Lidl-Trek get the hat-trick in German race Mads Pedersen claimed Lidl-Trek's third straight stage win in the Deutschland Tour out-pacing late escape companions Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X) and Archie Ryan (EF Education-EasyPost) in Schwäbisch Gmünd Pedersen leads the Deutschland Tour ahead of Johannessen by 12 seconds with Ineos' Ethan Hayter third at 21 seconds Dawit Yemane (BIKE AID) and Miguel Heidemann (Team Felt Felbermayr) made the early breakaway but could only gain two minutes on the field the gap had come down below one minute and Marco Brenner (Lotto Kern-Haus PSD) and Bjørn Koerdt (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL) bridged across with Heidmann dropped first and then all of the escapees caught with 44km to go Jørgen Nordhagen (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Toms Skujinš (Lidl-Trek) made a counter-move but they too were caught with 21km to go The peloton had split and only 25 or so riders were left to contest the finale Pedersen launched a searing attack in the final 2km pulling Ryan and Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X) away but he held on to take Lidl-Trek's third straight stage win Results powered by FirstCycling she coordinates coverage for North American events and global news As former elite-level road racer who dabbled in cyclo-cross and track Laura has a passion for all three disciplines When not working she likes to go camping and explore lesser traveled roads UCI governance and performing data analysis The plant is expected to be operational in early 2024 Electricity required for the production of the renewable hydrogen will be provided by a connection to a wind farm and photovoltaic installations Future customers for this project are located in the immediate vicinity of the site and in the region The hydrogen will be used as a process gas by industrial customers and as a fuel for fuel cell vehicles at distribution stations First Mayor of the City of Schwäbisch Gmünd: “The cooperation with Lhyfe provides the necessary impetus for a fast and reliable development of the H2-Aspen project we want to offer companies in the region a local sustainable and environmentally friendly energy solution Within the framework of a holistic sustainable production we enable and demonstrate what a “business and industrial park of the future” can look like positioning ourselves along the entire hydrogen value chain of the project Head of International Business at Lhyfe: “The region’s goal is to establish an economically autonomous hydrogen industry we are actively involved in the construction and expansion of the planned technology park Thanks to our expertise in building local hydrogen ecosystems as well as our model of direct connection between renewable energy sources and our production sites we can optimally support the development of the region Following our previous involvement in projects in Germany this project is part of our strategy to supply Germany with green hydrogen on a national scale by 2025” Lhyfe is working on a rapid ramp-up of the green hydrogen market in many European countries Various projects have already been announced in Germany including cooperations such as the participation in the H2goesRail project of Deutsche Bahn and Siemens Mobility This agreement allows Lhyfe to actively pursue the development of this project in Germany the next step being to obtain dedicated grants This 10 MW project is one of the 20 projects in advanced development (corresponding to the “Tender ready” “Awarded” or “Construction” phases) announced at the time of the IPO with a total capacity of 380.5 MW and a planned entry into operations between 2023 and 2026 Lhyfe produces and supplies renewable green hydrogen for mobility and industry Its production plant and its commercial pipeline will allow access to renewable green hydrogen in industrial quantities and form part of a virtuous energy model benefitting the environment Lhyfe inaugurated its first green hydrogen industrial production site in September 2021 It currently has 93 projects in its pipeline across Europe 20 of which will be in advanced development by 2026 contributing to the decarbonization of mobility and industry A research programme started in 2019 should also lead to the start of a test phase in real conditions for the world’s first floating electrolyzer linked to a floating wind farm planned for autumn 2022 Lhyfe is listed at Euronext in Paris (LHYFE – FR0014009YQ1) For more information go to www.lhyfe.com Lhyfe: Clémence Rebours (Nouvelles Graines) – +33 (0)6 60 57 76 43 – c.rebours@nouvelles-graines.com  My NewsSign Out Sign InCreate your free profileSections news Alerts Property Damaged After Floods Hit GermanyHeavy rainstorms struck Germany over the weekend Cars are parked in a flooded street in Schwäbisch Gmünd southern Germany on May 29 after heavy rains hit the country Much of Germany and Europe experienced heavy rainstorms over the weekend