When the first surge of migrants into Europe took place after the rise of ISIS, Ms Merkel took what was hailed as a bold stance. We can do this, she declared. Wir schaffen das. At the time, it was seen as a reference to the capacity of the German economy to absorb the costs and burdens of a whole new strata of society.
It has since become clear that she foresaw a full scale embrace of the new German citizens.
This started almost immediately with dignified housing solutions and naturalisation advice. All new arrivals were provided with German language training. There was also technical training to prepare people for the demands of German employers.