north hard

    A thunderstorm system carrying heavy rain, hail and storm gusts moved across western Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and parts of Lower Saxony on Monday afternoon and into the night, triggering numerous fire brigade call-outs. In Tostedt, south of Hamburg, golf ball-sized hailstones smashed car windows and dented bodywork, and dozens of roofs were damaged, a fire service spokesperson said. Streets flooded and many cellars filled with water.

    In the Hannover region alone, the fire brigade had to respond around 1,000 times. Hannover-Langenhagen airport suspended check-in for roughly an hour on Monday evening as a safety precaution, according to an airport spokesperson.

    In Wittenburg, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, firefighters brought in wheel loaders to clear piles of hail from the streets. Storm damage at a local printing plant meant several regional newspapers could not be printed on time, or at all. Fallen trees were reported in many areas, including near Ludwigslust-Parchim.

    Storm damage spreads to North Rhine-Westphalia

    Heavy rain also caused widespread disruption in North Rhine-Westphalia, particularly in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe region. The district fire brigade in Gütersloh said crews had been called out around 115 times in and around the town of Verl since Monday evening. In Bielefeld, the city fire brigade reported a roof truss fire believed to have been caused by a lightning strike.

    DWD: more storms on the way

    The DWD is forecasting further strong thunderstorms today and into tonight across parts of Germany. Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia are expected to see the most severe conditions, but localised heavy rain is also possible in Lower Saxony during the day.

    In western and southwestern Germany, the DWD is separately warning of “strong heat stress” in some areas. From central to southern Germany, forecasters expect potentially strong thunderstorms bringing heavy rain, storm gusts and hail, with isolated risk of extreme heavy rain, severe hail and damaging gusts.

    According to the DWD, the thunderstorms are likely to clear only slowly, meaning severe local storms remain possible overnight. The agency expects the unsettled, turbulent weather pattern to continue in the days that follow.

    What it means for people living in Germany

    If you live in or are travelling through the warned regions, it is worth checking the DWD’s official warning map or the free NINA warning app before heading out, especially if you plan to drive or fly. Severe thunderstorm warnings (Unwetterwarnung) mean you should avoid parking under trees, secure loose items like patio furniture, and postpone travel where possible until the worst has passed.

    • Check flight status directly with your airline if flying via an affected airport, as ground operations can be paused at short notice.
    • If hail or storm damage affects your car or home, photograph the damage immediately and report it to your insurer (Hausratversicherung for household contents, Kfz-Versicherung for vehicles) as soon as possible.
    • Renters should notify their landlord promptly if a storm causes damage to windows, roofs or balconies.

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  • Germany and Austria to Keep Border Controls in Place

    Germany and Austria to Keep Border Controls in Place

    Germany and Austria will keep controls at their shared border in place for now. Interior ministers Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) and Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) confirmed the decision after talks in Berlin, saying the checks will stay until the effects of the European Union’s new asylum reform become clearer.

    The border controls at a glance

    • Since: Germany introduced border checks with Austria in 2015 and has since extended them to all its neighbouring countries.
    • Decision: Germany and Austria will keep the checks for now, interior ministers Alexander Dobrindt and Gerhard Karner said on 15 July 2026.
    • Reason given: Berlin wants to see the effects of the EU’s asylum reform, which took effect in June 2026, before considering changes.
    • EU position: The European Commission recommended in June that internal EU border controls be phased out.
    • Legal challenges: German courts have ruled some individual border checks unlawful.

    Why the checks are staying

    Dobrindt described the controls as functional, well coordinated between the two countries and doing an outstanding job. Karner said the checks were one of the measures that had helped reduce illegal migration into Austria and Germany. Both ministers stressed that Germany’s border checks now cover all of its neighbouring countries, not just Austria, a policy in place since 2015.

    Dobrindt said all sides have an interest in internal border checks eventually becoming unnecessary, but that the right conditions are not yet in place. He linked the checks to two things: a functioning European asylum system and effective protection of the EU’s external border. He also pointed to a separate, ongoing challenge — the integration of migrants already living in Germany, which he said remains unfinished work.