Three people are suspected to have died due to the floods in Germany A woman stands amidst the floodwaters at a horse farm in Obernzenn Partially submerged cars stand abandoned in a flooded underpass in Oberhausen People stand on an avalanche of debris covering a street in Braunsbach An elderly man walks his dog amid debris after the floods in Braunsbach on May 30 smashed trees and other debris in the village center following a furious flash flood the night before An interior of a car is damaged by the floods in Braunsbach on May 30 A restaurant is ruined in the floods in Braunsbach A man cleans up a partially collapsed house in Braunbach on May 31 A man cuts a fallen tree in front of damaged cars after the floods on May 30 in Braunsbach An employee clears flood damage at Intersport Schoell sporting goods store on May 30 in Schwäbisch Gmünd Home/Hydrogen Renewable hydrogen production company Lhyfe has started construction of a hydrogen production plant in the city of Schwäbisch Gmünd which is the largest green hydrogen plant in Baden-Württemberg will be the first to supply hydrogen directly to the H2-Aspen industrial park and the JET H2 hydrogen filling station The project in Schwäbisch Gmünd represents a milestone in the market ramp-up of green hydrogen in Germany and exemplifies the integration of renewable gas into local ecosystems which will use renewable electricity secured from hydro should be commissioned in the second half of 2024 which is part of the HyFIVE (Hydrogen For Innovative Vehicles) project has received €6.4 million ($6.7 million) in funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) head of Central & Eastern Europe at Lhyfe said “The project demonstrates the economic viability of hydrogen solutions in the transport and industry sectors and also supports the state of Baden-Württemberg in its efforts to become a model region for the development of hydrogen refueling infrastructure.  We very much welcome the fact that the state and the city of Schwäbisch Gmünd want to implement their ambitious goals for a hydrogen economy based on renewable energies and that we are taking this step together With the construction of the production plant we are making an important contribution to the goals of the federal government.” major of Schwäbisch Gmünd in Germany added Schwäbisch Gmünd is developing into a model region for the nationwide development of a hydrogen and filling station network as a central supply infrastructure Schwäbisch Gmünd is part of the model region of the state of Baden-Württemberg and will then also be the largest hydrogen producer in the state We are thus creating a basis for marketing the land in Aspen which will enable the companies to produce climate-neutrally.” Lhyfe’s business pipeline represents a total installed production capacity of 10.3 GW across Europe Originally published by Power Engineering International. Heavy rain that trapped people in their homes and reportedly caused a train derailment is forecast to continue A volunteer firefighter died during a rescue operation during heavy rain and flooding in the south of Germany Four emergency workers were attempting to reach people trapped by the flood waters near Pfaffenhofen in the region of Bavaria when their boat capsized Three of the crew managed to pull themselves to safety was found dead in the water by other rescue workers at around 2:20 am (0020 GMT) said on X: “I am saddened by the death of a firefighter in Pfaffenhofen My thoughts are with his family and colleagues “We owe thanks and respect to the rescue workers and helpers who are fighting the consequences of the floods in many places.” A rescue operation was underway to find another volunteer firefighter in Offingen The 22-year-old fell into the flood waters after his vessel capsized overnight Heavy rains that started on Friday have caused flooding across the southern states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria said on Sunday that the rail link between Stuttgart and Augsburg was closed due to the severe weather Two carriages of a high-speed train travelling on the line derailed after a landslide None of the passengers on board were injured in the incident late on Saturday close to Schwäbisch Gmünd in Baden-Württemberg Several districts in Bavaria have declared emergencies due to high water levels The German weather service warned of more heavy rain to come in southern Germany on Sunday 0 it is planned to be commissioned in the second half of 2024 The project represents a milestone in the market ramp-up of green hydrogen in Germany and exemplifies the integration of renewable gas into local ecosystems This plant is supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through a EUR 6.4 grant The hydrogen will be used partly in the “H2-Aspen” industrial park and at a JET H2 hydrogen filling station Lhyfe and the joint venture JET H2 signed an agreement for the construction of the hydrogen filling station in Schwäbisch Gmünd The project