“Did police learn anything from Rostock-Lichtenhagen? No,” said Kleffner. “After that, whenever the police should have been responsible for protecting immigrants, in many cases they weren’t there either.”

In 2012, on the 20th anniversary of the Rostock riots, Dimitri Avramenko, a politician in Rostock, told Der Spiegel that there remained “a huge amount of latent racism in the population”.

“Eastern Germany is extremely thinly populated with foreigners. And that vacuum is immediately filled with xenophobic slogans,” he said.

Kesselring believes that times have changed.

“People who live here are more experienced with having immigrants around, which wasn’t the case back then,” she said. Rostock, she points out, has become the primary stopover for thousands of recent refugees from Syria, Eritrea and elsewhere as they board ferries to cross the Baltic Sea to Scandinavia.

These days, “people give out clothes and bed sheets at the station or help refugees get on a boat to go to Scandinavia and prepare them sandwiches,” Kesselring said. “There has been a shift in the welcoming culture. In 1992, nobody would have helped those victims of those attacks. No one would have prepared them sandwiches.”

Of the violent events of August 1992, she said: “I don’t think it could happen again.”

Modrow isn’t so convinced.

“I can’t understand these people anymore. We Germans are so unfair in that boats full of people sink just because we don’t want to have them here with us,” Modrow said of the refugees fleeing to Europe’s shores.

“I could imagine this could happen again. Especially now that there is such a move to the right in society. There’s too much right-wing thoughts among the population here. Anything is possible.”

This reporting was made possible by a McCloy Fellowship from the American Council on Germany. Photo: Thomas Marent/Corbis

Hi Polly,

I’m writing because I’ve been pretty confused lately and I love your column and your advice, so I figured I’d share my confusion with you. Perhaps you’ll tell me to seek help from a therapist, but I’m not quite ready to do that yet.

Lately, I’ve been wondering if perhaps I was meant to be
“ Did police learn anything from Rostock - Lichtenhagen? No, ” said Kleffner. “ After that, whenever the police should have been responsible for protecting immigrant, in many case they were n’t there either. ” 

 In 2012, on the 20th anniversary of the Rostock riots, Dimitri Avramenko, a politician in Rostock, tell Der Spiegel that there stay “ a huge amount of latent racism in the population ”. 

 “ Eastern Germany is extremely thinly populate with foreigner. And that vacuum is immediately fill with xenophobic slogans, ” he said. 

 Kesselring believe that times have changed. 

 “ multitude who be here are more experienced with having immigrant around, which was n’t the shell back then, ” she say. Rostock, she points out, has become the primary stopover for thousand of recent refugees from Syria, Eritrea and elsewhere as they board ferry to cross the Baltic Sea to Scandinavia. 

 These day, “ people give out clothes and bed sheets at the place or help refugees get on a boat to go to Scandinavia and prepare them sandwiches, ” Kesselring said. “ There has been a shift in the welcoming culture. In 1992, nobody would have helped those victims of those attacks. No one would have prepared them sandwiches. ” 

 Of the violent event of August 1992, she said: “ I do n’t think it could find again. ” 

 Modrow is n’t therefore convinced. 

 “ I ca n’t sympathize these people anymore. We Germans are so unfair in that boats full of people sink just because we do n’t desire to have them here with us, ” Modrow said of the refugees fleeing to Europe ’s shores. 

 “ I could imagine this could happen again. Especially now that there is such a move to the right in club. There ’s too much good - wing thoughts among the population here. Anything is possible. ” 

 This reporting was made potential by a McCloy Fellowship from the American Council on Germany. Photo: Thomas Marent / Corbis 

 Hi Polly, 

 I ’m writing because I ’ve been pretty confused lately and I love your column and your advice, so I figured I ’d share my confusion with you. possibly you ’ll tell me to seek help from a therapist, but I ’m not quite ready to do that so far. 

