In Hanover and Munich people won’t get hot water in museums, swimming pools, sports halls, and other public buildings. But hey, hospitals and schools will still have hot water. In Berlin, the lights around public buildings and monuments and the fountains will also be switched off. Germany is in a world of trouble, and the cut-backs are just starting, mid-summer, to avert the tragedy that will be winter, if Russia blocks all gas. Germans have cut gas by 5-6% in summer, but in a normal year they get between 30% and 50% of their gas from Russia. All the talk of a 15% cut across the EU disguises that many of the other nations don’t want to do it, and Germany faces an extra difficult situation if they can’t get alternative gas supplies.

As Russia cuts gas to Germany, Hanover residents forced to take cold showers

Cities in Germany are switching off spotlights on public monuments, turning off fountains, and imposing cold showers on municipal swimming pools and sports halls, as the country races to reduce its energy consumption in the face of a looming Russian gas crisis.

Hanover in north-west Germany on Wednesday […]