In pics - Oktoberfest returns to Munich after two-year hiatus

Munich mayor Didier Reiter kicked off the festival by opening a beer keg with a hammer. The festival was held in 2019, the 6.3 million guests drank more than 7.3 million litres of beer. Oktoberfest will continue till October 3.

Munich's mayor kicks off Oktoberfest by opening beer keg with hammer

Germany's iconic&nbsp;Oktoberfest&nbsp;beer&nbsp;festival&nbsp;will once again take place in Munich in 2022 after being cancelled two years running due to the coronavirus, the city's mayor said Friday.

The&nbsp;Oktoberfest&nbsp;would be held "without conditions or restrictions", Munich mayor Dieter Reiter told a press conference.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-votes-overwhelmingly-in-favour-of-supplying-heavy-weapons-to-ukraine-amid-ongoing-conflict-474643">Germany votes overwhelmingly in favour of supplying heavy weapons to Ukraine amid ongoing conflict</a>

The world-renowned knees-up &nbsp;drew around six million visitors annually before the pandemic. It was cancelled in 2020 for the first time since World War II after the outbreak of the virus.

The&nbsp;festival, usually held between September and October, was cancelled again in 2021 as Germany battled consecutive deadly waves of the virus.

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Since then, pandemic "conditions have changed", Reiter said, noting that the healthcare system was no longer under significant stress from the coronavirus.

"I hope the situation does not get worse in the autumn and that the&nbsp;festival&nbsp;will not have to be called off at the last minute," Reiter said.

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Most Covid curbs have been lifted in Germany, including the requirement to wear masks in shops and schools, while plans to introduce a vaccine mandate were dropped.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has cast a shadow over similar springtime festivities in Bavaria, where the subject has been hotly debated.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-pms-visit-german-minister-says-it-is-in-indias-interest-to-stop-ukrainian-war-474499">Ahead of PM's visit, German minister says ‘it is in India’s interest to stop Ukrainian war’</a>

Cancelling the&nbsp;Oktoberfest&nbsp;as a result of the war "could not be justified", Reiter said, while sharing his sympathies with Ukraine and Munich's twin city Kyiv.

"Nobody can tell what the situation will be in autumn" with the war, the mayor said.

Germany's iconic Oktoberfest beer festival will once again take place in Munich in 2022 after being cancelled two years running due to the coronavirus, the city's mayor said Friday.

Germany's iconic Oktoberfest beer festival will once again take place in Munich in 2022 after being cancelled two years running due to the coronavirus, the city's mayor said Friday. The Oktoberfest would be held "without conditions or restrictions", Munich mayor Dieter Reiter told a press conference. Also read | Germany votes overwhelmingly in favour of supplying heavy weapons to Ukraine amid ongoing conflict The world-renowned knees-up drew around six million visitors annually before the pandemic. It was cancelled in 2020 for the first time since World War II after the outbreak of the virus. The festival, usually held between September and October, was cancelled again in 2021 as Germany battled consecutive deadly waves of the virus. Watch | Gravitas Global Headlines: Germany defends gas purchase from Russia Since then, pandemic "conditions have changed", Reiter said, noting that the healthcare system was no longer under significant stress from the coronavirus. "I hope the situation does not get worse in the autumn and that the festival will not have to be called off at the last minute," Reiter said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE: Most Covid curbs have been lifted in Germany, including the requirement to wear masks in shops and schools, while plans to introduce a vaccine mandate were dropped. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has cast a shadow over similar springtime festivities in Bavaria, where the subject has been hotly debated. Also read | Ahead of PM's visit, German minister says ‘it is in India’s interest to stop Ukrainian war’ Cancelling the Oktoberfest as a result of the war "could not be justified", Reiter said, while sharing his sympathies with Ukraine and Munich's twin city Kyiv. "Nobody can tell what the situation will be in autumn" with the war, the mayor said.

Oktoberfest to return this year after two years of virus hiatus

Oktoberfest, the world's largest beer festival has been cancelled for second year in a row due to the coronavirus pandemic. The premier of southern German state of Bavaria announced this on Monday. Oktoberfest attracts around 6 million visitors to Munich every year.

Munich residents were mostly sad to see another year without the colourful folk festival but were understanding of the measures.

Bartenders who stand to lose a lot of income from the lack of beer and boozing said they were pinning their hopes on 2022.

