Germany's history explains why it's so accepting of refugees — and why it wants austerity for Greece

by Mike Bird

Mike Bird is a European markets reporter, working from London and covering financial and economic issues. He previously worked for City A.M, a free London business newspaper, covering economics.

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For Germany, it's been a mixed few months in terms of international headlines.

Europe's biggest economy was the bad guy in the Greek crisis earlier this year, blamed for the austerity policies that the country attempted to reject.

It's now Europe's angel – the model that liberals around the continent (and the world) want their governments to copy in their acceptance of refugees travelling through Europe.

A lot of people have expressed confusion at this. How can Germany be so seemingly cruel to southern Europe and so positive about bringing in people fleeing a war-torn country?

But they both have the same root: Germany's experiences in World War II.

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