Berlin | Germany is bracing for a winter of discontent amid the threat of a deepening energy crisis triggered by Russia slashing gas supplies to Europe’s biggest economy, stoking fears of recession, industry shutdowns and large parts of the population freezing in cold homes.

Berlin is scrambling to stock up on gas after the Kremlin-controlled Gazprom last week tightened its squeeze on Europe’s industrial powerhouse by cutting supplies to just 20 per cent of full capacity, down from 60 per cent in June.