Bavarian premier Markus Soeder told journalists that it was necessary to cancel major events such as the Oktoberfest again this year because they required large financial commitments and the risk was too large given uncertainty over when the pandemic may ease up.

"Also, in classic beer halls measures such as social distancing and mask-wearing cannot be enforced," Soeder said.

Germany has vaccinated more than 28 per cent of its population so far. Germans are hoping for restrictions to be lifted with increasing vaccination and falling number of cases.

This year's Oktoberfest was scheduled to take place from Sept. 18 to Oct. 3.

(With inputs from agencies)

Oktoberfest, the world's largest beer festival has been cancelled for second year in a row due to the coronavirus pandemic. The premier of southern German state of Bavaria announced this on Monday.

Oktoberfest, the world's largest beer festival has been cancelled for second year in a row due to the coronavirus pandemic. The premier of southern German state of Bavaria announced this on Monday. Oktoberfest attracts around 6 million visitors to Munich every year. Munich residents were mostly sad to see another year without the colourful folk festival but were understanding of the measures. Bartenders who stand to lose a lot of income from the lack of beer and boozing said they were pinning their hopes on 2022. Bavarian premier Markus Soeder told journalists that it was necessary to cancel major events such as the Oktoberfest again this year because they required large financial commitments and the risk was too large given uncertainty over when the pandemic may ease up. "Also, in classic beer halls measures such as social distancing and mask-wearing cannot be enforced," Soeder said. Germany has vaccinated more than 28 per cent of its population so far. Germans are hoping for restrictions to be lifted with increasing vaccination and falling number of cases. This year's Oktoberfest was scheduled to take place from Sept. 18 to Oct. 3. (With inputs from agencies)

Oktoberfest gets cancelled again due to pandemic

That evening on September 26, 1980, Robert Platzer, then 12, was having a great night out. He had been on fairground rides, eaten bags of sweets and even bought a helium balloon -- all that a child dreams of at the Munich Oktoberfest.

He was just at the exit of the popular beer festival with his parents and four siblings when he saw a man with his arms in the rubbish bin, towards which his family was headed.&nbsp;

But at that moment, the bomb went off.

"There was a huge flame, I was thrown back several metres," Robert Hoeckmayr, who has since taken his wife's family name, told AFP in an interview.

A bomb in the trashcan had exploded just steps away from the merry-go-round and the beer tents.

Thirteen people -- including the bomber Gundolf Koehler -- were killed and more than 200 injured.&nbsp;

Four decades on, prosecutors in July finally classed it a political attack -- the deadliest far-right assault in post-war Germany.

Investigators initially assumed the 21-year-old Koehler was a depressed geology student, who had acted because of relationship problems and exam stress, downplaying his known links to the extremist scene.

But further revelations about the extent of Koehler's involvement with the far-right and speculation he may not have acted alone prompted prosecutors to reopen the investigation in 2014.

After interviewing over a thousand witnesses and combing through 300,000 documents, investigators believe Koehler aimed for the attack to be blamed on the far left.&nbsp;

His goal had been to influence that year's general election and usher in a conservative candidate as chancellor.

Survivors need help

The 40th anniversary of the attack on Saturday comes as far-right violence is once again on the rise in Germany, with a deadly attack targeting a synagogue in Halle in 2019 and another that left nine people of migrant origin dead in Hanau in February.

Hoeckmayr did not want to be drawn into discussing the political extremism that has sparked the violence. For him, more must be done to help survivors.

"I don't care from which side the attack comes from, the survivors need to be better taken care of," he said.

Hoeckmayr's experience underlines how the devastation wrought goes on far beyond that fateful day.

His eight-year-old sister Ilona was killed on the spot. His little brother, six, died on the way to the hospital in the ambulance. His parents were severely wounded.

His sister Elisabeth survived but died of a drug overdose at 24. His brother threw himself under a train in 2008, at age 42.

"They could not stand the pain. I am the sole survivor in this family," said Hoeckmayr, now 52 and a Munich city official.

He has had 41 operations to remove metal shards lodged all over his body.

"They didn't manage to remove all of them," said the tall man with greying hair.

But what was even more difficult to heal was the feeling of being "abandoned" by the German state after the attack.&nbsp;

"We were never offered psychological help. Several months after the attack, the doctors declared that I was healthy, just because I could walk," he said.&nbsp;

It was thanks to his wife and three children that he was able to pick up the pieces.

"They gave me the energy to live."

