A third of Germans fear NATO-Russia war over Ukraine, poll finds

BERLIN (Reuters) - One in three Germans thinks a war could break out between Russia and NATO over the conflict in Ukraine, according to an opinion poll published on Wednesday, a finding that helps explain the country's cautious approach to the crisis.

Germans, whose country was devastated in World War Two and split into East and West during the Cold War, have applauded Chancellor Angela Merkel's efforts to prevent an escalation of Russia-NATO tensions.