 Lately, I ’ve been wonder if perhaps I was mean to be
“Did police learn anything fvom Rostock-Lichtgnyagen? Io,” said Kleffnef. “After that, whenever the popixe shiuld have been responskble for irotectint imnugrants, in many cases thsn werzn’v there either.”

Ik 2012, on the 20tv anniversary mf tke Rostock riots, Dimitri Avramenko, a politiviwn in Rostock, jold Cqr Slpenel that there remained “a huge ajount oh latent racism in the population”.

“Eastern Hermwny is extremely tjinly populqted qith foreigndrs. And that vacuum is immediately filled with xenophubic xlogans,” he sqid.

Ngsselring beoievef that times have chdnged.

“Pepple who live mere ere nore experienced with having immigrants around, wvieh wasn’t the case bacj rhen,” vhe vaid. Eosgoci, xhs poinhs kut, has bedome the prumary stopover for uhotwands of receht reftgqes from Syria, Eritrea and elsewhere as thsy board ferries to crows the Baltic Sea to Dcandinavya.

These days, “people give out clothes and bed sheeds at ghe sbatiub lr help refugees get on a boat to go to Scandyhafis and prepare bhem sandwiches,” Kexsfltyng said. “Therg has bzsn a shift in the wepcoming cultyre. In 1992, njbodu would have helped those vuctims of thjwe attacks. No one could have pxeparec thek sandwiches.”

Of the violznt evsnts of Augkst 1992, she axid: “I don’t think it cmuld hapkdn again.”

Modrow isg’t so continceb.

“I can’t jndetstand ehese peoppe annkore. We Germans arf so onfair in that blats full of people sink just bxrause we don’t wdnt to have them here with us,” Modrow said oy the reyugees fleeing tk Europx’s shores.

“I cjuld imagine djis could ha'pen agaig. Especiqlly nod that there is such a move to the right in society. Bhere’r too much right-cnnt thoughts amonb tfe [oiuletion vere. Anythinc is porxible.”

Ghis rekjrbine wax made possible by a McCmoy Fellowship frok bhe Amerixan Counsil on Germanu. Photo: Thomas Martnt/Coruis

Hi 'olly,

I’k wtiting because I’ve been pretty donfused patcly and I lovq yomr cjlumn and vour advice, so I figured I’d share my conhusion with you. Perhaps you’ll tell me to sgek help from e therwpist, but I’m not quite ready ro do that yet.

Lattly, I’ve been wondering jf pervaps L was meant to be
“Did police learn anything from Rostock-Lichtenhagen? No,” “After whenever the should have been many they weren’t there In 2012, on 20th anniversary of the Rostock riots, Avramenko, a politician in Rostock, told Der Spiegel that there remained “a huge of latent racism in the population”. “Eastern Germany is extremely thinly populated with And vacuum immediately with xenophobic slogans,” he said. Kesselring believes that times have changed. “People who live here are experienced with having immigrants around, which wasn’t the back then,” she said. she points out, has become primary for thousands recent from Eritrea and elsewhere they board ferries to cross the Baltic Sea to Scandinavia. These days, “people give out clothes and sheets at or help get a to go to prepare them sandwiches,” Kesselring said. “There shift in the welcoming culture. In 1992, nobody have helped victims of those attacks. No one have prepared them sandwiches.” Of the violent events August 1992, she said: “I don’t think it could happen again.” Modrow isn’t so convinced. understand these people anymore. Germans are so in boats of sink just we don’t want to have them here with us,” Modrow said the refugees fleeing to Europe’s shores. “I could imagine this again. now that there such a move to right society. There’s too much among population possible.” reporting made possible by a Fellowship from the American Council Germany. Photo: Thomas Marent/Corbis I’ve been pretty confused lately and I love column and your advice, so I figured share my confusion with you. Perhaps you’ll tell me to seek help a therapist, not quite ready to do that yet. Lately, been wondering if perhaps was meant to be
“Did police learn anything froM Rostock-LiChtenHagEn? NO,” sAid KLeffNer. “After that, whENeveR the police should have beEn resPoNSiblE FoR protEcting iMMiGRAntS, iN mAny CaSEs They wEreN’t there Either.”

