After being tear-gassed and kept out of other European countries, migrants arrived in Germany on Tuesday to what was a very warm welcome, with people bringing them supplies and good wishes.
Arriving at Munich's main station, the people were greeted not by riot police but with baby food, drinks and other items brought by locals to welcome them to the country. For many it marked a remarkable end to a long journey from Syria and other war-torn states.
As well as essential supplies, children were greeted with toys. One girl received a balloon and teddy bear.
The girl at Munich Station
Police said they were given so many things they were overwhelmed.
They tweeted: "Many volunteers are bringing drinks, supplies, baby food, nappies etc to the north entrance for the refugees. We find that super!"
They then later tweeted: "We're overwhelmed by the good people have brought for the refugees. Please do not bring any more things."
More than 2,000 refugees arrived at the station on Monday, many chanting "Thank you Germany!" after seeing a welcome sign held up by locals.
Many waited for relatives or friends to pick them up and asked passers-by if they could borrow their mobiles to let them know where they were.
Two refugees (pictured), who were travelling on to Berlin or Hamburg where they had friends, said "Hungary Bad! Germany Good!" in reference to the contrasting receptions they received in each country.
The starkest contrast with the German welcome was on the border between Greece and Macedonia, where migrants were tear-gassed in August to disperse them.
People had to be treated for shrapnel wounds amid harrowing scenes of people trapped between police lines.
The scene on Macedonia
Some of those in Munich spoke to HuffPost Germany about their relief at arriving.
One Syrian woman (pictured) said: "In Germany, you are a person... There is nothing for us at home except death. We want to integrate here, be part of the society."
HuffPost Germany editor Sebastian Matthes blogged that his country was facing an "enormous" challenge to integrate the refugees. The country has committed to taking 800,000 this year, roughly 1 percent of our population.
He said: "This has dawned on Angela Merkel... She compared the integration work of the coming years with the effort invested in 'building up the East' after the German reunification."