is funded by the state of Baden-Württemberg and the European Union This plant is part of the HyFIVE (Hydrogen For Innovative Vehicles) project and is supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through a EUR 6.4 grant agreement Arnold: The Schwäbisch Gmünd is developing into a model region for the nationwide development of hydrogen and filling station network Head of Central & Eastern Europe at Lhyfe said that the facility demonstrates the economic viability of hydrogen solutions in the transport and industry sectors and also supports the state of Baden-Württemberg in its efforts to become a model region for the development of hydrogen refueling infrastructure the city is developing into a model region for the nationwide development of hydrogen and filling station network as a central supply infrastructure “Schwäbisch Gmünd is part of the model region of the state of Baden-Württemberg and which will enable the companies to produce climate-neutrally” Lhyfe has a total installed production capacity of 10.3 GW has a total installed production capacity of 10.3 GW across Europe Lhyfe inaugurated the world’s first large-scale green hydrogen production plant linked to a wind farm in France the world’s first offshore pilot platform for the production of green hydrogen was inaugurated at the port of Saint-Nazaire This makes Lhyfe the first company globally to have already started offshore hydrogen production based on a production capacity of up to 400 kg/day,” said Lhyfe Be the first one to comment on this article 05 May 2025 - The Trebinje 3 photovoltaic plant would have an installed capacity of 53.63 MW and an estimated annual production of 85.5 GWh 05 May 2025 - VDE Renewables found that SolarEdge’s advanced safety capabilities minimize photovoltaic system risks and effectively prevent fire hazards 02 May 2025 - The project is located in Constanța county recognized for its superior yields in green energy production 02 May 2025 - The Sunčana (Sunny) Vipava project envisages installing solar power plants with a combined capacity of 20 MW © CENTER FOR PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 2008-2020 website developed by ogitive Bosch’s move comes as automakers and suppliers grapple with overcapacity and high costs during the ongoing transformation of the mobility sector Stay up to date on exclusive content from CBT News by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our free newsletter to receive all the latest news insight and trends impacting the automotive industry CBT News is part of the JBF Business Media family Contact us: Info@CBTNews.com © Created by CBT News | Atlanta Web Design We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker measurement data from the measurement machines have been transferred to the shop floor where steering nuts are produced at Bosch in Schwaebisch Gmuend using ZEISS PiWeb This has increased the transparency of the data and helped the machine operators optimize the production process The decisive factor in this optimization is the fact that the software suggests a correction value for every single process-relevant measurement characteristic Bosch production planners Andreas Tisljar and Sebastian Schniepp had been working on the idea for a long time — namely to make it much easier for the 35 machine operators who work in steering-nut production in Schwaebisch Gmuend to use the measurement data For if the machine operators wanted to identify a trend in production they previously had to take out the last protocols from a file folder and compare them page by page “That’s impossible to do in the normal course of business,” says Tisljar Given the tolerances that have to be maintained which are meanwhile “around the size of an Ebola virus,” as Daniel Huebscher from the technology-development department of Bosch likes to describe it the stability of the processes in Schwaebisch Gmuend depended strongly on the experience of individual employees and whether they happened to have a good or bad day They therefore sought a solution that would give the machine workers both an analysis and a graphical representation of the measurement values “What we wanted could only be achieved with ZEISS PiWeb,” says Schniepp In order to convince senior management to invest in the software the production planners predicted that the utilization of the measurement machines could be increased at by least 1% “we were way too modest,” continues Schniepp Although a separate project to gather concrete figures was not launched “we do see a higher utilization of the machines and less scrap,” stresses Tisljar “Production is running more quietly and the production process has become more stable especially with inexperienced machine operators,” adds Schniepp This is also thanks to the fact that ZEISS PiWeb calculates the correction values These values indicate by which how much the processing of the part has to be corrected in order to achieve the target value we’re taking away