Germany news: US troop pullout 'expected' — Pistorius

More than two-thirds of German residents find that social behavior is on the decline, a survey shows.

Altogether 67% of respondents in the survey by the Forsa polling institute said society in Germany was lacking in cohesion and harmony to a greater or lesser extent, 6 percentage points more than a year before.

Of those, 57% said the situation was "rather bad" and 10% "very bad."

Younger people tended to have a more positive view than older age groups, with just 50% of 18 to 34-year-olds saying the situation was "rather bad" and 6% "very bad." 

Just 3% of respondents found an improvement in social harmony in the last three years, while 77% said things had got worse.

The main problems seen by respondents were more insults and lack of respect (86%), aggressivity (81%), egoism (79%) and intolerance and exclusion (76%), particularly in public and on social media.

The survey was conducted by Forsa for the health insurance company DAK.

"Timmy," a humpback whale that was stranded for weeks in northern Germany, has been set free in the North Sea after an operation funded by two millionaire entrepreneurs.

But it is still by no means sure that he will survive his new-found freedom after his health deteriorated considerably during his ordeal, which was followed closely by German media.

You can read more about "Timmy" and the dangers possibly still facing him in this article:Humpback whale Timmy released in North Sea but risk remains 

The Pentagon announced on Friday that the United States will withdraw 5,000 troops from NATO ally Germany, following a public spat between US President Donald Trump and Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the war in Iran. But is that confrontation really why the pullback is happening now? 

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the withdrawal of about 5,000 US troops from Germany over the next six to 12 months.

While similar reductions have been threatened before, US bases in Germany remain strategically vital and economically important to some regions.

Find out where the 35,000 to 39,000 US soldiers, plus about 13,000 Air Force personnel, are currently stationed across Germany.

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has said the pullout of troops from Germany announced by the Pentagon on Friday had been expected and that Europe has to do more for its own defense.

"That US troops are withdrawing from Europe and also from Germany was to be expected," Pistorius said.

"We Europeans must take on ‌more responsibility for our own security," Pistorius said, adding, "Germany is on the right track" ‌with the measures it has introduced to expand its armed forces, speed up military procurement and build infrastructure. b 

The Pentagon ⁠said that US would withdraw 5,000 soldiers from Germany amid a growing rift with Berlin.

Among other things, US President Donald Trump has expressed anger at a remark made on Monday by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said Iran was "humiliating" Washington at the negotiating table.

Trump has accused Germany and Europe of doing too little to help the US in its war against Iran, which it says aims to stop Tehran obtaining nuclear weapons.

The US has announced it will pull out several thousand troops from Germany amid growing differences between Berlin and Washington on several issues.

Many observers say that the announced US withdrawal of troops from Germany goes against Washington's own military interests, as the bases in Europe have served to support American military actions taking place well beyond US borders.

However, the Pentagon decision also means that a long-range ​fires battalion that was due to be deployed later this year will be canceled, dealing a blow to Berlin's hopes that it would provide deterrence against Russia until Europe develops its own long-range missiles.

You can read more about the rift that led to the Pentagon's announcement and the reaction from Germany and Europe in this article: US to withdraw thousands of troops from Germany.

The DW newsroom in Bonn wishes guten Tag to all those using the services of Germany's international news service. 

You join us as the Pentagon has just announced that thousands of US troops will be departing Germany amid a diplomatic spat between Washington and Berlin.

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has downplayed the effects of the planned move, saying it was "expected," but we will be looking into what it means for Germany and Europe.

And you can also read the latest on a story that has been hitting the headlines in Germany and abroad over the past few weeks: "Timmy," a humpback whale that was stranded in northern Germany for weeks, is now swimming free in the North Sea.

Police have also given their assessment of rallies held on May 1, or International Workers’ Day.

You can read more about these and other stories in our blog on Saturday, May 2.