Hamburg

When I first began expoloring photography in 2011, social issues quite naturally became one of my biggest focal points.

In the case of Germany, many here will claim "homelessness does not exist in Germany" or go even further to claim "homelessness is only an American problem".  However, it certainly does exist, not only in Germany, but worldwide, and certainly throughout Europe- west, east, north, south.  In the case of the United States, there have been attempts, such as in Utah, to help reduce or eliminate homelessness, though there have been some criticisms of the program and if it was actually even effective.  However, the fact remains that attempts were and are being made to solve the situations in some way.  In Germany, homelessness, by contrast, is a dissonant topic that people would rather not discuss because it shatters the image of Europe's wealthiest country that has heavy influence over the rest of the continent.  However, beyond not discussing it, people go much further to try and unrealistically claim it "does not exist" at all.

Due to this, documenting homelessness became a strong focal point in my travels throughout Europe and the United States, often with startling similarities.

Hamburg, Germany, 2011

Refugee Border Crossing, Salzburg, Austria

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The border crossing at Salzburg, Austria, over the Salzburgerbruecke is one of the hotspots of the international media coverage.

It is here that the refugees, subject to the border closure by the German Federal Police, must wait until they are brought into Germany.

From a lengthy discussion with the Federal police speaker, it's a rather involved process they have been charged with and, to my knowledge, with little involvement from their Austrian counterparts, despite the fact that the refugees are waiting on the Austrian side of the bridge to get into Germany.  Numerous volunteers and help organization (Freilassing Hilfe, Red Cross, UNHCR) are on site bridging the gap between the German police on their side of the border and the refugees who are physically in Austria.  The refugees are lined up to be brought into Germany, after preliminary checks, then board large Federal Police buses to be brought to a furniture building for further processing.  From there, they reach the Freilassing train station and are photographed, fingerprinted (if needed), documents checked, and separated, by such things as age (more below).  The train at the station was bound for Duesseldorf, as Munich has closed its doors to refugees due to Oktoberfest.  Additional point of note: the police lock the doors to the trains.

Numerous minors traveling alone were separated out, as the police speaker mentioned they have special needs for travel and require assistance to assure safe passage.

Also of note, and rather shocking: how numerous the infants and children were among the refugees- not falling into the rumors spread around by racists, populists, and nationalists.

I spent several hours speaking with the refugees, hearing their plights, seeing pics of their hometowns and the devastation they fled from.  Additionally, numerous refugees are obviously educated and fled middle class backgrounds due to devastation in their homelands and unending wars.  Many fear the police of their home countries seeing their photos and declined to be photographed.  Some warmed up later.  There was incredible optimism for a new life to begin for them and end the dangerous and difficult prilgrimages.

These pictures (and others not posted here) may be licensed through Demotix

View from Germany of the refugees lined up in Austria.

Mohammed, who fled Fallujah, hopes to begin his new life in Germany.  Since he traveled alone, he has a lower preference to be called into Germany.

This is where numerous refugees sleep at night, while they go to the bridge during the day, hoping to be called to enter Germany.

Train in Freilassing, Germany, bound for Duesseldorf.

UNHCR on the scene.

Schadenfreude

Even unintentional comedy in Germany has Schadenfreude attached to it.

Marienplatz S-Bahn Station, Munich, Germany

Related:
Munich U-bahn stations here
Anti-Parallel here
Munich, July 26, Street Photography Tour here
Tourism here

Oberpollinger

Contrary to narratives, people in need do, in fact, exist in Germany.

Munchen Ist Bunt

At a rally held by The Freedom Party (Die Freiheit Partei), an allegedly nationalist, populist party, who holds regular speeches and demonstrations in Munich's city center.  The speeches appear inciteful and allegedly distort the history of National Socialism, the political Left, and the White Rose movement, according to protestors.

Incidentally, only a couple weeks before, at the same location (Karlsplatz), two police officers threatened me with arrest as I was taking pictures of the Freedom Party's demonstration with my phone.  Their reasoning: "photos and video can be put on the internet and on youtube" and they indicated specifically that this directive of photography and video being forbidden came from the city council.

In attendence with the Freedom Party was at least one member of the German Defence League, a partner organization with the English Defence League, among others.

Ironically, the German Defence League's name is not represented in German.

A counter-demonstrator against the Freedom Party.

Related:

Kein Mensch here
Münster: Keinenmeter here
Prinzipalmarkt, Münster here
Sang here