a lot of work for the machine operators to calculate these values and also reducing error sources,” stresses the production planner This is especially the case when several processing steps are relevant for a measurement characteristic The machine operators in Schwaebisch Gmuend receive these correction values by calling up the relevant reporting in the machines they’re working with They decided themselves based on their experience whether or not these values are transferred 1:1 And because mistakes can happen quickly when manually transferring data into the machine controls the plan in the future is to display the correction values directly on the display of the processing centers the machine operators will decide which values to take over “They are responsible for the processing result and have to retain this responsibility,” emphasize Schniepp and Tisljar The huge potential of developing a closed loop has already made news within Bosch in Schwaebisch Gmuend “We had colleagues here from gear-rack production they’re excited and want to do the same thing,” say Schniepp Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbH is a globally leading manufacturer of driving systems includes the factory and the headquarters of the business area Automotive Steering employing around 4,000 people They manufacturer automotive components for cars and commercial vehicles In addition to the electric steering system Servolectric (Type EPSapa and EPSdp) for automobiles the factory in Schwaebisch Gmuend also produces RB-Servocom which is a compact ball-nut power hydro system for trucks and buses For more information: www.zeiss.com/metrology HOME PAGE LINK Kallien from the University of Applied Sciences Aalen was once again able to invite students on an excursion Students of the Foundry Technology 2 lecture visited the Schüle plant in Schwäbisch-Gmünd today to see the production of transmission components for ZF from the inside in which a gearbox pot is produced from the aluminium melt in a very short time without manual intervention The volatile energy supply was the topic of the subsequent discussion Schüle has already reacted and is able to convert the entire production to LPG I would like to receive the bi-weekly Foundry-Planet newsletter with all latest news Plus the special newsletters – all can be cancelled anytime and at no cost A volunteer firefighter died during a rescue operation during heavy rain and flooding in the south of Germany The 42-year-old died after his rescue boat capsized near Pfaffenhofen in the region of Bavaria Four emergency workers were attempting to reach people trapped by the flood waters while the fourth was found dead in the water by other rescue workers at around 2:20 am local time (0020 GMT) "I am saddened by the death of a firefighter in Pfaffenhofen My thoughts are with his family and colleagues," Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on X "We owe thanks and respect to the rescue workers and helpers who are fighting the consequences of the floods in many places," Scholz said Heavy rains from Friday onwards have led to flooding across the southern German states of Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria German rail operator Deutsche Bahn said on Sunday the rail link between the cities of Stuttgart and Augsburg was closed as a result of the severe weather Two carriages of a high-speed train travelling on the line came off the rails after a landslide Several districts in Bavaria have declared emergencies as a result of the high waters.  The German Weather Service (DWD) warned of more heavy rain to come in southern Germany on Sunday.  please register for free or log in to your account a former Army general who oversaw the missile system that protected Europe against Cold War Soviet threats and who was also the last U.S Haddock was battling a serious illness at the time of his death on Oct which Germans observe as the holiday celebrating the reunification of the country The news of his death prompted sympathy and grateful memories in Germany where he had maintained friendly contact over the decades who in 2014 created a small Cold War museum in the rooms of the old command post at the former Bismarck ​Kaserne in Schwaebisch-Gmuend called Haddock “a true gentleman.” Haddock’s uniform is a centerpiece in the collection Gmuend was once a garrison town and home to 4,000 American soldiers and their families Haddock is remembered fondly by the townsfolk “He was the reason the German-American friendship existed here,” Stumpf said An online memorial page in Haddock’s name drew more than 400 comments and reactions from family members “Great man and great leader,” wrote Dale Nye who served under Haddock in Schwaebisch-Gmuend “I met him in the field and he made it known he had our back!” Haddock was part of the successful fielding of Pershing II missiles in Germany while serving as commander of the 56th Field Artillery Command the garrison in Schwaebisch-Gemuend and its