Germany planned to close its border with Austria and turn back asylum-seekers in September 2015, a move that could have dramatically changed the course of the European refugee crisis that was at its peak at the time, according to a German newspaper.



The Welt am Sonntag reported Sunday that Chancellor Angela Merkel and her ministers agreed Sept. 12 to send thousands of police to the border, where they were to turn back migrants who didn't have documents entitling them to enter Germany - "including in case of asylum request."



The plan was halted hours before it was due to take effect on Sept. 13 after officials raised concerns about the border closure during an emergency meeting at Germany's Interior Ministry, the paper reported .



Citing interviews with several unnamed high-ranking officials involved, Welt am Sonntag reported that ministers didn't want to take responsibility for a decision that might have been illegal under German and European law. The possibility of unpopular images of police officers blocking women and children was reportedly also a concern, resulting in a change to the police order that effectively allowed all asylum-seekers to enter the country.

Merkel and her ministers knew they had blundered badly fairly early on in the migrant crisis:It was an invasion and the German officials knew it. But they didn't want to take responsibility for doing what was necessary or endure the inevitable media heat. So, instead they doubled down on their idiocy. And they are responsible for every theft, every rape, and every murder that has taken place since.

Labels: EU, immigration, trainwreck