Pics: Over a million gather in Germany to welcome World Cup winners

The German heroes returned home after defeating Argentina in the World Cup final in Brazil to be welcomed by over 1 million fans in Germany. Many had gathered since dawn to welcome the players who touched down from Brazil on Tuesday morning. Huge crowds lined their bus route into the capital. It was the fourth German cup win and the first since reunification in 1990. The German victory in Brazil was the first time the competition had been won in South America by a European nation. The team was in for a big surprise as it returned to Berlin from Brazil when it saw hordes of cheering fans. Thousands of fans waited for the champions at Tegel Airport and on the "fan mile" in front of the Brandenburg Gate, where players took to the stage to sing, dance and, of course, show off the World Cup trophy.