DW's weekly look at German politics and society In this edition: German-US relations are in focus as Chancellor Friedrich Merz marks one year in office; the German economy is affected by high energy prices, but there's a silver lining; cyberattacks are on the rise; the forgotten scandal of Germany's last Kaiser and his special friend is back in the public eye; and the Spreewald sees the return of its summer mail barge. To mark his first year in office, Chancellor Friedrich Merz explained himself in on ARD public television Willkommen to DW Berlin Briefing by Michaela Küfner Chief Political Editor Berlin Briefing time! Is Donald Trump breaking up with Friedrich Merz?! How else to explain the announcement of the withdrawal of more than 5,000 troops from Germany and Trump's sudden infliction of instant 25% tariffs — instead of the previously agreed 15% — on European cars and trucks. That has the potential to wipe out the modest 0.3% growth Germany is currently clinging to. Additionally, President Joe Biden's promise to station long-range Tomahawk missiles in Germany until Europe can develop its own system appears to have evaporated. Not that anyone in Germany had actually been banking on this. So, what did Germany do to deserve this? You might well ask! Well, Chancellor Friedrich Merz did what many Berlin political pundits see as "a typical Merz": He lost his cool — not in a carefully worded speech, but in front of a high school classroom, answering the questions of teenage students. Merz described the United States as being "humiliated" by Iran and expressed frustration at what he described as the US' lack of a strategy in this war. DW's Nina Haase has this summary of the latest spat. In an interview marking his first year as chancellor on May 6, Merz did protest that many of his pronouncements were "not new," but added that he is "not giving up on working to improve transatlantic relations." Not that he has a choice. Add the delay in delivering domestic reforms and this is not the anniversary Merz had hoped for. Merz himself says that the success of his government is not a given. But ask around in Berlin or Brussels and most agree: Failure is not an option. Here is our analysis of Merz's first 12 months as chancellor. For in-depth analysis, tap into our upcoming Berlin Briefing podcast episode this Friday. And with that, I hand over to our team for a look at more news from Germany. CYBERATTACKS AND ESPIONAGE Cyberattacks on Germany are intensifying. From airports and railways to public services and industry, critical infrastructure is under threat. As attacks reach record levels, fears are growing that they could spill into a wider conflict. DW's Maximiliane Koschyk and Franziska Wüst joined a German military cyber exercise and spoke with intelligence chiefs and experts about how prepared Germany really is to defend itself in cyberspace. Can Berlin fight back against cyberattacks? Thousands of cyberattacks hit the country every day — silent, invisible and often unnoticed. Once a criminal tool, cyberattacks are increasingly being used for political leverage. ECONOMIC WOES — AND A SILVER LINING Germany is affected by the surge in global fuel prices amid the Iran war. The country's chemical industry is under mounting pressure as soaring energy prices threaten one of the country's most important industrial backbones. The sector, which supplies everything from plastics and fertilizers to pharmaceuticals and fuels, is highly energy intensive — relying heavily on imported fossil fuels. DW's Sami Behbehani reports: The woes of Leuna Chemical Park At the Leuna Chemical Park, Germany's largest integrated chemical site, more than 30 companies are grappling with sharply higher costs after the wars in Ukraine and Iran pushed gas prices to new highs. For years, doubts have grown about the international competitiveness of German industry. Take the photovoltaic sector, for example, where Germany had a lead but the real action has long since shifted to eastern Asia. Similarly, its famed automotive industry is fast losing ground. Yet some German giants remain global leaders, including SAP, Europe's largest software provider, Deutsche Telekom, a leader in telecommunications and DHL Group, the world's top logistics and international express shipping firm. Where Germany's economy still excels Germany still ranks among the top five largest economies in the world, even as growth forecasts are slashed. DW's Dirk Kaufmann explains that this isn't just thanks to a few big names, but rather owes a lot to small and midsize businesses. QUEER HISTORY A porcelain vase has just been sold at the Berlin branch of Germany's Lempertz auction house for €300,000 ($350,000). It is thought to have been made as a gift from Kaiser Wilhelm II, the last emperor of Germany, to his friend Prince Philipp of Eulenburg-Hertefeld as a sign of his special affection. The Eulenburg affair The relationship between the German emperor and Prince Eulenburg was at the center of a scandal that is believed to have shaken all of Europe and transformed public opinion on the monarchy. DW's Helen Whittle took a deep dive into an almost forgotten affair in German history. AND FINALLY… In a remote German village, mail is delivered by boat during warmer months. The Spreewald, the forest on the banks of the Spree River south of Berlin, is famous for its network of 300 kilometers (about 185 miles) of waterways, many of them leading through lush forests and wetlands. It was also designated a UNESCO biosphere to protect its ecosystem, including the region's diverse fauna and flora. Spreewald: A trip on the summer mail barge The village of Lehde has been getting its mail by boat for 129 years. Do you have questions about Germany? If so, and we'll try to answer them in an upcoming newsletter. Berlin Briefing podcast Our weekly podcast exploring German politics and the German perspective on global events shaping our world.
