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The Chancellor had actually finalised plans to shut the border with Austria in September 2015 and was mobilising hundreds of guards when she got cold feet, according to Robin Alexander in his new book ‘Driven By Events: Merkel’s Refugee Policy’. The high-profile political reporter claimed Mrs Merkel was concerned “for historical reasons” about how German guards acting aggressively on borders may appear to the rest of the world. Mr Alexander said: “For historical reasons, the Chancellor feared images of armed German police confronting civilians on our borders.

GETTY Merkel cancelled plans to close Germany's borders over concerns it might look bad

“In the end, Angela Merkel refused to assume responsibility even as everything was in place to close the borders so they remained open - without an explicit decision.”

GETTY Angela Merkel was concerned the tragic scenes seen at borders across the EU would occur in Germany

The book alleges Mrs Merkel had moved to close the border when she was told of a huge group of migrants moving through the Balkans towards Germany. However, just before finalising the decision, Mr Alexander said she spoke to German interior minister Thomas de Maiziere, who asked her: “Can we live with the images that will come out of this?

Meet Hungary's border hunter police Thu, March 9, 2017 Border Hunter Police in Hungary undergo rigorous training, including assembling pistols blindfolded, and judo Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 19 Hungarian border hunter recruits learn judo moves

“What happens if 500 refugees with children in their arms run towards the border guards?” Mrs Merkel conducted a rapid U-turn and left the borders open, allowing hundreds of thousands of migrants to enter Germany.

GETTY Angela Merkel shied away from closing Germany's borders to migrants

At this time she was also pictured taking selfies with migrants, in images that went around the world and are credited with increasing the amount of people arriving in Germany. Mr Alexander said: “The selfies were not planned, the border opening was not planned.

“But then came a wave of incredible rapture in Germany and she went with the public mood as ever. Merkel governs by the polls.” Since then, however, public opinion has swung against Mrs Merkel and her open border policy.

GETTY Photos of Angela Merkel taking selfies with migrants went viral in 2015