    Pressure from Brussels to end the checks

    The European Commission recommended in June 2026 that EU countries dismantle internal border controls, pointing to the bloc’s new asylum reform, which took effect the same month. Under EU rules, checks at internal borders are only meant to be allowed in exceptional cases and for a limited time. German courts have already ruled some individual border checks unlawful.

    Germany has pushed back against the Commission’s recommendation, arguing that the state and society still carry an elevated burden from the high number of people who arrived seeking refuge since 2015. The government says this justifies keeping the checks in place for now, despite the general EU rule that such controls should be temporary.

    What it means for people living in Germany

    If you regularly cross the German-Austrian border — for work, study or family visits — the practical situation does not change. Checks will continue, so it is worth building in extra time for delays and always carrying a valid passport or ID card, even on routes where checks feel routine or infrequent. The same applies at Germany’s other land borders, where similar controls have been in place since 2015.

    • Carry a passport or national ID card whenever you cross into or out of Germany, including on short trips.
    • Build extra time into your journey around border crossings, especially during busy travel periods.
    • If you are asked to show documents, this is a routine part of the ongoing checks, not a sign of a new policy.

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  • Students in Germany Spend Half Their Income on Housing

    Students in Germany Spend Half Their Income on Housing

    Students in Germany who no longer live with their parents spend an average of 54% of their disposable income on rent and housing costs, according to new data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). That is more than double the 24% share the general population spends on housing.

    The burden is even higher for students living alone, who spend 56% of their income on housing, Destatis found. Students who share a home only with other students or trainees fare slightly better, spending 49%.

    Two-thirds are “overburdened”

    Eurostat defines a household as overburdened by housing costs if it spends more than 40% of its disposable income on housing, even after any housing benefit (Wohngeld) is deducted. By that measure, 65% of students who live independently count as overburdened, compared with just 11% of the general population. Looking at all students, including those still living with parents, 28% are overburdened.

    Money is tight to begin with: half of independently living students have a net equivalised income of less than €963 a month, the data show. On average, 45% of student income comes from paid work, 29% from private support such as payments from parents or relatives, 14% from BAföG grants and scholarships, and 12% from other sources such as Kindergeld (child benefit) or survivor’s pensions.

    What this means for you: If you are studying in Germany and living away from your parents, budget for housing to take up roughly half of your income, and expect it to be tighter if you live alone. If your rent and bills push past 40% of your disposable income, you are in the same position as most independent-living students Destatis surveyed. Check whether you qualify for Wohngeld or BAföG to ease the load.

    Sources: tagesschau.de / Destatis

  • Care Home Costs Rise Again to €3,364 a Month

    Care Home Costs Rise Again to €3,364 a Month

    Anyone with a relative in a German nursing home is paying more this year: the average out-of-pocket share, called the Eigenanteil, has risen to €3,364 a month nationwide for a resident’s first year in care.

    The figure comes from an evaluation by the VDEK, the association of Germany’s substitute health insurers (including Techniker Krankenkasse, Barmer and DAK-Gesundheit), based on data collected up to 1 July 2026. That’s €119 more per month than at the start of the year, and €256 more than on 1 July 2025.

    This Eigenanteil covers only care and nursing itself. Germany’s long-term care insurance, the Pflegeversicherung, pays part of the cost but not all of it, unlike statutory health insurance. On top of that, residents also pay separately for room and board, building investment costs, and a training levy.

    Costs vary sharply by state. Bremen is the most expensive, at €3,761 a month, followed by Saarland (€3,695) and Baden-Württemberg (€3,657). Saxony-Anhalt is the cheapest at €2,891, with Lower Saxony (€3,008) and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (€3,032) also below average.

    VDEK chief executive Ulrike Elsner attributed the rise to high staffing costs, saying pay increases for care workers were overdue and justified, but that this should not keep piling costs onto people needing care. A planned care reform is meant to address this. Care recipients already receive relief surcharges that reduce their care-only share by 15% in year one, 30% in year two, 50% in year three, and 75% from year four onward. Under a Health Ministry draft, the gap between these steps would stretch from 12 to 18 months, saving €2.6 billion next year.