Beyond the lack of psychological support, he is also angry about the low level of financial aid provided to people wounded in the attack.

But that may soon change, with the city of Munich, the Bavarian state and Chancellor Angela Merkel's government to stump up 1.2 million euros ($1.4 million) for victims of the attack.

For Hoeckmayr, "40 years later is too late".

"It's not just about money but about helping people who have experienced terrible things to return to society," said Hoeckmayr, who refuses to be labelled a victim, saying he is a survivor.

He will participate in a ceremony on Saturday when Munich inaugurates a new information site that tells the story of the attack.

Underlining its importance, he said: "Here too, many people know that something happened on September 26, 1980, but they don't know what it is."

That evening on September 26, 1980, Robert Platzer, then 12, was having a great night out. He had been on fairground rides, eaten bags of sweets and even bought a helium balloon -- all that a child dreams of at the Munich Oktoberfest.

That evening on September 26, 1980, Robert Platzer, then 12, was having a great night out. He had been on fairground rides, eaten bags of sweets and even bought a helium balloon -- all that a child dreams of at the Munich Oktoberfest. He was just at the exit of the popular beer festival with his parents and four siblings when he saw a man with his arms in the rubbish bin, towards which his family was headed. But at that moment, the bomb went off. "There was a huge flame, I was thrown back several metres," Robert Hoeckmayr, who has since taken his wife's family name, told AFP in an interview. A bomb in the trashcan had exploded just steps away from the merry-go-round and the beer tents. Thirteen people -- including the bomber Gundolf Koehler -- were killed and more than 200 injured. Four decades on, prosecutors in July finally classed it a political attack -- the deadliest far-right assault in post-war Germany. Investigators initially assumed the 21-year-old Koehler was a depressed geology student, who had acted because of relationship problems and exam stress, downplaying his known links to the extremist scene. But further revelations about the extent of Koehler's involvement with the far-right and speculation he may not have acted alone prompted prosecutors to reopen the investigation in 2014. After interviewing over a thousand witnesses and combing through 300,000 documents, investigators believe Koehler aimed for the attack to be blamed on the far left. His goal had been to influence that year's general election and usher in a conservative candidate as chancellor. Survivors need help The 40th anniversary of the attack on Saturday comes as far-right violence is once again on the rise in Germany, with a deadly attack targeting a synagogue in Halle in 2019 and another that left nine people of migrant origin dead in Hanau in February. Hoeckmayr did not want to be drawn into discussing the political extremism that has sparked the violence. For him, more must be done to help survivors. "I don't care from which side the attack comes from, the survivors need to be better taken care of," he said. Hoeckmayr's experience underlines how the devastation wrought goes on far beyond that fateful day. His eight-year-old sister Ilona was killed on the spot. His little brother, six, died on the way to the hospital in the ambulance. His parents were severely wounded. His sister Elisabeth survived but died of a drug overdose at 24. His brother threw himself under a train in 2008, at age 42. "They could not stand the pain. I am the sole survivor in this family," said Hoeckmayr, now 52 and a Munich city official. He has had 41 operations to remove metal shards lodged all over his body. "They didn't manage to remove all of them," said the tall man with greying hair. But what was even more difficult to heal was the feeling of being "abandoned" by the German state after the attack. "We were never offered psychological help. Several months after the attack, the doctors declared that I was healthy, just because I could walk," he said. It was thanks to his wife and three children that he was able to pick up the pieces. "They gave me the energy to live." Beyond the lack of psychological support, he is also angry about the low level of financial aid provided to people wounded in the attack. But that may soon change, with the city of Munich, the Bavarian state and Chancellor Angela Merkel's government to stump up 1.2 million euros ($1.4 million) for victims of the attack. For Hoeckmayr, "40 years later is too late". "It's not just about money but about helping people who have experienced terrible things to return to society," said Hoeckmayr, who refuses to be labelled a victim, saying he is a survivor. He will participate in a ceremony on Saturday when Munich inaugurates a new information site that tells the story of the attack. Underlining its importance, he said: "Here too, many people know that something happened on September 26, 1980, but they don't know what it is."

Germany: 40 years after Oktoberfest attack, survivor's wounds still healing

Innkeepers in Munich tapped their barrels this weekend for revellers determined to make the most of a scaled-down Oktoberfest.

Scaled-down Oktoberfest goes ahead at Munich pubs under Coronavirus guidelines

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