Rural Germany to undergo extreme transformations as Syrian refugees seek shelter

The out-of-the-way village of Sumte, Germany has a population of 102; in a few short weeks, the number will jump to almost 1,000 as the German government desperately seeks housing for the influx of Syrian refugees before winter. Obviously, the impending population boom has placed a lot of stress on Sumte and other villages like it. Residents wonder if the village will be able to support the refugees at all; there is little infrastructure in the area, no schools, police, or stores. Not even the local sewage system could  support 1,000 people at present. Those who have lived in Sumte all their lives worry about how being outnumbered more than 7:1 by non-Germans will affect their small community.

Despite these concerns, however, residents say an even more pressing issue is what the influx of foreigners means for the exposure of right-wing nationalist parties which have been heavily suppressed in Germany following World War II.  Many fear that the changes Germany will be forced to undergo in the near future will allow parties like the neo-Nazis to exploit the public's nervousness and gain ground politically. It remains to be seen if it is an unfounded fear; there are those in Germany who still remember the effects of the war, and the state has never shied away from the realities of its past. For right-wing extremist groups in Germany, gaining a foothold politically would take an extreme circumstance, but some feel that the Syrian crisis might be the "ideal platform."

Although they met the news of the incoming refugees with anger, Sumte's residents have since changed their tune and are attempting to do everything they can to rally the community and welcome Syrians. Despite their misgivings, the majority feel vast sympathy for the refugees and are committed to an open-minded, moderate stance that has defined German politics since the war. Only time will tell how Germany will handle the crisis they have championed.

Samantha Johnson