    What this means for you

    If you have a parent or relative moving into a German care home, budget for regional differences of over €800 a month between states, plus separate charges for accommodation and meals on top of the care fee itself.

  • Tobacco Tax in Germany to Rise Higher Than Planned

    Tobacco Tax in Germany to Rise Higher Than Planned

    Germany’s coalition government reportedly plans to raise the tobacco tax by more than originally planned, pushing the price of a pack of cigarettes to nearly €12 by 2030.

    According to a report by Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, which cites a draft document (Formulierungshilfe) from the Federal Finance Ministry, the price of a pack of 20 cigarettes would climb step by step to almost €12 by 2030 — about 40 cents more than previously planned. Taxes on fine-cut tobacco (for rolling cigarettes), pipe tobacco, cigars and cigarillos would also rise every year under the draft. The tax on e-cigarette liquids would increase by one cent per milliliter annually. The news agency dpa also reported a higher tax rate than planned, citing coalition sources.

    The government points to a gap in the federal budget as the reason for the change. Officials also linked the increase to public health, saying it supports the goal of lowering smoking rates among young people and adults.

    The higher rates are expected to bring in an estimated €756 million in extra tax revenue in 2027, rising to €3.589 billion in 2030 as the step-by-step increases take full effect.

    What this means for you: If you smoke or vape in Germany, expect cigarettes, rolling tobacco, cigars and e-cigarette liquids to get more expensive gradually through 2030. This is still a draft plan from the finance ministry, not a passed law, so the exact amount and timeline of the expected rises is still unclear. But it’s worth budgeting for if you’re a regular buyer, as prices are about to rise to 12€ per package by 2030. This would mean an increase of about 20% over current prices of 10€ per package.

    Sources: tagesschau.de

    This news brief was prepared with automated tools and follows our editorial standards. Spotted an error? See our corrections policy.

  • Bundestag Approves Sweeping Expansion of Federal Police Powers

    Bundestag Approves Sweeping Expansion of Federal Police Powers

    The Bundestag has voted to sharply expand the powers of Germany’s federal police (Bundespolizei). The new Federal Police Act (Bundespolizeigesetz), passed on 10 July 2026, allows real-time facial recognition in specific danger situations, AI-assisted detection of suspicious movements, and suspicion-free identity checks in weapon and knife ban zones. The bill still needs approval from the Bundesrat, Germany’s upper house, after the summer break.

    The new Federal Police Act at a glance

    • Vote: Passed by the Bundestag on 10 July 2026 with votes from the CDU/CSU and SPD; the Left Party and the Greens voted against it, and the AfD abstained.
    • Who’s affected: Germany’s roughly 55,000 federal police officers, whose main rulebook has largely dated from 1994.
    • New tools: Real-time facial recognition in acute danger situations, AI-based detection of suspicious movement patterns, suspicion-free checks in knife ban zones, expanded phone surveillance, federal police-initiated deportation detention requests, and drone use plus counter-drone measures.
    • Next step: The Bundesrat must still approve the law after the summer break. Previous reform attempts failed there in 2021 and again under the last coalition government.

    Facial recognition, but only in emergencies

    Under the new law, federal police officers may use automatic real-time facial recognition within their jurisdiction, but only when there is a specific danger situation. The law names examples such as an acute threat to the security of the federal government or a state, or to a person’s life. One scenario cited during the debate: if the parents of an abducted child supply a photo, police could match it in real time against footage from cameras at airports and train stations.

    AI to spot dangerous movements, more checks at stations

    The law also allows federal police to use video technology combined with artificial intelligence to detect movement patterns that suggest a crime is underway, such as someone raising a fist, drawing a knife, or a person falling onto train tracks. Separately, in designated weapon and knife ban zones — often located at train stations — federal police will be able to carry out identity checks without needing a specific suspicion.