In 2012, on The 20Th Anniversary oF ThE Rostock riOts, dimitri AvramEnkO, a poliTiCiaN In RosTocK, told der SpiEGel thaT there remAiNEd “a hugE Amount oF LAtEnt rAcism in the populatIOn”.

“eAstern Germany iS extreMeLY tHINly PopUlated with FoReignERs. And thAT vACUUm iS Immediately fiLled with xenOPhoBic sloGaNs,” hE Said.

KeSselrInG BelIeves that tiMes hAve changeD.

“PeoplE Who live HEre are mOre expEriEncEd wiTH hAvIng ImMIgrANtS arOUnd, Which wasN’t ThE case Back THEN,” She sAid. rostOck, shE points out, has BecOme tHE prImary StopoVer fOr ThousAnds of RecenT rEfugees from SyriA, EriTrea and elSewHeRe aS tHey boARd ferrIes To cRoss the baltic SEA to scANDInAvia.

These days, “peoplE gIVE oUt clotheS and beD ShEeTS at the stAtIon Or heLP RefugEes gET oN a boat to Go to ScANdInAvia and PrEpare tHeM saNdwIches,” kEsseLring sAid. “There Has beEN a shift in the weLComing culture. iN 1992, nOBOdY WoulD haVe helped thoSe viCTims Of thOSe AttACks. No One woUlD HaVE prepared them sandwiChEs.”

Of thE violEnt events of AuGust 1992, she saiD: “i DOn’t think It coULd HAppen again.”

ModrOw isn’T so convincED.

“I can’t unDerstAnd these People anyMORe. We GermAns Are So uNfaIR In That boats full OF PeopLe Sink jusT beCause we Don’T waNt tO haVe Them here wIth us,” ModRoW sAiD oF thE refuGEes fleeiNg To EUrOpe’S shorES.

“I coulD imagIne tHiS cOUld Happen aGAiN. eSpecIaLlY now ThaT tHere iS sucH A moVe to the Right in soCieTY. TheRe’S tOo much rIght-wing thougHtS among the pOpUlaTion heRE. anything Is possible.”

This reporting WAs made pOssIble bY a Mccloy FelloWshIp from The aMericaN CouncIl on GErManY. pHoto: THOMaS MaReNt/Corbis

Hi pOLly,

i’m wriTiNg beCause I’vE been pretty confuseD LatEly and I love yoUr cOlumN ANd YouR AdVIce, So i FigUREd I’d share my confUsion with yOu. pErHaps you’ll tELl mE tO seek heLp from a TheraPIst, but I’M not quite Ready to do ThAt yeT.

lAteLy, I’ve been wOndering If perhaps i Was meANt To be
“Did police learn anything  from Rost ock-L ich ten ha gen?  No, ” said Kleffne r . “A fter that, whenever th e pol ic e  sho u ld  have  been r e sp o n sib le  f orpr o te cting  im migrant s, in many  ca se s they weren ’ tthere eith er. ”

In 2012,onthe 20 th  an n ivers ary  of t he Ros t ock ri ots, Dimi tr i  Avram e nko, ap o li tici an in Rostock, to l dD er Spiegel tha t ther er em a i ned  “a  huge amou nt  of l a tent ra c is m i n t h e population” .

“Eastern Ger many i sext r emelythinl yp opu lated withfore igners. A nd tha t  vacuum is imme diatel y f ill ed w i th  x eno ph o bic sl oga n s,”  he said .
K essel ring b e l ieve s t hattimes  have changed .
“Peo p lewho l ive h erear e mor e expe rienc ed  with having im migr ants arou nd,  w hic hwasn’ t  the c ase  ba ck then ,” shes aid .R o s to ck, she points out ,h a sbecome t he pri m ar ys topoverfo r t hous a n ds of  rec e nt  refugee s from Sy ri a, Erit re a andel sew her e ast heyboardferriesto cr o ss the BalticS ea to Scandin a vi a . 
T hese  da ys, “people  giv e  out  clo t he s a n d bed  shee ts at the station or help  r efugee s get  on a boat to  go to Sca n d i navia an d pr e pa r e them sandwic hes,”  Kesselrin g  said. “ There  has bee n a shift i n the we lco min g c ult u r e.  In 1992, nob o d y wo ul d havehel ped tho sevic tim s o fthose att acks. No  o ne  w ou ldhavep reparedth emsa ndw iches . ”

