The German Review

The German Review

What explains Berlin's New Year riots?

Jörg Luyken's avatar
Jörg Luyken
Jan 04, 2023
∙ Paid
a bunch of red pipes laying on the ground
Photo by Etienne Girardet on Unsplash

The Story

New Year in Germany is normally an unhinged affair. Even in small towns, Silvester is celebrated with alcohol-fuelled, do-it-yourself firework events in which adults and children alike merrily blast rounds of rockets into the sky.

The level of anarchy - and the fact that authorities let it happen - leaves for…

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