associated missile stations in Germany from 1984 through 1987 Haddock was in charge of the intermediate range nuclear force at the height of tensions with the Soviet Union The SS-20 missiles the Kremlin deployed had Europe in their crosshairs The deployment of heavy American weaponry wasn’t popular in war-weary Germany and received pushback from peace movement activists and local politicians protests and road blockades made front-page news in Germany the program incurred setbacks when accidents called public safety into question the command employed a public engagement policy to win support for his soldiers and Europe’s defense against a Soviet nuclear threat in Europe “The Soviet Union had always believed that they would be able to eject the system by popular opposition,” Haddock recalled in 1992 they didn’t count on our ability to get out and win support of the people But when we had won what I call the battle in the streets the Soviets decided to change their tactics.” A ban on intermediate-range nuclear weapons was signed by the U.S and all Pershing II and SS-20 missiles were destroyed by May 1991 and perhaps more than any other single missile system the successful deployment of Pershing II served to maintain for Europe the nuclear protection offered by the American strategic umbrella united the political will of the United States and Germany,” Haddock wrote online in 2009 Haddock’s skills were also relied upon during his tenure as the U.S commander in Berlin from 1988 through the reunification of Germany in 1990 At a time when a so-called “death strip” still separated East and West and allied service members as the first line of defense for West Berlin But as the senior American military official When demonstrations started to ramp up and East German border guards ceased to enforce emigration rules in 1989 Haddock and his wife were among the first to greet East Germans coming across to West Berlin “There was such a tremendous outpouring of enthusiasm on the western side as brothers and sisters countrymen on the West went to greet their fellow citizens coming from the East,” Haddock recalled in 1992 on WTIX radio in New Orleans closed one of the Cold War’s most famous frontline postings It was the only legal crossing point for U.S service members and civilians traveling between East and West Berlin “For 45 years we stood firm on the front lines in Berlin,” Haddock said in 1992 “For 45 years there was one policy that said ‘This we will defend.’ Berlin will be free and one day Germany would be united We won because of that long string of doing the right thing.” Haddock said witnessing German reunification was one of the happiest days of his life the current commanding general of the 56th Artillery Command “His legacy is intertwined with ours and I’m glad that he lived to see the day when the unit that he so loved was brought back into active duty in the U at Clay Kaserne in Wiesbaden amid renewed tension between Moscow and the West After launching his military career as the battalion commander of his ROTC unit at West Texas State University Haddock went on to serve 34 years in the Army his wife of 62 years; a daughter; two sons and eight grandchildren He will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery Caption: computer-generated image of the Schwäbisch Gmünd site. HR images of the ceremony will be uploaded here later today which is funded by the state of Baden-Württemberg and the EU thus supports a sustainable neighbourhood solution for the local industry and lays the foundation for future climate-friendly infrastructure on the site is supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through a €6.4 grant agreement “The project demonstrates the economic viability of hydrogen solutions in the transport and industry sectors and also supports the state of Baden-Württemberg in its efforts to become a model region for the development of hydrogen refueling infrastructure  We very much welcome the fact that the state and the city of Schwäbisch Gmünd want to implement their ambitious goals for a hydrogen economy based on renewable energies and that we are taking this step together we are making an important contribution to the goals of the federal government,” says Luc Graré Lhyfe’s growth is backed by a solid business pipeline representing a total installed production capacity of 10.3 GW across Europe These projects will contribute to the decarbonisation of mobility and industry with green renewable hydrogen on an industrial scale Lhyfe inaugurated the world’s first large-scale green hydrogen production plant linked to a wind farm in France the world’s first offshore pilot platform for the production of green hydrogen was inaugurated at the port of Saint-Nazaire based on a production capacity of up to 400 kg/day In addition to the production of green hydrogen Lhyfe is researching the reoxygenation of the oceans Lhyfe is a European group dedicated to the energy transition producer and supplier