Moods have changed in Germany
More than half of Germans believe that Russia poses a threat to the country’s security, according to the latest Deutschlandtrend poll, reports DW.
According to the study, 56% of German voters believe that Russia poses a threat to Germany’s security. The poll was conducted from August 31 to September 2 among 1,319 people.
Society’s sentiment has intensified amid a series of incidents that authorities attribute to hybrid warfare. In recent weeks, Germany has been confronted with a drone attack on Leipzig Airport, an arson attack near defense industry facilities in Bavaria, and the discovery of explosive and pyrotechnic devices at two electrical substations.
After an initial cautiousness, the German government publicly blamed Russia for the Leipzig attack. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated: “We are not at war, but we can no longer say we live in peace.”
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, for his part, warned that Germany has become a “daily target of hybrid warfare.” This refers not to military action, but to cyberattacks, espionage, propaganda, disinformation, and sabotage.
Attitudes toward Russia, however, vary significantly across the country’s regions. Almost half of residents in eastern Germany consider the Russian threat insignificant or not perceived at all. A similar picture is observed among supporters of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party—about two-thirds of its voters consider the threat from Russia low.
These differences are also reflected in attitudes toward military aid to Ukraine. Slightly more than half of Germans consider the current level of support sufficient or favor increasing it. Conversely, more than four in ten believe Germany has gone too far.