The majority of Russians consider Germany to be the most unfriendly and hostile country in the world, a survey by the "Levada Center" sociological institute showed. If in the period 2005-2013, only 3% of respondents held this opinion, after the annexation of Crimea, their share increased to about 20%, and after Russia's invasion of Ukraine - to 40%. Currently, this figure is even higher - as many as 55% of Russian citizens perceive Germany as a hostile country. The top five in this ranking also include the United Kingdom, Ukraine, the United States and Poland. Over the past 20 years, this list has consistently been topped by the United States.
But do Russians really hate Germany that much? We asked German historian Matthias Uhl, who lived in Russia for many years and worked for the German Historical Institute (GIIM) in Moscow before the institute was declared an "undesirable organization" and closed down last year.
DW: Mr. Uhl, do you agree with the conclusions of the "Levada" center and how do you explain such an attitude towards Germany?
Matthias Uhl: In my opinion, there are two things behind this. First, the new mandate of US President Donald Trump, which led to a slight change in assessments - previously America was the so-called "main enemy". Now there is a prospect of Trump becoming a mediator with his proposals for peace in Ukraine, and against this background, the attitude towards the US as the main enemy is naturally changing.
At the same time, after Chancellor Friedrich Merz took office in Germany - and especially because of his position on the Taurus missiles for Ukraine, anti-German propaganda in the Russian Federation has intensified. The fact that the Federal Republic is the second country after the USA to provide significant support to Ukraine plays a very important role here. I see that old, worn-out propaganda images are being used for this purpose - for example, the depiction of Merz in an SS uniform.
Secondly, we must not forget that Russia is increasingly developing in the direction of dictatorship. Although independent public opinion polls are also being conducted, people know very well what is required of them. I myself come from the GDR and have such experience. On the one hand, there is the so-called "public opinion" - or what everyone knows they should say. And when they are at home - at the kitchen table, anything can be said there. So even if it was done by an independent institute, I don't think this survey really reflects what people really think about Germany.
Judging by my personal contacts - no one has ever said: "You are German, I won't talk to you anymore because Germany supports Ukraine". Of course, it is sad that we have now replaced the USA as the main enemy, but if you study the survey more carefully, you will understand that this is largely due to Russian propaganda, which reaches Russians mainly through television. Among the television audience, the percentage of those who say: "Yes, Germany is our main enemy" is very high. Their share is significantly smaller, for example, among YouTube users or in large cities. For example, if in Moscow this opinion is held by about a third of the residents of the Russian capital, in rural areas their share can exceed 70 percent.
DV: But the propaganda of the Russian Federation is currently actively working against many other countries, for example against France and Great Britain, and before that against the USA. Let's not forget, of course, Ukraine. Why then is Germany in the first place?
Matthias Uhl: In this case, they are relying on the traditional image of Germany from the two great wars. This is a kind of trick, a kind of button that just needs to be pressed. And this trick began back in 2023, when Germany thought about giving "Leopard" tanks to Ukraine. Back then, they called this the Battle of Kursk 2.0. The principle of reusing old images, which partly fall on fertile ground, is clearly visible.
For propaganda purposes, this is a very good template, because Germany was already a major enemy during the USSR. In the case of France or Great Britain, it is much more difficult to create such images - especially against France. In the 20th century, it was the Germans who fought two major wars against Russia/the USSR. So there are many starting points for propaganda.
DW: Are these methods effective?
Matthias Uhl: They are effective in terms of public opinion. But how much they are absorbed by people is another question. I think that remains only on the surface. This propaganda image will change just as quickly if we reach a peace agreement. I am almost sure of that.
DW: It is well known that Putin lived in the GDR and speaks German. Earlier this year, a Russian propagandist tried to compare Germans to Nazis, but Putin objected, saying that today's Germans are not responsible for the Holocaust and World War II. Is there any contradiction here between Putin and Russian propaganda?
Matthias Uhl: It is difficult to say. Germany and Nazism are a kind of trick that is very easy to apply. And propagandists use it. If they overdo it, they will be recalled. But for now, the propaganda is moving forward. In my opinion, they have already crossed certain limits.
DW: Can we say that today the relations between the two countries have entered a phase of hatred? Or is there neither hatred nor love, and everything is artificially constructed by propaganda?
Matthias Uhl: Personally, I have not encountered hatred. So I would say that this is just a snapshot that is very difficult to interpret. We should not allow this to confuse us and say that the Russians hate us, etc. We should not draw any conclusions from this. This is just a picture that is being created intentionally.
Author: Nikita Oshuev