    More powers over phones, drones and deportations

    To fight extremism and people-smuggling crime, federal police gain new powers for phone surveillance, including source telecommunications surveillance (Quellen-Telekommunikationsüberwachung) — secretly reading communications on a device before it is encrypted. Identifying and locating mobile phone cards and devices will also become easier.

    Federal police will also be able to apply directly to a court for deportation detention (Abschiebehaft). This applies to foreign nationals who are required to leave Germany and have no toleration status (Duldung). The aim, according to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, is to stop people who have been stopped by police from being released and then going into hiding.

    The law additionally allows officers to fly their own drones for surveillance and reconnaissance, and to counter hostile drones using measures such as electromagnetic pulses, GPS jamming or physical intervention.

    Opposition raises legal concerns

    The Greens and the Left Party both voted against the bill. Green MP Irene Mihalic said there were legal doubts about the biometric real-time surveillance provisions. Left Party MP Clara Bünger warned the reform would make blanket surveillance the norm. The CDU’s Josef Oster accused the AfD, which abstained, of not having engaged with the details of the bill.

    What it means for people living in Germany

    If the Bundesrat approves the law after the summer break, internationals should expect more frequent identity checks at train stations and airports, particularly in areas marked as knife or weapon ban zones, where police will no longer need a specific reason to stop someone. Real-time facial recognition is limited by law to acute danger situations rather than routine use. People without a residence permit or toleration status (Duldung) who are required to leave the country face a faster path to deportation detention, since federal police can now request it directly from a court.

    • Carry valid ID when travelling through train stations and airports, especially in marked weapon and knife ban zones.
    • The law has not yet taken effect — it still needs the Bundesrat’s approval, expected after the summer break.
    • [VERIFY: exact list of designated weapon and knife ban zones and planned effective date once the Bundesrat votes]

    Reporting based on tagesschau.de, “Bundestag weitet Befugnisse von Bundespolizei deutlich aus,” 10 July 2026.

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  • Germany Issued 110,000 Family Reunification Visas in 2025

    Germany Issued 110,000 Family Reunification Visas in 2025

    Germany issued 110,388 family reunification visas in 2025, according to figures the federal government gave the Bundestag this month. In the first five months of 2026 alone, a further 43,739 were granted — a pace that, if it continued for the rest of the year, would land close to last year’s total.

    The numbers at a glance

    • 2025 (full year): 17,823 spousal visas granted to join German citizens; 92,565 other family reunification visas
    • 2026 (January–May): 7,946 spousal visas to join German citizens; 35,793 other family reunification visas
    • 2025 total: 110,388 family reunification visas issued
    • Source: Federal government answer to a parliamentary question from the AfD, published 10 July 2026

    What the figures cover

    The government’s answer, given in response to a parliamentary question from the AfD parliamentary group, splits family reunification visas (Familiennachzug) into two groups. The first is spousal visas issued specifically to join a German citizen (Ehegattennachzug zu deutschen Staatsbürgern) — that is, foreign nationals marrying or already married to a German passport holder. The second, larger category covers all other family reunification visas, which includes spouses and children joining foreign nationals already living in Germany, among other relatives.

    In 2025, spousal visas to German citizens made up a relatively small share of the total: 17,823 out of 110,388, or roughly one in six. The remaining 92,565 visas went to people joining family members who are themselves foreign nationals residing in Germany, such as skilled workers or people with residence permits.

    How 2026 compares so far

    The first five months of 2026 saw 7,946 spousal visas to German citizens and 35,793 other family reunification visas, for a combined 43,739. That is already close to 40 percent of the entire 2025 total after less than half the year — a pace that, extended across all twelve months, would put 2026 in a similar range to 2025, though the government’s figures only cover January through May and do not include a forecast for the rest of the year.

    The government’s answer does not give reasons for the numbers, and [VERIFY: whether processing delays, embassy capacity, or policy changes account for month-to-month variation] is not addressed in the response. It also does not break down the figures by country of origin or by consulate.

