Why is Germany surprised about the influx of refugees? After all, it is the exports champ.

German weapons exports

Being an exports champ with an ever growing export surplus means producing stuff that can not be consumed by the people at home are not able to consume because of low wages. What you get in return is a couple of numbers on a spread sheet. It does not trickle down.

One dominant area of German exports is weapons. For example, brace yourself, weapons exports to Syria. 

Here is a smorgasbord of countries Germany delivers weapons to.

There is no way Germany can control, let alone wants to control, where those weapons ultimately end up. After all, Germany is deliriously proud of that surplus.

Weapons delivered to an African country can easily be passed on to Somalia, Yemen, Tunesia or to ISIS. Iraq is like a sieve, weapons can go anywhere.

So with all these refugees coming from mostly Syria, but also other places like Yemen and Afghanistan, Germany finally gets her ROE, her return on equity. It is questionable whether the ultimate ROI is worth it. Forced migration is never a pleasant experience. Who cares, it's the export surplus Germans are so proud of. Now deal with it.