Skip next section What you need to know
What you need to know
- Heatwave: Germany in the grip of extreme heat
- Defamation or democracy: Chancellor Merz insists he can handle insults
- Defense Minister Pistorius to inspect troops in Lithuania
- World Cup: Germany’s Schlotterbeck ruled out with ankle injury
These updates are now closed. You can catch up on what made the news in Germany on Monday, 22 June, 2026. You can catch up on the weekend’s news here.
Skip next section German lifeguards say 6 drown over weekend amid extreme heat06/22/2026June 22, 2026
German lifeguards say 6 drown over weekend amid extreme heat
The German Life Saving Association (DLRG), the largest volunteer lifeguard association in the world, says it registered six drowning deaths over the weekend, and three were recorded last Thursday alone, as people sought relief from extreme heat.
“Unfortunately, fears of repeated deadly accidents were not unfounded,” said a DLRG spokesperson on Monday, noting that more cases could be registered after the fact.
The DLRG regularly warns of the dangers of drowning in Germany’s pools, ponds, lakes and rivers.
The DLRG said one group in particular, men, and more specifically young men, consistently put themselves in harm’s way.
“Over and over we see men overestimating their abilities and putting themselves in risk situations that are easily avoidable,” said DLRG President Ute Vogt.
In 2025, men accounted for four-in-five drowning deaths — 82%.
All of the six individuals who drowned over the weekend were men ranging in age from 19 to 53.
Four more individuals, also men, remain missing.
Beyond lack of swimming skills, the DLRG also made clear that people should not simply jump into cold water when they are hot, but enter slowly to allow the body to adjust to potentially extreme temperature differences.
Moreover, the DLRG recommends always swimming in monitored swimming areas and warns against swimming alone.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5FsEtSkip next section Berlin downplays chances of Hormuz mandate before summer recess06/22/2026June 22, 2026
Berlin downplays chances of Hormuz mandate before summer recess
The German government has doused expectations that Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, could vote on a German military deployment mandate for the Strait of Hormuz before the body leaves for summer recess in July.
“There are very clear conditions that we have attached to the granting of a mandate,” said government spokesman Stefan Kornelius in Berlin on Monday. “Since many of these conditions have not been met, I urge patience.”
“I consider it urgently necessary that we refrain from speculating about dates,” he added.
The current 60-day framework laid out by the US and Iran, said Kornelius, would led to “a timeframe in which the Bundestag will also be in summer recess.”
“I would therefore be very cautious at this point about predicting dates,” Kornelius told reporters.
Kornelius added that although US President Donald Trump had made unspecified informal calls for help from European allies, no concrete US request regarding Germany’s offer to deploy service members and equipment for mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz had been made.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5FrxkSkip next section German diesel prices fall below pre-Iran war level as oil markets ease06/22/2026June 22, 2026
German diesel prices fall below pre-Iran war level as oil markets ease
German drivers are getting a break as diesel prices have fallen below pre-Iran war levels for the first time since the US and Israel launched attacks on February 28.
Data released by the motoring association ADAC showed that average nationwide diesel prices came in just below the level recorded on February 27.
Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in reaction to the US attack temporarily pushed oil prices above $120 per barrel in March.
Fuel prices peaked around Easter, when diesel was over 70 cents per liter more expensive than before the war and gasoline more than 40 cents higher.
According to ADAC data, Friday was the cheapest day of the past weekend, with diesel averaging €1.73 per liter ($1.98), 1.3 cents lower than on the last day before the war.
E10 petrol cost an average of €1.82 per liter on Sunday, 4.4 cents more than before the war began.
Germany’s fuel tax rebate has been key to keeping prices in check, slashing the cost of a liter of fuel by 16.7 cents.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5FrvESkip next section Germany seeks ‘orderly’ military transition as US backs away from Europe06/22/2026June 22, 2026
Germany seeks ‘orderly’ military transition as US backs away from Europe
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius on Monday called for clear agreements regarding US plans to draw down military commitments in Europe.
Pistorius, speaking at NATO military exercises in Lithuania, warned that a disorderly withdrawal could create dangerous capability gaps.
“An orderly transition is needed,” he said. “Because no one — including the Americans — can have an interest in dangerous capability gaps arising from a disorderly withdrawal.”
