As the conflict in Syria was intensifying, millions of Syrians sought to escape the danger any way possible – mostly on foot. For many, Germany was the ideal destination. After visiting a refugee camp in Dresden, on August 31, 2015, Chancellor Angela Merkel said “Wir schaffen das” – or “We can manage this” – referring to Europe’s ability to cope with mass migration from Syria. By the end of the year, Germany became the destination for over one million refugees. Five years later to the day, on August 31, the ACG hosted a virtual discussion on the lasting impact of the estimated 1.1 million migrants who settled in Germany in 2015 and the millions more who settled elsewhere in Europe with Jagoda Marinic, writer and columnist for the Süddeutsche Zeitung and Director of the International Welcome Center in Heidelberg, and Victoria Rietig, Head of the Migration Program at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP); and moderated by Adam Hunter, Executive Director of the Refugee Council USA.