of green and renewable hydrogen Its production plants and upcoming projects are designed to provide green and renewable hydrogen in industrial quantities and form part of a virtuous energy model allowing the decarbonisation of entire sectors of industry and mobility Lhyfe inaugurated the world’s first industrial green hydrogen production site in direct connection with a windfarm Lhyfe aims to have more than 3 GW of installed capacity by 2030 Lhyfe inaugurated the world’s first offshore green hydrogen production pilot system The company could have around 3 GW of additional offshore installed capacity by 2030-2035 Lhyfe operates in 11 European countries and had 150 employees at the end of 2022 The company is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (ISIN: FR0014009YQ1 – mnemo: LHYFE) For more information go to www.lhyfe.com Click to access the Lhyfe media kit (all press releases, images) Investor Relations : LHYFE – Yoann Nguyen | investors@lhyfe.com Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. A citizen stands proudly in the centre of Germany’s ‘model’ migrant town arsonists tried to shatter this picture of civic harmony by burning down an asylum hostel Tony Paterson reports from Schwäbisch Gmünd I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The suspected arson attack on Germany’s “model“ migrant town could hardly have struck a more politically sensitive target. Schwäbisch Gmünd, a Swabian provincial city of 60,000, is regarded as living proof of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s claim that Germans “can manage” Europe’s biggest refugee crisis since the Second World War. But, on Christmas Eve, suspected far-right supporters set fire to a brand new, and as yet empty, architect-designed asylum hostel for 120 people in the south German town’s suburbs. Although no one was hurt, the attack rendered the building uninhabitable. Hopes that refugees could move into the complex in early 2016 were crushed. The incident was just one of the more than 220 such suspected far-right attacks in 2015. But in Schwäbisch Gmünd it destroyed the notion that assimilation policies could somehow shield the town from violence. “It was incomprehensible – we have invested so much in integrating refugees and the policy is widely accepted,” said Klaus Pavel, a leading regional member of Ms Merkel’s conservatives. More than 800 concerned citizens gathered around the Christmas tree on the town’s cobbled 18th-century main square to condemn the attack. Describing the incident as “cowardly” Schwäbisch Gmünd’s conservative mayor Richard Arnold proclaimed that his town was a “beacon of openness” which remained “opposed to stupidity and darkness”. Mr Arnold has staked his reputation on his town’s handling of the refugee crisis. Since Chancellor Merkel introduced her controversial “open-door refugee” policy late in the summer of 2015, many German towns have seen an influx of refugees and migrants – with more than one million people, mainly from the war-torn Middle East, Afghanistan and sub-Saharan Africa, having arrived in the country. Most live in requisitioned sports halls, disused aircraft hangars, empty barracks or heated tents. Not so in Schwäbisch Gmünd. Half of the town’s 800 refugees live in private households. Mr Arnold’s 80-year-old parents, who live in a shared community flat, have taken in two refugees from Africa. One is Nigerian the other is from Gambia. “They have brought a breath of fresh air into the place,” Mr Arnold insists. “Integration does not work if refugees live five to a room in a hostel, they have to get into private homes.” Mr Arnold’s approach is known throughout Germany as the “Gmünder Weg” (the Gmünder Way). It aims to integrate refugees quickly by housing them in private accommodation or specially designed community flats. So far, 90 private flats and houses have been put at refugees’ disposal. Schwäbisch Gmünd’s tolerance may stem from the fact that its population grew by 30 per cent after 1945 thanks to the arrival of German refugees from Soviet-occupied eastern Europe. All of today’s refugees and migrants are offered German language courses from the outset. Most of the teachers are voluntary workers. The new arrivals are encouraged to join community associations such as choirs, clubs and even to support the fire brigade. Near the end of last month, Ramin, a 20-year-old refugee from Afghanistan, had been accepted for a job as a rescue worker; his friend, Rodriguez, from Cameroon, had been voted on to a church council. “Those who join in, get involved, get school qualifications and an apprenticeship should be allowed to stay,” insists Mr Arnold. He believes that most refugees will be inclined to stay in Germany and the sooner they integrate, the better their prospects. Yet not everything in Schwäbisch Gmünd reflects the town’s “model refugee” image. Recently, Bright, a 20-year-old refugee from Nigeria and his friend Ken were busy dragging a decaying bed and a