The US says it will considerably reduce its own military posture in Europe.
At issue are commitments under NATO’s so-called Force Model that determines which member states must keep how many forces and capabilities ready — and how quickly they must be made available.
Pistorius made clear that the US decision had not come as a surprise and that Germany would take on greater responsibility for its own conventional deterrence and defense within NATO as a result.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5FrtOSkip next section Defense minister open to compulsory German deployment on NATO’s eastern flank06/22/2026June 22, 2026
Defense minister open to compulsory German deployment on NATO’s eastern flank
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius on Monday said Germany’s 4,800-soldier-strong Lithuania armored brigade will be fully operational by the end of 2027, saying operational readiness is the unit’s “highest priority” when speaking during military exercises in the town of Pabrade, near the border with Belarus.
Pistorius told German broadcaster ARD that “90, 95% [of soldiers] will probably come voluntarily.”
He said soldiers would be compelled to serve on the eastern NATO flank if specialist volunteers failed to come forward.
Though all soldiers on foreign deployment have so far traveled voluntarily, Pistorius said shortfalls could arise in specialist areas such as engineering, logistics or chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) defense — adding that the pool of eligible specialists is considerably smaller than that of combat soldiers.
Berlin promised to station the armored brigade in Lithuania in response to the growing threat that Russia poses to the region.
The combat unit’s 4,800 soldiers will be supported by 200 civilian staff.
Around 1,800 Bundeswehr personnel are currently stationed in Lithuania.
The relocation of the armored brigade is the army’s first to involve the permanent stationing of a large contingent of fighters abroad.
It is the largest military infrastructure project in Lithuanian history and the prospect of around 5,000 Bundeswehr soldiers and their families permanently relocating to Lithuania means a great deal to the people of the Baltic state.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5FrlhSkip next section World Cup over for Germany’s Schlotterbeck 06/22/2026June 22, 2026
World Cup over for Germany’s Schlotterbeck
German center-back Nico Schlotterbeck has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup after tearing ligaments in his left ankle during Germany’s 2-1 win over Ivory Coast on Saturday.
The 26-year-old Borussia Dortmund defender faces a recovery time of at least two months, meaning he will be unable to play any further part in the tournament.
Schlotterbeck, who started both of Germany‘s Group E games so far and scored a header against Curacao, will likely be replaced in the starting line-up against Ecuador on Thursday by Real Madrid’s Antonio Rüdiger.
Other potential defensive options include Schlotterbeck’s Dortmund teammate Waldemar Anton or Malick Thiaw of Newcastle United.
Head coach Julian Nagelsmann will not be able to call up any additional replacements from back home since FIFA rules state that only additional goalkeepers can be called up once the tournament is underway.
After Bayern Munich forwards Serge Gnabry and Lennart Karl were ruled out with injury ahead of the tournament, Schlotterbeck’s absence represents a third major set-back for Germany.
As a tall, left-footed defender with a strong passing ability to launch attacks, Schlotterbeck’s versatility was key to Germany’s tactical approach. Having made 29 international appearances, he’s also considered an important leader in the squad.
But Rüdiger also brings significant experience and quality, and made a positive impression when he replaced Schlotterbeck against Ivory Coast. “Antonio did a really good and really concentrated job,” said Nagelsmann.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5FqnHSkip next section No German, no swim: new language rule at lakeside beach06/22/2026June 22, 2026
No German, no swim: new language rule at lakeside beach
With temperatures soaring well above 30°C (86°F) across Germany, many people have been making their way to nearby swimming pools, rivers and lakes to cool off.
But one lakeside beach in the eastern city of Halle has declared that visitors must not only be able to swim – but also speak enough German to understand the health and safety rules.
“We have to be sure that visitors understand the rules in order to guarantee the safety of all bathers,” said Mathias Nobel, who runs the Heidebad complex on the Heidesee lake on the western edge of the city in Saxony-Anhalt.
Nobel said that the new rule is a response to an incident last weekend when he personally had to rescue a small child from deep water. “Our lake is up to 13 meters (over 42 feet) deep,” he said. “It’s simply dangerous.”