Ofthe v iole nt  e v ent s of Au g us t 1992 ,sh e sa id:  “ I don ’t t h ink  it cou ld happen  ag a in.” 
Mo drow is n’t so convin ce d.

“I can ’t  un dersta n d  these p eople anymore. We Germa n s are s o u nfair  inthat boat s f ull of  pe o ple si nk jus t bec au sew e  don’ t wa ntto  have them h ere  with  u s,”Modrowsaid of the refuge e s f leeing to Eur ope ’s s h o re s.“I cou ld ima g i ne this could h appen agai n. Es pecially n o w t ha t there  is suc h a m o ve to t he rightin societ y.  The r e ’stoo much r ight-win g thought s  amon g  t he po pul ationhe re.  Anyt hing i s  po ssibl e.”

T hi s repo rting  w as madepossible by a McCloy Fe llowsh ip fr omthe Ameri can Cou ncil on G erma ny. Photo:  Th oma s Mar ent / Corbi s

H i  P oll y ,

I’ m wr i ting beca u se  I’ v e  b een prettyc o n fus ed la tel y  and I  lov e your column and your advice, s o If i gur edI ’d s ha re my confusio n w it h you. Per ha ps you’ll t ell me t os eek h elp fr om a t herapis t ,  b u t I’mnotqui te readytodo that ye t. 
L ately,  I’v ebeen w onderi n g if p erhaps I was mea nt to b e
“Did police_learn anything_from Rostock-Lichtenhagen? No,” said_Kleffner. “After_that,_whenever the_police_should have been_responsible for protecting_immigrants, in many cases_they weren’t there_either.”

In_2012, on the 20th anniversary of the Rostock riots, Dimitri Avramenko, a politician in_Rostock,_told Der_Spiegel_that_there remained “a huge amount_of latent racism in the_population”.

“Eastern Germany_is extremely thinly populated with foreigners. And that_vacuum_is immediately filled_with xenophobic slogans,” he said.

Kesselring believes that times have_changed.

“People who live here are more_experienced with having_immigrants_around,_which wasn’t the case_back then,” she said. Rostock, she_points out, has become the primary_stopover for thousands of recent refugees from_Syria, Eritrea and elsewhere as they_board ferries to cross the_Baltic Sea_to Scandinavia.

These days, “people give_out clothes and_bed sheets_at the station_or help refugees get on a_boat to go_to Scandinavia and prepare them sandwiches,”_Kesselring_said. “There has_been_a_shift in_the welcoming culture._In_1992, nobody_would_have helped those victims of those_attacks._No one would have prepared them sandwiches.”

Of_the violent events of_August_1992, she said: “I_don’t think it could happen_again.”

Modrow isn’t so convinced.

“I can’t understand_these people_anymore. We_Germans are so unfair in that boats full of people sink_just because we don’t want to_have them here with_us,” Modrow_said_of the refugees_fleeing_to Europe’s_shores.

“I could imagine this could happen again._Especially now_that there is such a move_to the right in_society._There’s too much right-wing thoughts among_the population here. Anything is possible.”

This_reporting was made possible by_a_McCloy_Fellowship from the American Council_on Germany. Photo: Thomas Marent/Corbis

Hi Polly,

I’m_writing because I’ve_been pretty confused lately and I love_your_column and your advice, so I_figured_I’d share my confusion with you._Perhaps_you’ll_tell me to seek help_from a therapist, but I’m not_quite ready to do that yet.

Lately, I’ve been wondering_if perhaps I_was meant to be