decrepit armchair into their asylum hostel in a disused former US army barracks in the town’s outlying Hardt district. Inside, the building was filthy, the walls scrawled with graffiti, the kitchen covered in pools of water. “The conditions here are disgusting,” said Bright, who had fled religious persecution and crossed the Mediterranean by boat to get to Europe. “When people in here take off their clothes to wash, you can see their bodies covered in rashes. We think it is because of the conditions here,” he told The Independent. One of Bright’s hostel neighbours was a 37-year-old woman called Mercy. Also from Nigeria, the single mother said she had spent the past two years living and sleeping in one room in the former barracks with her three children. The eldest, a boy, was 10. “He has problems at school,” she said. “The people here don’t like blacks.” Mercy said she was hoping that after two years’ wait she would eventually be granted asylum in Germany. She said she was attending German lessons and once joined in a city scheme for refugees to help landscape municipal gardens. “We got no money. I did it to make them happy. But blacks are not welcome here,” she insisted. It seemed that Bright, Ken and Mercy had not yet stepped on to the Gmünder Weg’s fast track to integration and success. A 1950s housing estate separated their barrack hostel from the fire-damaged new asylum home that fell victim to the Christmas Eve attack. Outside one of the flats, a young German couple were unloading their post-festivity shopping from their VW. “There are plenty of people around here who have problems with refugees,” they admitted, without giving their names. “We’ve got nothing against them personally but we don’t much like the idea of a new hostel parked right in front of our noses. They’ll be sending their kids to the local school next.” Mayor Richard Arnold is an ardent supporter of Angela Merkel. But he is the first to admit that if the flow of refugees entering Germany continues at its present rate, his model migrant town will no longer be able to cope. The prospect, he says, makes his “stomach ache”. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Hauptnavigation: Nutzen Sie die Tabulatortaste Schließen Sie Untermenüs mit der Escape-Taste Es ist eine traurige Bilanz der schweren Unwettern in Süddeutschland Braunsbach in Baden-Württemberg wurde dabei komplett verwüstet Tragödie in Schwäbisch Gmünd: Ein Mann wird vom Wasser mitgerissen ein Feuerwehrmann will helfen – und verschwindet auch in den Fluten Nach dem Fund der Leichen lässt sich das Drama rekonstruieren Polizeitaucher entdeckten die beiden 21 und 38 Jahre alten Männer im Kanal Sie wurden während des Hochwassers in der Nacht zum Montag durch einen Gully in die Kanalisation gezogen Spurensuche an dem Kanaldeckel am Tag nach dem tödlichen UnglückQuelle: dpa{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ImageObject","contentUrl":"https://img.welt.de/img/vermischtes/mobile155818592/0822641127-ci3x2l-w2000/Unwetter-in-Sueddeutschland-Schwaebisch-Gmuend.jpg","caption":"Spurensuche an dem Kanaldeckel am Tag nach dem tödlichen Unglück","copyrightNotice":"dpa","creditText":"dpa","width":"2000"}Zeugen sagten laut Polizei hinterhergelaufen und von den Wassermassen mitgerissen worden sei Vermutlich wurde ein Kanaldeckel weggespült Ein starker Sog in die Kanalisation könnte die Männer dann mitgerissen haben „Das ist so ein großer Schock für die Menschen hier“ Viel ist von den Aufräum- und Sucharbeiten nicht zu sehen die Unterführung ist weiträumig mit Bauzäunen und blickdichter Folie abgesperrt Die Tragödie hat sich in einer Straßenunterführung abgespielt die vom Wohngebiet Taubental unter den Bahngleisen hindurch zum Stadtzentrum führt Sie lief in der Nacht bis knapp unter die Decke mit Wasser voll das zuvor von der abschüssigen Straße aus dem Wohngebiet geflossen war Gegen 22 Uhr habe sich die Lage zwar entspannt „Mit dem abziehenden Wasser haben wir schon Erleichterung verspürt.“ Dann aber habe ihn die Meldung der zwei Vermissten erreicht wurde auch das Sportgeschäft von Irena Schoell (43) geflutet Schaufensterpuppen in einen Container im Hof dass der 21-Jährige einem davonschwimmenden Ball nachgegangen sei als schon in der Nacht Ware aus dem Geschäft gespült wurde „Warenwert ist dann doch egal.“ Die Ermittlungen der Polizei zu den Hintergründen laufen aber noch „Mir ist es eiskalt den Rücken runtergelaufen“ sagt der Leiter eines Bausparkassen-Büros in Sichtweite der Unterführung alle Kunden hätten die Termine für Montag abgesagt Baden-Württembergs Ministerpräsident Winfried Kretschmann (Grüne) und Innenminister Thomas Strobl (CDU) haben nach Angaben des Oberbürgermeisters am Montagmorgen angerufen sich nach der Lage erkundigt – und den Familien der Opfer ihr Mitgefühl ausgesprochen Die WELT als ePaper: Die vollständige Ausgabe steht Ihnen bereits am Vorabend zur Verfügung – so sind Sie immer hochaktuell informiert Weitere Informationen https://epaper.welt.de