    What it means for people living in Germany

    If you are a foreign national married to a German citizen, or planning to bring a spouse, child, or other close relative to Germany, these figures are a reminder that the process runs through a German embassy or consulate abroad, not a local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde). Typical steps include booking an appointment at the relevant German mission, providing a valid marriage or birth certificate, and — for many spouse visas — proof of basic German language skills.

    • Start the visa application at the German embassy or consulate in your home country, not after arrival in Germany.
    • Check current language requirements and required documents with your local German mission, as these can vary by country and visa type.
    • Keep in mind that processing times were not published in this government answer; ask your embassy directly for current wait times [VERIFY: current processing times by location].

    The figures themselves don’t change any rules — they are a snapshot released in response to a parliamentary question. But they give a rare, concrete sense of scale for a process that affects tens of thousands of families every year.

    Reporting based on the German Bundestag’s press release “Zahl erteilter Visa zum Familiennachzug in 2025 und 2026” (hib 576/2026), published 10 July 2026, summarising the federal government’s answer to a parliamentary question from the AfD parliamentary group.

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  • Germany Faces Highest Wildfire Warning Level This Weekend

    Germany Faces Highest Wildfire Warning Level This Weekend

    Forest fire danger is rising sharply across Germany this weekend. The German Weather Service (Deutscher Wetterdienst, DWD) says parts of the southwest will reach warning level five — the highest on its scale — as a heatwave grips the region. The risk is expected to spread further east and north into Sunday.

    The wildfire risk at a glance

    • Highest level (5): forecast for Saturday along the border area between Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and France, where temperatures are currently highest.
    • Level 4: covers nearly all of Baden-Württemberg, southern Rhineland-Palatinate, southern Hesse and northern Bavaria until Tuesday, plus pockets of western North Rhine-Westphalia and eastern Brandenburg.
    • Level 3 (“medium risk”): applies to most of the rest of the country.
    • Sunday: the high-risk zone widens to include southern Baden-Württemberg and the outskirts of Berlin, while a diagonal band from the northwest to the southeast sees lower risk.

    Where the risk is highest

    According to DWD maps, larger and larger areas turn red on the forest fire danger index as the weekend goes on. The southwest is affected first, with the north-east following later. On Saturday, the greatest danger is at the border between Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate and the French border, an area currently experiencing especially high temperatures. Level four, one step below the maximum, applies across almost all of Baden-Württemberg, southern Rhineland-Palatinate, southern Hesse and northern Bavaria through Tuesday, along with isolated areas in western North Rhine-Westphalia and eastern Brandenburg.

    By Sunday, the danger zone expands further. In addition to the French border region, the DWD also classifies the southern part of Baden-Württemberg and the outer districts of Berlin as high-risk areas. A diagonal stretch of the country running from the northwest to the southeast shows comparatively lower risk on the same day.

    Why fires are becoming more common

    Germany’s rising wildfire risk comes as southern European countries, including Spain and France, battle serious forest fires of their own. A fire in southern Spain killed at least a dozen people, one of the deadliest in the country’s recorded history, after a severe heatwave swept across much of Europe.

    Wildfires have killed hundreds of people across Europe over the past decade, and scientists expect that toll to grow. Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth: since the 1980s, temperatures there have risen at roughly twice the global average, according to the EU’s Copernicus climate programme. Globally, 2025 was the third-hottest year on record. Researchers warn that climate change is making regions more vulnerable to forest fires.

    What it means for people living in Germany

    If you live in or are travelling through the affected regions — particularly the southwest, Bavaria, or the edges of Berlin and Brandenburg — it is worth checking the DWD’s forest fire danger index (Waldbrandgefahrenindex) before heading into wooded or rural areas over the weekend.

    • Avoid open flames, barbecues, and discarded cigarettes in or near forests and dry grassland — these are common causes of wildfires.
    • Follow any local fire bans or restrictions announced by municipal authorities or forestry offices.
    • If you spot smoke or fire, call the fire brigade on 112 immediately rather than assuming someone else has already reported it.
    • Be cautious with vehicles and machinery in rural areas, as hot exhaust parts can ignite dry vegetation.

    Data cited from the Deutscher Wetterdienst (German Weather Service) and the EU’s Copernicus climate programme.