Nobel, himself a qualified lifeguard, said that children in particular needed to be able to understand the rules and instructions given to them by lifeguards and staff. He the same applied to adults supervising younger swimmers and that groups of visitors in which nobody spoke enough German were a cause for concern.
As for explaining the rules to people without strong German skills with the help of translation apps, Nobel said his staff were “already at their limits.”
Preempting concerns that the new rules could be discriminatory, a statement on the beach’s website said the aim of the measure was “not to discriminate but to reduce risks” – particularly for children and non-swimmers.
“I know that this rule won’t please everyone but I’m responsible for thousands of visitors and especially for children,” said Nobel. “And I’d rather a guest be upset than have a serious accident. When it comes to human life, I won’t compromise.”
As of Monday afternoon, a Facebook post announcing the new rule had attracted 90 “thumbs up” reactions and ten comments from users all expressing agreement.
https://p.dw.com/p/5FqKBSkip next section Germany: local government warns of ‘exploding mountains of debt’06/22/2026June 22, 2026
Germany: local government warns of ‘exploding mountains of debt’
City councils, district authorities and regional leaders from across Germany have warned Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the federal government in Berlin that they are facing increasingly unaffordable costs at the local level.
This year, Germany’s Kommunen (or “communes,” as local councils are collectively known) say they are facing a deficit of around €29.7 billion ($32 billion), a situation which is not expected to improve much in 2027 (predicted deficit: €29.6 billion) or in 2028 (€28.9 billion).
“We must not get used to such bad figures,” warned Achim Brötel, president of the Deutscher Landkreistag (DLT), the umbrella group representing almost 300 local communes from across Germany. “When buildings and streets start falling apart, then people’s faith in the ability of the state to function also starts to wobble.”
The warning comes ahead of a meeting in Berlin on Thursday between the leaders of Germany’s 16 federal states and Chancellor Merz at which regional chiefs are expected to demand financial reforms.
Ahead of the meeting, the DLT is hoping to heighten awareness of the “dramatic” financial situation and the potential for “exploding mountains of debt” with a campaign day with the motto: “Communes at their limit.”
https://p.dw.com/p/5Fq78Skip next section Survey: Two thirds of Germans would like to work abroad06/22/2026June 22, 2026
Survey: Two thirds of Germans would like to work abroad
Many Germans, especially higher earners, could imagine starting a new job abroad, according to a new survey — but they don’t want to leave Germany forever.
According to the survey conducted by the Appinio institute on behalf of the job-search website Indeed, two thirds of Germans currently in full-time work have considered moving abroad, one third have made concrete enquiries about doing so.
The most attractive foreign countries for Germans considering a professional move are the United States, the United Kingdom and Switzerland, although the popularity of the USA is reportedly falling.
“When two-thirds of the workforce have considered moving away, that should be seen as a sign of dissatisfaction with working conditions at home,” commented Virginia Sondergeld, an economist at Indeed.
For over half of those surveyed, the main incentives to move away were higher pay and a better general quality of life. Only a quarter said their desire to move was influenced by a desire for promotion or better career prospects. More than 40%, however, admitted that they would also hope to pay less tax abroad.
The desire to move abroad appears particularly strong among higher earners, with around half of those with monthly household incomes of over €6,000 ($6,875) having already applied for a job abroad or actively scouring the market.
Nevertheless, even those Germans who fancy leaving the country don’t want to stay away forever. Most would like to work abroad for several years or even for just a few months, but the majority would intend to return to Germany eventually.
While international mobility is fundamentally a good thing, Indeed’s Sondergeld called on German employers and politicians to heed the warning carried by the survey.
“It’s about creating new incentives for work in Germany,” she said. “It’s about improving working conditions and offering talented people real reasons to stay.”
https://p.dw.com/p/5FpobSkip next section Pistorius to attend German troop exercise in Lithuania06/22/2026June 22, 2026
Pistorius to attend German troop exercise in Lithuania
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is expected in Lithuania on Monday where he will observe a NATO exercise featuring predominantly German troops stationed in the Baltic country.
Operation “Freedom Shield 2026” is set to include around 2,900 soldiers including 2,300 from Germany, as well as around 800 vehicles from eight NATO member states.
The German troops are from the Panzerbrigade (tank brigade) 45 which is to be permanently stationed in Lithuania with an eventual full strength of 4,800 personnel by 2027. Around 1,800 of them are already in place.