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  • Germany’s June Heatwave Killed an Estimated 5,100 People

    Germany’s June Heatwave Killed an Estimated 5,100 People

    The heatwave that pushed temperatures above 40°C across Germany in late June killed an estimated 5,100 people, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the country’s federal public health agency. That is already far more than Germany typically records in an entire year — and the summer is not over: the next heatwave is forecast for the coming days.
    The numbers at a glance
    • Estimated heat deaths since mid-June: about 5,100 (RKI; range 4,410–5,850 for April to June 28).
    • Deadliest week: June 22–28 alone accounted for roughly 4,310 deaths.
    • For comparison: Germany averaged about 2,900 heat-related deaths per whole year from 2023 to 2025.
    • Most affected: people over 75 — around 2,950 of the dead were 85 or older; more women than men.
    • June 2026: the second-warmest June ever recorded in Germany, with peaks above 41°C.

    More deaths in two weeks than in entire previous years

    The RKI’s latest heat-mortality reports show how exceptional the late-June heat was. In the same April-to-June period, the institute estimated 560 heat-related deaths in 2025, 470 in 2024 and 810 in 2023. This year’s figure of around 5,100 is roughly seven times the highest of those — and it was reached before July had even begun. The true toll may be higher still. The Federal Statistical Office counted 6,800 excess deaths in the week of June 22–28 alone, using a different method. The RKI itself notes that its model may understate the impact, and that figures for recent weeks can still rise as late death reports come in. Heat rarely appears on a death certificate. In most cases, extreme temperatures act together with existing conditions — heart disease, respiratory illness — which is why the death toll has to be estimated statistically, from mortality data and temperature readings at 52 weather stations.

    Who is most at risk

    The victims were overwhelmingly elderly. Of the estimated deaths up to June 28, around 2,950 were people aged 85 or older, 1,320 were between 75 and 84, 550 between 65 and 74, and about 300 were under 65. More women than men died — largely because women make up a larger share of the oldest age groups. Researchers stress that deaths are only part of the picture. “Heat is a relevant health risk factor, especially for older people, people with pre-existing conditions, pregnant women, but also for people working outdoors,” said Alexandra Schneider of Helmholtz Munich. Veronika Huber of the Spanish research council CSIC called the deaths “the tip of the iceberg,” pointing to overcrowded emergency rooms and overstretched ambulance services on hot days.

    A June of records

    June 2026 was Germany’s second-warmest June since records began, behind only 2019, according to the German Weather Service (DWD). The final week brought several extremes at once: temperatures above 41°C were measured repeatedly, 46 weather stations broke the 40°C mark on June 27, and the night of June 27–28 was provisionally the warmest night ever recorded in Germany. The nationwide mean temperature that week was 26.4°C — far above the threshold at which heat-related mortality rises sharply.

    Hospitals and care homes under pressure

    The German Foundation for Patient Protection criticised how poorly prepared hospitals and nursing homes are for extreme heat — many lack even basic external shading. Its chairman, Eugen Brysch, called for a €30 billion federal investment programme to make medical and care facilities heat-proof. “Heat protection plans end where patient protection costs money,” he said.

    What it means for people living in Germany

    If you are new to Germany, two things are worth knowing. First, air conditioning is rare here: most flats, offices, care homes and even hospitals do not have it, so buildings heat up and stay hot — especially top-floor flats under the roof. Second, forecasters already see the next heatwave arriving within days. The standard advice from German health authorities: drink water regularly before you feel thirsty, keep windows and blinds closed during the day and air the flat at night, avoid exertion in the midday heat, and never leave children or pets in a parked car. Check in on elderly neighbours or relatives — the people dying in these statistics are mostly over 75 and often live alone. Signs of heatstroke (confusion, hot dry skin, loss of consciousness) are a medical emergency: call 112.
    Reporting based on RKI heat-mortality reports and dpa reporting published by FAZ, t-online and Tagesspiegel. Understand Germany, in plain English. Sign up for The New German newsletter for the news that matters to internationals living here.