The deployment marks the first time that such a high number of German troops have been stationed abroad in the history of the modern Bundeswehr – Germany’s armed forces.
Pistorius hopes that the majority of German soldiers will sign up voluntarily to join the brigade on NATO’s eastern flank, just 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) from the border with Belarus — but accepted that a certain percentage may have to be ordered there.
Specialists in technology, logistics and nuclear, biological and chemical defense are said to be in particular short supply in comparison to the much higher number of combat troops.
“The most important thing for me is that the brigade is capable of performance its task,” said Pistorius.
Infrastructure for the brigade, on the other hand, is not going to be a problem, with Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas saying that the country’s biggest ever military construction project was ten months ahead of schedule.
“This project represents a milestone in German-Lithuanian relations,” he told German newspaper Welt. “This is enormously important for deterrence on NATO’s eastern flank and for the security of Lithuania and the territory of the entire alliance.”
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5FpDzSkip next section Heat wave: Could temperatures in Germany reach 40°C?06/22/2026June 22, 2026
Heat wave: Could temperatures in Germany reach 40°C?
Like much of Europe, Germany is set to continue baking throughout this week with the country in the grip of a major heat wave.
On Sunday, the German Meteorological Service (DWD) said that the usually cooler regions in the north of the country would be affected and even predicted that temperatures could reach 40°C (104°F) in certain parts of the southwest.
The intense heat brings with it an increased chance of severe storms, as in Berlin, where the fire brigade attended around 160 call-outs over the weekend.
Trees were blown over and some of the 300 stages hosting the “Fête de la Musique” music festival across the city were damaged but, fortunately, no serious accidents or injuries were reported.
However, there was one fatality in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt where sudden torrents of rain caused a motorway accident in which a driver lost control of a vehicle. One woman died and four other passengers were injured.
According to the DWD, temperatures are not expected to drop until the end of the week.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5FozHSkip next section Merz: Not bothered by insults but state institutions must be protected06/22/2026June 22, 2026
Merz: Not bothered by insults but state institutions must be protected
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has insisted that he’s not bothered by personal insults – but he wants to adapt the law to protect state institutions and government offices from general defamation.
“If someone calls me an idiot, then that’s up to them,” he said at the German government’s annual Open Day on Sunday, when government ministries open their doors to allow visitors to look behind the scenes. “I’m of a different opinion, but it doesn’t make it a crime.”
Merz admitted that he had pressed defamation charges in the past when subjected to personal insults but insisted that he has stopped doing so and hasn’t taken any such action since becoming Chancellor.
The debate around where the boundary lies between freedom of expression and personal insult has flared up in Germany since prosecutors pressed charges against a student who held up a supposedly derogatory banner about Merz at a demonstration in Berlin. Some social media users have also received fines for comments on social media which were found to be defamatory.
Merz said that charges were generally pressed by state prosecutors rather than by politicians themselves and said he was “surprised” by the high number of cases – but he did say that state institutions and positions ought to be protected from defamation in order to maintain respect for the democratic system.
“The moment state offices are defamed, the fun stops,” he said, differentiating between the person and the position. “We need to be able to combat that as a society because that’s no longer freedom of expression; that damages our democracy.”
To that end, Merz said he is open to reforming Paragraph 188, the German law that protects politicians from insult, defamation, and libel under certain circumstances.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Fp0WSkip next section Welcome to our coverage06/22/2026June 22, 2026
Welcome to our coverage
Guten Morgen! Welcome to DW’s coverage of what a sunny Germany is talking about on Monday, 22 June, 2026.
Like much of Europe, Germany remains in the grip of an intense heatwave with experts predicting that temperatures may even hit the 40°C mark (104°F) in some areas.
Amid a debate about what people can say about politicians, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has insisted that he’s not personally bothered by insults, but he draws the line at defamation of state institutions and wants to adapt the law accordingly.
Meanwhile, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is expected in Lithuania where he will visit German troops stationed in the Baltic country and observe military exercises.
And finally, a new survey suggests that many Germans dream of finding a new job abroad, although presumably not because they want to escape the heat.
Stay with us for these stories and more.
https://p.dw.com/p/5FozCShow more posts
About The Author
